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Hebrews 7:20-28 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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I invite you to take your copy of God's Word. Turn to Hebrews chapter 7.
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Our text for today will be Hebrews chapter 7 verses 20 through 28.
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! Before I read it, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's Word to us.
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It was written for His glory and our good.
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And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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And it was not without an oath.
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For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath.
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But this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to Him,
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The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind. You are a priest forever.
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This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
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The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office.
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But He holds His priesthood permanently because He continues forever.
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Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him,
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since He always lives to make intercession for them.
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For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,
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holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
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He has no need like those high priests to offer sacrifices daily,
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first for His own sins and then for those of the people,
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since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.
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For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests.
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But the word of the oath, which came later than the law,
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appoints a son who has been made perfect forever.
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So we have been working through the book of Hebrews for quite some time now,
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and have been for the last couple of weeks working through this idea of
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Jesus being a priest after the order of Melchizedek.
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I hope that you haven't grown tired of the name,
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that you've begun to wrap your mind around the significance of this reality.
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And if you wonder what I'm doing,
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I'm trying to download my sermon notes onto my iPad right now,
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which I typically do in advance and I forgot this morning.
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So we're almost there.
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There we go.
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I've got notes.
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So, this letter was likely written to a small church made up of Greek-speaking Jews
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meeting on the outskirts of Rome, and its author is unknown.
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But what we can be certain of concerning the author
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is that he has great pastoral affection for these people.
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This little church had suffered, and it would suffer.
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Some of them were mocked and beaten for following Jesus.
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We read of this in chapter 10 and verse 33.
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Some of them were imprisoned for following Jesus.
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Chapter 10 and verse 34.
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Also in verse 34 of chapter 10,
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some of them had had their property stolen for following Jesus.
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None of them had yet died.
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They hadn't shed blood yet.
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But it seems the author of this letter believes that they will.
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Chapter 12 and verse 4.
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And because of the trial they were experiencing,
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some of them had apostatized or abandoned their faith in Christ.
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We see this in chapter 6, verses 4 through 6.
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So this letter is a pastoral encouragement to persevere to the end.
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Hebrews chapter 6, verses 11 and 12 says,
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The author of this letter is taking great pains
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to show his hearers the excellency,
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the superiority of Jesus Christ.
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He's working through their minds to their hearts to say,
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Don't give up on this way,
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because it is a more excellent way.
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Recall that at the beginning of the letter,
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he skips any form of salutation
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and begins the letter in this way.
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Chapter 1, the first three verses.
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Long ago, at many times and in many ways,
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God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.
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But in these last days,
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he has spoken to us by his Son,
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whom he appointed the heir of all things,
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through whom also he created the world.
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He is the radiance of the glory of God
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and the exact imprint of his nature.
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And he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
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After making purification for sins,
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he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.
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And then he quickly sets about the work
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of showing Christ's superiority,
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beginning with his superiority to angels.
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Verse 4, he writes,
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Having become as much superior to angels
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as the name he has inherited
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is more excellent than theirs.
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And he continues this theme
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in showing that Jesus is superior to Moses
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in chapter 3,
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that Jesus is superior to the high priest
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at the end of chapter 4 and into chapter 5,
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and that Jesus is superior to the whole Levitical system,
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which is where we find ourselves
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in the text this morning.
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As the author continues to make the point
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that Jesus' priesthood
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was not at all like the Aaronic
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or Levitical priesthood,
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because he was not a priest of their order,
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but that his priesthood is superior to theirs
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because it is of the order of Melchizedek.
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And beloved, we have to have this foundation
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if we have any hope in this life
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or in the life to come at all.
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We must understand Jesus
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as a Melchizedekian priest.
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And you don't have to walk around using that name,
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but you have to understand that he's a priest
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that was appointed by God with the promise,
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that he's a priest who is permanent,
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and he was the perfect priest
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because he was the perfect sacrifice.
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We must understand this
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to have a foundation on which
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to build anything of value before God.
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Every person in the world,
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whether they are willing to admit it or not,
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builds upon some foundation.
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Often it's a foundation of our own making.
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In the case of the Hebrews,
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it was a foundation of Judaism,
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and they were very tempted
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to go back to that foundation
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rather than this new foundation
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of Christ as this forever priest.
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So we're going to have foundations.
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If you've ever heard the term,
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it's turtles all the way down.
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It comes from a story of a teacher
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posing the question to a small class,
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young people,
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what holds the world up?
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She thought she'd get no answer to this question,
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and she herself didn't have one.
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But a little boy shot up his hand,
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and he said,
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the world sits on the back of a turtle.
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And she said,
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well, very cleverly,
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what holds that turtle up?
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And he said,
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another turtle.
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And she said,
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well, and what holds that turtle up?
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And he goes,
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teacher,
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it's turtles all the way down.
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So when you hear me say that phrase,
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it's turtles all the way down,
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what I'm suggesting to you
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is we have to build upon something.
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We have to make some assumptions at some point,
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but praise God,
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because of the holy writ,
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because of this inspired word,
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there's an actual foundation,
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a real foundation on which we can build.
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I had a very difficult week,
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and until the second,
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I wasn't planning on sharing this with you,
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but I think it's good and appropriate at this time.
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I don't know exactly.
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The diagnostics are still running
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about why this week was so hard for me.
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I haven't had a vacation since last January.
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I think there's a tiredness
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that's just soaked into my bones.
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I think it's physical.
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More than that,
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I think it's emotional and spiritual.
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I'm just tired.
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There are good reasons for this,
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and there are, I'm sure,
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poor reasons for this.
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I rolled into yesterday,
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anxious,
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that's the word to put on it.
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I'm just feeling an anxiety
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about what in particular I couldn't say.
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I think what probably was causing me the most anxiety
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is that I didn't feel ready to face today.
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Here we are,
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we're talking about this Melchizedekian priest again.
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How do I say this in a meaningful way
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that's new and fresh and helpful?
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I don't know.
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I've got an outline.
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I think it's a pretty good outline for the text.
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I think it makes sense,
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but how is it going to be helpful?
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How is it even helpful to me?
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These are the kinds of things
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that are going through my head,
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and I'm fearing
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the need to fake my way
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through having anything useful
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to do and say today.
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And this caused me
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what I can only describe,
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I don't know if this is what it was or not,
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but to have an anxiety attack.
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Again, if you've had an anxiety attack,
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what I felt may have been nothing like what you felt,
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but I had heart palpitations,
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my heart was beating extremely fast in my chest,
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inexplicably,
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and I just felt this overwhelming pressure.
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And generally, for this morning,
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I don't know.
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And it took me
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most of yesterday
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and into this morning,
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my wife very kindly gave me some space
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yesterday evening
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to work through
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Philippians chapter 4,
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running my mind through
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beginning verse 4
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all the way through
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verse 8.
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What is the remedy
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for this type of feeling
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that I'm having?
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And so if you will,
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turn with me to
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Philippians 4.
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I want to read it to you.
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I just,
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in a very unplanned way,
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but hopefully this will help us
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to consider today's text.
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This is what Paul writes,
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Rejoice in the Lord always.
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Again, I will say,
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Rejoice.
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Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
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The Lord is at hand.
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Right?
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So he's saying,
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like,
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why would you not rejoice?
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Be reasonable.
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Because God is near.
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God knows.
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God is with you.
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Do not be anxious about anything.
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But in everything,
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by prayer and supplication,
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with thanksgiving,
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let your requests be made known
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to God.
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And here comes the cycling of that.
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I'm going,
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I'm not even sure what to pray.
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I don't even know exactly
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what's going on with me right now.
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How do I pray
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that God would help me
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in this feeling
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that I'm having?
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It's anxiety.
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I know.
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What am I even anxious about?
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And in the promise of verse 7,
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if we can make these requests known to God,
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is that the peace of God,
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which surpasses all understanding,
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will guard our hearts
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and our minds
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in Christ Jesus.
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Jesus.
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And I suddenly went,
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that Melchizedekian priest
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who does what for us?
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He always intercedes.
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So Jesus takes
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my messy prayers yesterday
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and he brings them
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before the Father.
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He cleans them up,
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makes them
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understandable,
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and he pleads on my behalf
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before God.
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Right?
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It's in him
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we have this greater hope
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by which we draw near
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to God.
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Verse 19
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of Hebrews chapter 6.
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So,
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if we don't have that foundation,
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beloved,
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we have no hope.
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We have no hope in this life.
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And we have no hope
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in the life to come.
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We need this
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superior Christ.
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And it's a reality.
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It's not just some philosophy.
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It's not an idea.
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It's a reality.
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There is this Jesus.
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And he is in fact
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superior.
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And on this
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we can build a life
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that's filled with hope
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and peace
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and is pleasing
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to God.
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So,
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the outline for our study
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of this morning's text
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is as follows.
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Number one,
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Jesus is superior
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because of a promise.
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Jesus is superior
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because of a promise.
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Number two,
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Jesus is superior
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because of his permanence.
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And number three,
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Jesus is superior
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because of his person.
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So,
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he's superior
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because of a promise,
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because of his permanence,
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and because of his person.
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First,
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Jesus is superior
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because of a promise.
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So,
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just before our text today,
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right,
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we can read up
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a little bit,
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right,
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that there has been
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a priest
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given to us,
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a better hope
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through which
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we draw near
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to God.
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It's through this,
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because the Deccan priest,
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Jesus Christ,
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that was a better hope,
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better than
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the Aaronic priesthood,
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that we can
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draw near
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to Christ.
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And then the author says,
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and it was not
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without
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an oath,
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a promise.
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For those who
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formerly became priests
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were made such
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without
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an oath.
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But this one,
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Jesus Christ,
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was made a priest
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with an oath
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by the one
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who said to him,
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the Lord has sworn
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and will not
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change his mind.
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You are a priest
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forever.
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This makes Jesus
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the guarantor
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of a better
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covenant.
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The point of
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Jesus' superiority
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is first made
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by drawing
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our attention
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to the fact
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that Jesus
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became
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a Melchizedekian
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priest
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through a divine
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oath
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that was recorded
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in Psalm 110
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verse 4.
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The author of Hebrews,
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right,
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through inspiration
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and quite brilliantly
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sees Psalm 110
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and verse 4
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as pointing
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to
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Christ.
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A promise
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that was made
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that Jesus
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would be
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a forever
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priest.
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The Aaronic priests
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were not appointed
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with a promise.
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They took their positions
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because of their lineage
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through divine
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instruction
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but not
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through an oath.
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The only other time
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we know
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of God swearing
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an oath
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is when he ratified
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the covenant
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that he made
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with Abraham.
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We noted this
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and talked about it
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at length
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when we studied
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chapter 6
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verses 13
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through 18.
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And God is not
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obligated
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to make oaths.
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He's God.
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Humans may need
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to make oaths
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to say,
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no really,
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right,
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we're flawed.
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Even in our best efforts
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we often lie.
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So we would say
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to somebody,
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I mean this.
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I'm making this
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commitment,
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right,
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we make marriage
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vows.
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These are oaths
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made to one another
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because we're weak.
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God is not.
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He is in no way
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obligated
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to make oaths
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but because of our
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weakness
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he does so.
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His word is sure
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so
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when God serves
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our feeble minds
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by making oaths
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we should pay
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very careful
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attention
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to what it is
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he's promised
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to do.
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The author of Hebrews
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tells us
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why God does this
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in Hebrews chapter 6
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verse 17.
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So when God desired
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to show
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more convincingly,
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right,
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this isn't because
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his word fails
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but because we fail
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to believe his word
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more convincingly
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to the heirs of the promise
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the unchangeable character
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of his purpose
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he guaranteed it
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with an oath.
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He makes this
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promise.
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He swears by himself
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he makes it sure
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that Jesus
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will be
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a forever
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priest.
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And the author
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is tying this together
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for us
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in verse 22
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where he says
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this makes Jesus
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the guarantor
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of a better
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covenant.
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Because he's
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the forever priest
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and he was
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made so
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by a divine
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oath
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this divine promise
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he's
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the guarantor
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the guarantee
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of a better
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covenant.
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There's two
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very important things
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to note
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about verse
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22.
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First
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in Greek
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the sentence
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ends
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with the word
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the name
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Jesus.
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It's at the very end
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of the sentence.
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Here in English
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the translation
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that we're using
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most of us
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this morning
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ESV
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says this makes
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Jesus
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the guarantor
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of a better
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covenant.
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But in the Greek
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it would have been
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directly
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this makes
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the guarantor
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of a better
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covenant
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Jesus.
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And in Greek
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emphasis
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was placed
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towards the end
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of the sentence.
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Greek sentences
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drive to the point.
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They drive to the end.
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They drive to the weight
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of that
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sentence.
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And so in the original
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language
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this is one of the
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beautiful things
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about knowing
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it's not the case
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for me
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but at least
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knowing how to
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look up
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these types
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of things
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that the author
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of Hebrews
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is placing
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the full weight
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of verses
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20 through 22
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on
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Christ
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on
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Jesus.
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Right?
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This makes
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the guarantor
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of a better
19:13
covenant
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Jesus.
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Secondly
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about verse 22
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the author
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using the name
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Jesus
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instead of in
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other forms
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which he does
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throughout the letter
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Jesus Christ
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the Christ
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is emphasizing
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his humanity
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and his work.
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Jesus
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right?
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This
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God
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man
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emphasizing
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his
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incarnation
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that he came
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and lived
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as a man
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that he had
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an earthly
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ministry.
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And the author
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of Hebrews
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let me remind you
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has made this
19:51
point.
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We lose this
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sometimes in our
19:54
verse by verse
19:55
study which is a
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good and valuable
19:56
thing to do
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but he means
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for ideas to be
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carrying as
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this is a letter
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opened and read
20:02
at one time.
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So Hebrews
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chapter 4
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verse 15
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he says
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for we do not
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have a high priest
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who is unable
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to sympathize
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with our weaknesses
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but one who in
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every respect
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has been tempted
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as we are
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yet
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without sin.
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So beloved
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as you build
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a foundation
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on Christ
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we can have
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this confidence
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that this
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guarantor
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of a better
20:31
covenant
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lived also
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as a man
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took on
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bodily form
20:37
experienced
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the things
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that we
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experience
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experience
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them to the
20:41
full
20:41
because he
20:42
never
20:42
sinned
20:43
all of the
20:44
temptation
20:44
that came
20:45
everything
20:46
that was
20:46
driving at
20:47
me across
20:47
this past
20:48
week
20:48
that I would
20:49
suggest
20:49
caused me
20:50
to sin
20:51
he didn't
20:52
give in
20:52
to
20:53
and he
20:54
doesn't
20:54
just
20:54
empathize
20:55
with me
20:56
in my
20:56
weakness
20:57
he sympathizes
20:58
with me
20:59
he's walked
20:59
in my
21:01
shoes
21:02
what a
21:04
foundation
21:05
to build
21:06
upon
21:06
what
21:07
a forever
21:09
priest
21:10
speaks
21:12
also
21:12
of
21:13
this
21:13
name
21:13
Jesus
21:14
to his
21:15
propitiation
21:16
that he
21:17
stood
21:18
in our
21:19
place
21:19
that he
21:20
took
21:20
the
21:20
punishment
21:21
of God
21:21
that was
21:22
due us
21:23
in
21:23
himself
21:24
again
21:26
in the
21:26
book of
21:27
Hebrews
21:27
chapter 5
21:28
verses 7
21:29
through 10
21:30
in the
21:32
days of
21:32
his flesh
21:33
Jesus
21:34
offered up
21:35
prayers
21:35
and supplications
21:36
with loud
21:37
cries
21:37
and tears
21:38
to him
21:39
who was
21:40
able to
21:40
save him
21:40
from death
21:41
and he
21:42
was heard
21:42
because of
21:43
his reverence
21:44
although he
21:45
was a son
21:46
he learned
21:46
obedience
21:47
through what
21:47
he suffered
21:48
and being
21:49
made perfect
21:50
he became
21:50
the source
21:51
of eternal
21:52
salvation
21:53
to all
21:54
who obey
21:54
him
21:55
being designated
21:56
by God
21:57
a high
21:57
priest
21:57
and this
21:58
is where
21:58
it's
21:59
originally
21:59
introduced
21:59
to us
22:00
after the
22:00
order
22:01
of
22:02
Melchizedek
22:03
Jesus
22:04
died
22:05
in our
22:06
stead
22:07
lived
22:08
a perfect
22:09
life
22:09
that we
22:10
might
22:10
have
22:11
his
22:12
perfection
22:13
so it
22:14
speaks of
22:14
his
22:14
incarnation
22:14
it speaks
22:15
of his
22:15
propitiation
22:16
and it
22:17
speaks
22:17
now
22:18
and where
22:18
we are
22:19
in our
22:19
text
22:19
today
22:20
of his
22:21
intercession
22:22
Jesus
22:24
God
22:26
man
22:26
put to
22:28
death
22:28
for our
22:29
sin
22:30
was raised
22:31
again
22:31
ascended
22:32
and seated
22:33
at the
22:33
right hand
22:33
of the
22:34
father
22:34
and in
22:34
his
22:34
session
22:35
his
22:35
current
22:36
rule
22:36
he
22:37
intercedes
22:38
or prays
22:40
on our
22:40
behalf
22:41
Hebrews
22:42
chapter 7
22:43
and verse
22:44
25
22:44
where we're
22:46
headed
22:46
consequently
22:47
he is able
22:49
to save
22:49
to the uttermost
22:50
those who
22:50
draw near
22:51
to God
22:51
through
22:51
him
22:52
since he
22:52
always
22:53
lives
22:53
to make
22:55
intercession
22:55
for them
22:57
and this
22:58
is all
22:58
true
22:59
because
23:00
of this
23:01
promise
23:02
Jesus
23:02
is superior
23:03
because
23:04
of the
23:05
promise
23:06
secondly
23:07
Jesus
23:08
is superior
23:08
because
23:08
of his
23:09
permanence
23:11
we can see
23:11
this in
23:12
verses 23
23:13
through
23:13
25
23:14
which I
23:15
just read
23:15
the former
23:17
priests were
23:17
many in
23:18
number
23:18
because they
23:19
were prevented
23:20
by death
23:20
from
23:21
continuing
23:21
in office
23:22
but he
23:23
holds
23:24
his priesthood
23:24
permanently
23:25
because he
23:26
continues
23:26
forever
23:28
and then
23:28
verse 25
23:29
consequently
23:30
he is able
23:32
to save
23:32
to the uttermost
23:33
those who
23:33
draw near
23:34
to God
23:34
through him
23:35
since he
23:36
always lives
23:37
to make
23:38
intercession
23:38
for them
23:39
Aaron
23:41
then
23:43
Eleazar
23:43
then
23:45
Phineas
23:45
and so
23:47
on
23:47
and so
23:48
on
23:48
and so
23:49
on
23:49
there
23:50
was a
23:50
high
23:50
priest
23:50
who died
23:52
and then
23:53
another high
23:53
priest took
23:53
his place
23:54
and he died
23:55
and another high
23:55
priest took
23:56
his place
23:56
and he died
23:57
inevitably
23:58
all of the
23:58
biblical record
23:59
of these men
23:59
ends with
24:00
and he
24:01
died
24:01
human men
24:05
just as we
24:06
lose our
24:07
earthly bodies
24:08
one day
24:08
these men
24:09
could no
24:09
longer
24:09
continue in
24:10
the office
24:11
of high
24:12
priest
24:13
it was
24:13
insufficient
24:14
it was
24:15
inferior
24:16
in that
24:17
way
24:17
the historian
24:19
Josephus
24:20
records
24:20
that 83
24:21
priests
24:22
served
24:23
from Aaron
24:24
to the
24:25
destruction
24:25
of the
24:25
second temple
24:26
in AD
24:27
70
24:27
83
24:28
right
24:29
and then
24:30
he died
24:31
came another
24:32
and then
24:32
he died
24:33
and then
24:34
came another
24:35
in some other
24:35
historical
24:36
records
24:37
there are as
24:37
many as
24:38
300 plus
24:39
that served
24:40
in this role
24:41
so there's
24:41
even some
24:42
contradiction
24:43
in there
24:44
but the
24:44
point being
24:45
and simply
24:46
the point
24:46
that the
24:47
author of
24:47
Hebrews
24:47
is making
24:48
here
24:48
is that
24:49
they couldn't
24:49
continue
24:50
forever
24:50
and they
24:52
didn't
24:52
in contrast
24:54
Jesus'
24:55
priesthood
24:55
is permanent
24:57
that is
24:58
it is
24:59
non-transferable
25:01
it is
25:02
his priesthood
25:03
and he
25:04
will be
25:05
the priest
25:06
forever
25:07
Jesus is a
25:08
priest
25:09
after the
25:10
order of
25:11
Melchizedek
25:11
perpetually
25:13
right
25:13
in perpetuity
25:14
if you like
25:15
to watch
25:15
Shark Tank
25:16
and the
25:17
benefits
25:17
of this
25:18
reality
25:19
are massive
25:20
they're
25:21
massive
25:22
firstly
25:23
by faith
25:24
in Jesus'
25:25
eternal
25:26
perpetual
25:26
priesthood
25:27
we are
25:29
saved
25:29
totally
25:31
the author
25:33
of Hebrews
25:33
says that
25:33
he is able
25:34
to save
25:35
to the
25:36
uttermost
25:37
priesthood
25:38
it's not
25:38
a word
25:39
that's
25:39
common
25:40
in our
25:40
vernacular
25:40
today
25:41
and I
25:42
commend
25:43
the use
25:43
of it
25:43
in this
25:44
case
25:45
because the
25:46
idea of
25:47
completeness
25:49
is bound up
25:49
in the original
25:50
Greek word
25:51
but that's not
25:52
it
25:53
the idea
25:53
of
25:53
eternality
25:54
is also
25:55
bound up
25:55
in this
25:56
Greek word
25:57
and so to
25:57
use either
25:58
one
25:58
some translations
26:00
say for
26:01
all time
26:02
but that
26:02
falls short
26:03
and so
26:04
what I'm
26:06
guessing
26:06
is that
26:07
the translators
26:07
used a word
26:08
that would
26:08
make us all
26:09
scratch our
26:09
heads a little
26:10
bit
26:10
and do a
26:11
little work
26:11
to understand
26:12
that the
26:14
original word
26:15
combines these
26:16
ideas of
26:16
completeness
26:17
with
26:17
eternality
26:18
that really
26:20
to translate
26:20
it well
26:21
we'd have to
26:21
insert a
26:22
phrase
26:22
for that
26:23
single word
26:24
which would
26:24
be something
26:25
like
26:25
able to
26:26
save
26:27
completely
26:27
for all
26:29
time
26:30
that he
26:32
does a
26:33
work
26:33
that he
26:35
saves
26:36
us
26:37
it's not
26:38
a working
26:39
of our
26:39
own
26:40
right
26:40
we do
26:41
good work
26:41
now
26:42
because
26:43
he's
26:43
saved
26:44
us
26:45
but our
26:46
good working
26:46
adds
26:47
nothing
26:47
to
26:48
our
26:49
salvation
26:49
it
26:51
glorifies
26:52
the one
26:52
who saved
26:54
us
26:54
so he
26:55
saves us
26:56
completely
26:56
and he
26:57
saves us
26:58
securely
26:59
for all
27:00
time
27:01
so we
27:03
can add
27:03
nothing
27:03
to it
27:04
Paul writes
27:04
of this
27:04
in Ephesians
27:05
chapter 2
27:05
verse 8
27:06
and 9
27:06
for by grace
27:07
you have been
27:07
saved through
27:08
faith
27:08
and this is
27:10
not your own
27:10
doing
27:11
unless we be
27:12
unclear about
27:13
what grace
27:14
is
27:14
it's not
27:15
your own
27:16
doing
27:16
it's the
27:16
gift
27:17
of God
27:18
not a
27:19
result of
27:20
works
27:20
so that
27:21
no one
27:22
may boast
27:24
God
27:26
has
27:26
saved us
27:28
and this
27:28
has
27:29
present
27:30
implication
27:31
for us
27:31
in this
27:32
life
27:32
as we
27:33
are
27:33
even
27:34
now
27:34
saved
27:35
completely
27:35
yet
27:36
growing
27:37
up
27:38
in
27:38
holiness
27:39
this
27:40
thing
27:40
we
27:40
call
27:41
sanctification
27:42
Paul
27:44
writes
27:44
in 1
27:44
Corinthians
27:44
chapter 1
27:45
and verse
27:45
18
27:46
for the word
27:46
of the cross
27:47
is folly
27:48
to those
27:48
who are
27:49
perishing
27:49
but to
27:51
us who
27:51
are being
27:52
saved
27:54
it is
27:55
the power
27:55
of God
27:57
this
27:58
doesn't
27:58
mean
27:59
that we
27:59
are being
27:59
saved
28:00
in a
28:00
degree
28:01
we
28:01
are
28:02
saved
28:02
but we
28:03
are
28:03
continually
28:04
being
28:05
saved
28:05
we are
28:06
continually
28:07
being turned
28:07
from sin
28:08
and to
28:09
God
28:09
in
28:10
Christ
28:11
Christ
28:13
is able
28:14
to save
28:15
to the
28:16
uttermost
28:17
completely
28:18
for all
28:19
time
28:20
those who
28:22
place their
28:22
faith
28:22
in him
28:23
secondly
28:26
by faith
28:26
in Jesus
28:27
eternal
28:27
perpetual
28:28
priesthood
28:29
we are
28:31
interceded
28:32
for
28:32
totally
28:34
totally
28:36
he does
28:37
it all
28:37
he catches
28:38
every
28:39
heavenward
28:40
prayer
28:41
and he
28:42
intercedes
28:42
for us
28:44
because he
28:45
always
28:45
lives
28:46
to make
28:47
intercession
28:48
for them
28:49
do you ever
28:51
grow weary
28:52
in your
28:53
praying
28:53
I do
28:55
I grow weary
28:57
in my
28:57
praying
28:57
my prayers
28:58
can be
28:58
so weak
28:59
just often
29:00
don't even
29:01
know
29:02
what
29:03
to pray
29:04
but praise
29:05
God
29:05
Christ
29:06
never
29:07
does
29:08
he is
29:10
self-existing
29:11
and self-sustaining
29:13
and he sits
29:14
at the right
29:14
hand of the
29:15
father
29:15
forever
29:16
he never
29:17
falls asleep
29:17
on the job
29:18
he never
29:19
takes a
29:19
bathroom
29:20
break
29:20
he never
29:21
ceases
29:22
to intercede
29:23
for us
29:24
that's a
29:25
reality
29:26
that you
29:26
can build
29:27
upon
29:27
if you
29:29
are in
29:29
Christ
29:30
he is
29:31
interceding
29:32
for you
29:33
the author
29:34
of Hebrews
29:34
chapter 9
29:35
verse 24
29:36
says
29:36
Christ
29:36
has entered
29:38
into heaven
29:38
itself
29:39
now to
29:40
appear in
29:41
the presence
29:42
of God
29:42
on our
29:43
behalf
29:45
Paul
29:47
Paul writes
29:47
in Romans
29:47
chapter 8
29:48
and verse
29:48
34
29:49
who is
29:50
to
29:51
condemn
29:51
not even
29:54
myself
29:55
Christ
29:56
Jesus
29:56
is the
29:57
one who
29:57
died
29:57
more than
29:58
that who
29:59
was raised
29:59
who is at
30:00
the right
30:01
hand of
30:01
God
30:01
who indeed
30:02
is interceding
30:04
for us
30:06
he clothes us
30:07
in his righteousness
30:08
he gives us the
30:09
ability to draw
30:10
near to God
30:11
and he
30:12
cleans us up
30:15
and he cleans
30:15
up our prayers
30:16
so that we
30:18
would be
30:19
accepted
30:19
by God
30:21
he ushers
30:22
us
30:23
into his
30:24
presence
30:24
this is
30:27
astounding
30:27
Christ
30:30
is dumb
30:31
a 4th century
30:32
preacher
30:32
gives
30:33
a helpful
30:33
analogy
30:34
of this idea
30:36
of Jesus
30:37
interceding
30:37
for us
30:38
and I
30:39
quote from
30:40
Kent Hughes
30:40
commentary
30:41
on Hebrews
30:42
a young boy
30:43
whose father
30:43
was away
30:44
on a trip
30:45
wanted to
30:46
present his
30:46
father with
30:47
something that
30:47
would please
30:48
him
30:48
his mother
30:49
sent him
30:50
into the
30:50
garden
30:51
to gather
30:51
a bouquet
30:52
of flowers
30:52
moms I
30:53
don't know
30:53
if that's
30:53
really what
30:54
dads want
30:54
when they
30:55
come home
30:55
but
30:56
this young
30:57
boy's mom
30:57
did this
30:58
the little
30:59
boy
30:59
gathered a
31:00
sorry bouquet
31:01
of weeds
31:02
as well as
31:03
flowers
31:03
I think moms
31:05
have all
31:05
gotten one
31:05
of those
31:06
but when
31:08
the father
31:08
returned home
31:09
he was
31:09
presented with
31:10
a beautifully
31:10
arranged bouquet
31:12
for the
31:12
mother
31:12
had intervened
31:14
removing
31:15
all the
31:16
weeds
31:16
Jesus
31:18
cleans up
31:19
our
31:20
prayers
31:21
and he
31:21
most certainly
31:22
cleans up
31:23
us
31:24
so that we
31:25
can draw near
31:26
to God
31:27
in him
31:28
so Jesus
31:30
is superior
31:30
because of
31:31
a promise
31:33
and he is
31:33
superior because
31:34
of his
31:35
permanence
31:37
and lastly
31:38
he is
31:39
superior
31:39
because of
31:41
his
31:41
person
31:41
verse 26
31:44
and through
31:44
the end
31:45
of the text
31:46
for it was
31:47
indeed fitting
31:48
that we should
31:48
have such a
31:50
high priest
31:51
holy
31:51
innocent
31:52
unstained
31:53
separated from
31:54
sinners
31:54
and exalted
31:55
above the
31:56
heavens
31:56
he has no
31:58
need like
31:59
those high
31:59
priests to
31:59
offer
32:00
sacrifices
32:00
daily
32:01
first for
32:01
his own
32:02
sins
32:02
and then
32:03
for those
32:03
of the
32:04
people
32:04
since he
32:05
did this
32:05
once for
32:06
all
32:07
when he
32:07
offered up
32:07
himself
32:08
for the
32:10
law
32:10
appoints
32:10
men
32:10
in their
32:11
weakness
32:11
as high
32:12
priests
32:12
but the
32:13
word of
32:13
the oath
32:14
which came
32:15
later than
32:15
the law
32:15
appoints
32:16
a son
32:17
who has
32:18
been made
32:18
perfect
32:19
forever
32:20
now of
32:22
interest
32:22
these three
32:23
verses
32:23
it was
32:25
argued by
32:25
the ancient
32:26
Italian
32:26
commentator
32:27
Teodorico
32:29
something like
32:30
that
32:31
are an
32:32
old hymn
32:33
he called
32:35
it in his
32:35
commentary
32:36
a hymn
32:37
to the
32:37
high
32:38
priest
32:39
I hope
32:40
this was
32:40
true
32:41
it's very
32:43
possible that
32:43
the author
32:44
of Hebrews
32:44
is quoting
32:46
he's citing
32:47
a hymn
32:48
to this
32:49
little
32:50
Hebrew
32:50
church
32:51
they would
32:51
have been
32:52
familiar with
32:53
these words
32:54
in similar
32:55
fashion from
32:56
time to time
32:56
when we're
32:56
preaching
32:57
will remind
32:58
us of
32:59
something we
32:59
sing together
33:00
and we're
33:01
showing its
33:02
veracity
33:02
from the
33:04
scripture
33:04
it may be
33:06
that he's
33:07
intending to
33:08
sum up this
33:09
idea of
33:10
Christ's
33:10
priesthood
33:11
before he
33:11
moves into
33:12
him being a
33:13
priest of a
33:14
better covenant
33:15
with a
33:17
song
33:17
I like that
33:19
idea
33:19
whether or not
33:21
it's the case
33:21
the author of
33:22
Hebrews does
33:23
seem to
33:24
encapsulate all
33:25
that he has been
33:26
saying in
33:27
these final
33:28
three verses
33:28
he begins
33:31
this idea
33:32
of it being
33:33
fitting
33:34
that we should
33:35
have such a
33:36
high priest
33:38
and this is
33:39
better rendered
33:40
it's clunky
33:42
in English
33:43
but would be
33:45
better rendered
33:45
such a high
33:47
priest
33:48
exactly
33:50
befits
33:50
us
33:52
us
33:53
you see
33:59
the emphasis
34:00
here being
34:00
put on
34:01
what we
34:03
needed in
34:03
a high
34:04
priest
34:04
because of
34:06
our
34:07
fallen
34:08
condition
34:08
because we
34:10
are incapable
34:11
of pleasing
34:12
God
34:12
because no
34:14
man could go
34:15
to God
34:15
on our
34:16
behalf
34:16
because that
34:17
man is in
34:18
that same
34:18
fallen
34:19
condition
34:20
makes that
34:21
point in
34:22
verse 28
34:22
the law
34:23
points men
34:24
in their
34:24
weakness
34:25
and that
34:26
those high
34:26
priests
34:26
verse 27
34:27
had to
34:28
offer
34:28
sacrifices
34:29
daily
34:29
first for
34:30
their
34:30
sins
34:31
as humans
34:32
we all
34:33
find ourselves
34:34
in this
34:34
place
34:35
and so
34:36
no man
34:37
can intercede
34:38
for another
34:39
man
34:39
because of
34:41
our fallen
34:42
condition
34:42
such a
34:43
high priest
34:44
exactly
34:45
befits
34:46
us
34:47
because of
34:49
the
34:49
insufficiency
34:50
of the
34:50
law
34:51
to give
34:51
us
34:51
unfettered
34:52
access
34:52
to God
34:54
there's
34:54
no measure
34:56
of our
34:56
working
34:57
no amount
34:58
of sacrifice
34:59
that could
35:00
fully draw
35:02
us near
35:02
to God
35:04
the way
35:04
we can
35:05
in Christ
35:06
because of
35:08
this
35:08
condition
35:09
we need
35:11
a superior
35:12
priest
35:13
and Jesus
35:14
is that
35:16
priest
35:16
he is
35:18
holy
35:19
and
35:20
innocent
35:21
and
35:21
unstained
35:23
the text
35:23
tells us
35:24
he is
35:25
perfect
35:26
and this
35:27
is either
35:29
the author
35:30
of Hebrews
35:30
just building
35:31
upon that
35:32
idea
35:33
right
35:33
he is
35:34
without
35:35
sin
35:36
never
35:36
committed
35:37
it
35:37
he is
35:38
holy
35:38
like God
35:39
is holy
35:39
he is
35:40
unstained
35:41
not only
35:41
on the
35:42
outside
35:43
as the
35:44
Levitical
35:46
priesthood
35:46
had to
35:46
be
35:47
purified
35:47
on the
35:48
outside
35:48
but he
35:48
is also
35:49
unstained
35:49
on the
35:50
inside
35:50
his very
35:51
person
35:52
is without
35:52
stain
35:53
so he
35:54
may be
35:54
just
35:55
compounding
35:56
an idea
35:57
or
35:58
possibly
35:59
in relation
36:00
to God
36:01
he is
36:01
holy
36:02
like God
36:02
is holy
36:03
in relation
36:04
to man
36:04
he is
36:05
innocent
36:06
have never
36:06
committed
36:07
any crime
36:08
against man
36:09
and yet
36:09
tried
36:10
and condemned
36:11
and
36:13
in relation
36:14
to
36:14
himself
36:15
unstained
36:17
without
36:18
any
36:18
sin
36:20
either
36:21
way
36:22
idea
36:23
being
36:23
given
36:24
to
36:24
us
36:24
is
36:25
that
36:26
he is
36:26
perfect
36:26
right
36:27
he goes
36:28
on
36:28
to say
36:28
separated
36:29
from
36:30
sinners
36:31
most
36:32
likely
36:33
due to
36:34
the
36:34
context
36:34
of
36:34
this
36:35
letter
36:35
the
36:35
author
36:36
is
36:36
referring
36:36
to
36:37
his
36:37
distinction
36:38
from
36:39
the
36:40
Levitical
36:40
priesthood
36:41
some
36:42
suggest
36:42
that
36:42
because
36:43
he is
36:43
in
36:43
his
36:43
heavenly
36:44
session
36:44
he is
36:45
separated
36:45
from
36:46
sinners
36:47
but
36:48
the author
36:48
of
36:48
Hebrews
36:49
has
36:49
been
36:49
telling
36:49
us
36:50
that
36:50
we
36:50
have
36:51
this
36:51
very
36:52
near
36:52
priest
36:53
right
36:54
one
36:54
who
36:55
can
36:55
sympathize
36:56
with
36:56
us
36:56
in
36:57
our
36:57
weaknesses
36:57
this
36:57
does
36:58
not
36:58
seem
36:58
like
36:58
a
36:58
far
36:59
standing
36:59
off
37:00
separated
37:00
priest
37:01
but
37:02
a
37:02
close
37:03
priest
37:04
so
37:05
most
37:06
likely
37:06
he is
37:07
talking
37:08
about
37:08
this
37:08
distinction
37:09
from
37:10
the
37:10
Levitical
37:11
priesthood
37:12
because
37:12
verse 27
37:13
he has
37:14
no need
37:14
like
37:15
those
37:15
high
37:16
priests
37:16
to
37:18
offer
37:18
sacrifices
37:18
daily
37:19
first
37:19
for
37:19
his
37:20
own
37:20
sins
37:20
and
37:20
then
37:21
for
37:21
those
37:21
of
37:21
the
37:21
people
37:22
since
37:23
he
37:23
did
37:23
this
37:24
once
37:25
for
37:25
all
37:26
when
37:26
he
37:27
offered
37:27
up
37:27
himself
37:29
so
37:31
see
37:31
how
37:32
distinct
37:33
he
37:34
is
37:34
as
37:35
a
37:35
mcculls
37:35
a
37:35
priest
37:36
massively
37:39
different
37:40
not
37:41
only
37:41
is
37:41
he
37:42
the
37:42
great
37:42
high
37:43
priest
37:43
but
37:44
he
37:45
himself
37:45
is
37:46
the
37:47
sacrifice
37:47
that he
37:48
offered
37:49
the
37:50
weightiness
37:51
of our
37:52
sin
37:52
the
37:52
eternal
37:53
weight
37:53
of it
37:53
against
37:54
a
37:54
most
37:55
holy
37:56
eternally
37:57
holy
37:58
God
37:59
could
37:59
only
38:00
be
38:00
met
38:00
with
38:01
an
38:01
eternal
38:02
sacrifice
38:03
and
38:04
this
38:04
was
38:05
Christ
38:06
himself
38:07
and
38:09
because
38:09
of this
38:09
he is
38:10
exalted
38:11
above
38:12
the
38:12
heavens
38:13
speaks
38:14
to the
38:14
triumph
38:15
of his
38:15
resurrection
38:16
of his
38:17
ascension
38:18
and
38:19
of his
38:19
session
38:20
for the
38:22
law
38:22
appoints
38:23
men
38:23
in their
38:24
weakness
38:24
as high
38:25
priests
38:25
but the
38:26
word
38:26
of the
38:26
oath
38:27
the
38:27
promise
38:28
which
38:29
came
38:29
later
38:30
than
38:30
the
38:30
law
38:30
appoints
38:31
a son
38:31
who
38:32
has
38:32
been
38:32
made
38:32
perfect
38:33
forever
38:34
brings
38:36
us back
38:36
to this
38:37
idea
38:37
of the
38:38
perfection
38:38
of
38:39
Christ
38:40
in
38:41
perpetuity
38:42
forever
38:43
and ever
38:44
and ever
38:45
and the
38:46
author of
38:47
Hebrews
38:47
intends
38:48
to root
38:49
his
38:50
original
38:50
hearers
38:51
and us
38:52
today
38:53
in this
38:54
foundation
38:55
Jesus
38:57
is superior
38:58
because of
38:59
a promise
39:00
because of
39:01
his permanence
39:02
and because
39:03
of his
39:04
person
39:04
Jesus
39:06
is superior
39:07
because God
39:07
promised his
39:08
priesthood
39:09
because his
39:10
priesthood is
39:11
permanent
39:11
and because
39:12
his person
39:13
is perfect
39:14
the outcome
39:16
for God's
39:17
people
39:17
is inevitable
39:18
and it
39:19
is eternal
39:20
so beloved
39:22
hold fast
39:24
persevere
39:26
to the
39:26
end
39:27
for we
39:28
have a
39:28
superior
39:29
high priest
39:30
it does
39:31
not matter
39:32
if you
39:32
are in
39:33
Christ
39:33
what
39:35
troubles
39:36
may come
39:36
your way
39:37
whether it
39:39
be physical
39:39
or emotional
39:40
what onslaughts
39:42
assail you
39:43
we have
39:44
a steady
39:45
a sure
39:46
anchor
39:47
of the
39:48
soul
39:48
and so
39:51
in application
39:51
this is what
39:54
the author's
39:54
working to
39:55
accomplish
39:56
in us
39:57
this morning
39:58
chapter 6
39:59
verse 11
40:00
and 12
40:01
and we
40:02
desire
40:02
each one
40:03
of you
40:03
to show
40:04
the same
40:04
earnestness
40:05
to have
40:06
the full
40:07
assurance
40:07
of hope
40:08
until the
40:09
end
40:09
so that
40:10
you may
40:10
not be
40:11
sluggish
40:11
but imitators
40:13
of those
40:13
who through
40:14
faith
40:15
and patience
40:17
inherit
40:18
the promises
40:19
I hope
40:20
you'll look
40:21
to the promises
40:22
with me
40:23
this morning
40:23
let's pray
40:25
together
40:25
let's pray