- Jesus’ eternal priesthood aligns with Melchizedek’s ancient priesthood, not Aaron’s priesthood under the Law. (Click here for more.)
- Melchizedek’s priesthood was superior to Aaron’s as a descendant of Levi. (Click here for more.)
We’ve considered significant and specific details of his life in the last two sections but really, we have to go through the last eight lessons to really comprehend his importance to the book of Hebrews and even more, his importance to God’s plan for all of us. The book of Hebrews gives Melchizedek as an example for us to understand Jesus’ priesthood, and therefore His position to atone for sin and offer salvation to all people.
I encourage you to start this section by reading Hebrews 7:11-28. It’s a long passage; we’ll jump around in it as we work through it. One of my favorite Bible study methods – especially with a long or complex text – is to ask questions of the passage. In those moments, I sit at the feet of Jesus as I ask Him questions about our topic. And in those moments, the Word made flesh never fails to answer through the wholeness of His Scripture. We’ll use this method to work through this section.
 |
| Click picture for a printable handout for this section |
Why was Aaron’s priestly order insufficient for the Messianic priesthood?
It didn’t offer perfection; it didn’t bring to completion (Hebrews 7:11, 19).
Perfection is a triangular mountain focused within this long passage. Verse 11 begins the ascent with the Levitical priesthood’s insufficiency to bring perfection. Peaked right in the middle, verse 19 climaxes the insufficiency of the Law for perfection but makes the promise of a better hope. The last verse, verse 28, ends the descent with the culmination of that better hope in eternal perfection.
What is perfection? It seems like an unattainable goal.
Perfection – sometimes translated as completion – is a fulfillment or consummation. It is an “event which verifies the promise” (Strong’s). A promise or oath has to be given and then that promise has to be fully realized. In this case, God makes an oath; we live in hope until that oath is fully realized or consummated.
Aaron’s priestly order was insufficient because it couldn’t bring us to perfection or completion. It was inadequate because it required a mortal man to serve as high priest. This was weak, unprofitable, and perfected nothing (Hebrews 7:18-19).
Why didn’t God stick with Melchizedek’s priestly order?
It’s a complicated question. If Aaron’s order didn’t bring perfection and Jesus is a priest of Melchizedek’s order, then why didn’t God stick with that original order of Melchizedek and bring the Messiah through it? Why did He give the Law and institute a new priestly order through Levi and Aaron?
On its own, Melchizedek’s priesthood was also insufficient because the Law hadn’t yet come. God had to give the Law so we would know what sin is. Without a definition of sin, we would never be able to recognize our own sin which is a critical step in the whole redemption process (Romans 3:20, 7:7-8).
Jesus fulfilled the duties of a priest of Aaron’s order and Melchizedek’s order. However, that is where the similarity stops. A priest of Aaron’s order had to be a descendant of Aaron whereas a priest of Melchizedek’s order had to be a son of him who was righteous and be called on the basis of an indestructible life. That’s why Jesus is a priest of Melchizedek’s order rather than Aaron’s.
How can Jesus be our high priest?
I don’t have to be too smart to know that God can’t break the Law. He is absolutely sinless; the Law defines sin. I know He can’t go against what it says. So, if the Law says a priest must be a descendant of Aaron, then I have to ask, “How can Jesus be our high priest?”
I think this must be the issue with which the first-century Jews struggled. They knew Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The author of Hebrews will answer it for us.
“When there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well” (Hebrews 7:12). Priesthood changed from Melchizedek to Levi and the law changed to the Old Testament Law from whatever was prior. A few millennia later, the priesthood changed from Levi to Jesus. With that change comes a change in the Law as well; God made that change.
God didn’t throw away the whole Law – He only annulled one specific command within that Law (Hebrews 7:18). The Law – made up of many commands – still remains as our definition of sin. Love your neighbor as yourself – this command still stands. Do not steal – still valid. Honor your father and your mother – still need to do that. The priest must come from Aaron’s priestly line – God says we’re done with this one. He has the authority to do that; we don’t.
What’s the point of all this? Why two complicated priesthoods?
We reach the pinnacle – the summit of the mountain to which we referred earlier. The Law was necessary but “the law perfected nothing.” Instead, “a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19). Remember our focus? Perfection – a restoration and completion of our relationship with Holy God.
The better hope is given by promise of an oath (Hebrews 7:20). An oath gives hope of a promised event; the hope is realized when brought to perfection and completion.
God made an oath to Abraham which we discussed in a previous section. The oath confirmed three prior promises which consisted of blessing, numerous descendants, possession of the land, and blessing for the whole earth through his descendants. That oath given to Abraham gives us “strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18).
Even more, God made an oath to Melchizedek hundreds of years later – even after Abraham, Levi, and Aaron had long since passed away. Through King David, “The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: ‘Forever, you are a priest like Melchizedek’” (Psalm 110:4). It is through this oath that “a better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19).
What’s better about the hope through Jesus’ priesthood?
A Better Hope – Mercy versus Grace
Mercy and grace aren’t synonyms. Mercy is when we don’t receive punishment due us. Grace is a gift given above and beyond. Mercy doesn’t send us to hell as the punishment our sin deserves. Grace gives us the blessing of eternity in heaven with God.
Aaron’s priesthood offered mercy. Through it, the Law showed us our sin and gave us the hope to seize what was before us – an opportunity to be saved from the consequences of our sin. It set a standard and revealed we are inadequate on our own to live up to that standard. It established the necessity of sacrifice to atone for sin. Through the Law, the priesthood, and the sacrifices, we received mercy. We were saved from the punishment due us.
Jesus’ priesthood – in the order of Melchizedek – offers grace. Jesus’ final sacrifice on the cross gave us mercy under the Law to save us from hell. His resurrection – the power of His indestructible life as the Son of Righteousness – gave us grace to enter into eternity in the presence of Holy God as eternal and righteous persons ourselves.
A Better Covenant – Law versus New Covenant
The Law couldn’t get the job done. It could save from hell but it couldn’t bring us to perfection in eternal righteousness. Its sacrifices could give mercy but it couldn’t bring us to perfection, completion, or consummation in the presence of God.
The New Covenant combined the eternal righteousness of Melchizedek’s order with the spotless sacrificial Lamb required by the Law and Aaron’s order. That’s why Jesus lives forever as a our High Priest who…
- Is always able to save (Hebrews 7:25).
- Is always available for intercession (Hebrews 7:25).
- Is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted (Hebrews 7:26).
- Is a completed sacrifice once and for all (Hebrews 7:27).
← Previous Section: Melchizedek Superior to Abraham
Next Section: Jesus: Something Better →
No comments:
Post a Comment