Jesus’ Priesthood is like Melchizedek’s
Session 18 – August 26, 2020 – Men’s Morning Hebrews Haverim
Our Men’s Haverim group is reading through and discussing the book of Hebrews during the months of August and September. For more information, see this blog post.
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
Hebrews 7:11 New International Version
Summary
- The author starts with the rhetorical question: why was another priesthood needed and why did another priest need to come?
- His answer: with the coming of another priest of another order, the law is changed.
- He establishes that the other priest is Jesus: he was from the tribe of Judah and clearly not of a lineage of priests, and he is of the order of Melchizedek, who is a priest not because of ancestry but because he lives an “indestructible” life and is a priest forever.
- By showing Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek in this way, the author adds to his argument that Jesus’ priesthood is superior to that of Aaron and the Levites.
Other Thoughts:
- The priesthood is defined in two “orders”: of Levi (Levitical) and of Melchizedek. Levitical priests served until death and only to the Israelites, but Melchizedek and Jesus serve forever because their lives are indestructible, or unstoppable.
- If the Levitical priesthood could have been “telios” – perfect or complete – then there would be no need to change the priesthood. A main flaw in the earlier priesthood is that the priests could only serve until they died, but priests in the order of Melchizedek serve forever.
- While the Israelite nation depended on the priesthood to carry out sacrifices for their sins, their dependency on human relationships ultimately would fail. They needed a new priest with a new law to provide a sacrifice for all sins – Jesus.
- By the time of Jesus and the Hebrew audience, there were several factions among the Jewish priests and teachers, including the Essenes, Pharisees and Saducees. Jesus’ interactions with these groups showed the flaws that had developed in the priesthood and their view of the law. Jesus came to fulfill all of the law and become a perfect sacrifice, and to forever serve as both King and High Priest.
- Are you relying on the weak and imperfect practices of your past life (job, career, relationships, etc.) or on the salvation we have in our perfect High Priest Jesus?