CHRIST'S
-- HEBREWS 7
We have already been introduced to the idea that Christ was
made a high priest after the order of Melchisedec. The writer had much to say
about that but, they were not in a state of mind then to understand it. They
had made very little progress in their Christianity. In Hebrews seven the
writer returns to the subject of the priesthood of Christ. He shows that Jesus'
priesthood is superior to the Jewish priesthood.
Jesus was a priest like Melchisedec. Abraham, the father of
the Jewish nation and Jewish priesthood acknowledged that Melchisedec was
superior, and even he paid tribute to him. But Christ was of the order of
Melchisedec. His priesthood was superior to the Jewish priesthood.
Melchisedec stands alone on the pages of the sacred
Scripture. He was without any known ancestry and therefore was worthy to be
compared with the Son of God. Even Levi paid tithes in Abraham, to
Melchisedec.
"Perfection" could not come through the Levitical
priesthood. There had to be a new priesthood in order to have perfection. But
to have a new priesthood there had to be a change in the law. (Hebrews
7:12) Under the Jewish system there were
many priests. Those priest lived a brief period, and were then removed by
death. Under Christianity there is but one High Priest and no dying. His is an
unchangeable priesthood. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
"Nothing
made the Jews as fond of the Levitical dispensation as the high esteem they had
of their priesthood." The Hebrew writer here shows them that being in
Christ they have a much better high priest, a priesthood of a higher order, and
consequently a better dispensation or covenant, a better law and a New
Testament.
Priesthood like Melchisedec -- Hebrews 7:1-10: Melchisedec
is set forth as a type of Christ. He is (a) king of
There were many in the Bible who gave us brief glimpses of
what Jesus would be like. Melchisedec, the priest, was the first to represent
Christ by what he was and did. He depicted the foundation of all that our Lord
Jesus Christ would do. Like Melchisedec, Jesus would hold a priestly office,
whereby He made atonement, and reconciliation for the sins of mankind.
Abraham gave a tenth to Melchisedec and Melchisedec blessed
him. The Levitical priests had a right to receive tithes of their brethren, but
still that they were inferior to Melchisedec. Liberal giving was a part of the
life of the patriarchs before the law, the Jews under the law, and the
Christians in times of the gospel.
"King of righteousness" is the meaning of the
name "Melchisedec." What better type of the Messiah could there be
than him who was king of righteousness? We have no record of Melchisedec's
death. Just so, the life of the church depends upon the everlasting life of
Jesus Christ, our Savior. The Hebrew writer attempted to show the superiority
of Jesus by proving that His priesthood was like that of Melchisedec.
A priesthood that brings perfection-- Hebrews 7:11-19: If
perfection, remission of sin, could have been obtained by the sacrifices
offered by the Jewish priests, there would have been no need that God give a
new law and a new priesthood. God sent another priest who was not after the
order of Aaron. This priest was God's own Son, a priest forever after the order
of Melchisedec.
The Old Testament priesthood was limited to one tribe,
Levi, and to one certain family, that of Aaron. Under that priesthood and those
sacrifices there was no forgiveness of sins. That helped us understand the
necessity of raising up another priest, after the order of Melchisedec and not
after the order of Aaron. God's mercy was seen in the giving of the law and
even more so in the taking away of the law. Now sins can be forgiven!
Under the Levitical priesthood the next high priest was the
eldest son of the present high priest. Death brought a new high priest. The law,
by which Christ was constituted a priest, after the order of Melchisedec, was
the power of an endless life. Life and immortality is what gave Jesus His
priesthood.
A priesthood superior to Aaron's -- Hebrews 7:20-24: The
writer continues to press the subject of the excellency of the priesthood of
Christ. In addition to every other consideration showing the superiority of
Christ as a priest, there was the solemnity of the oath by which He was set
apart to the office. Under the Levitical system men became priest by decent,
because of death it was now their turn. Christ did not become a priest by
decent, but by an oath. "The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7:21)
Jesus is the surety "of a better covenant." The
New Covenant which God made with mankind by means of Jesus is a better
covenant. It is a better covenant because its commands are simple. It is a
better covenant because it related to all men, not just the Jewish people. It
is a better covenant because it is eternal and under it sins can be forgiven.
Priesthood with a superior priest -- Hebrews 7:25-28: Jesus has
the power to save. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them." (Hebrews 7:25) He is able to save to the uttermost. He does not
abandon the work midway; He does not begin the work of salvation and then leave
it unfinished because of death.
The only priest that could be suitable for our
reconciliation to God would be one who was perfectly righteous in his own
person. He would have to be righteous or He could not be a propitiation for our
sin. This was the case with Jesus. He was so holy that He needed no sacrifice
for Himself, and all that He did was in behalf of others. The great foundation
of our faith, and the main thing upon which our consolation depends, is that
our High Priest is The Son of God, and His everlasting continuance in this
office is secured by the oath of God.
Your faith in Jesus as your great High
Priest will lead you to baptism into Christ. Baptism brings one into the death
of Christ and into contact with His saving blood. (Romans 6:3-4) Becoming a
Christian makes one a member of Christ's church, for the church is God's
family, made up of His children. Those in the church have Jesus as their
faithful high priest. Make your salvation sure. There is no privilege on earth
like being a Christian.