Hebrews 7:11, 14 NIV
[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?…
[14] For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”
Slowly and carefully, our writer unpacks Jesus’ superiority in every way over Moses, and the Mosaic law with its limitations. Just as He is superior over angels and over Moses, so Jesus’ priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood. The order to which He belongs is not about tribal ancestry but about the power of an endless life.
Hebrews 7:15-16 NIV
[15] “And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, [16] one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.”
Jesus was sworn in to this office by an oath…God Himself authorising His appointment, setting aside the system of Levitical priests which was part of an interim covenant, and confirming the order of Melchizedek which He set up before Levi and his descendants were born.
Hebrews 7:20-22 NIV
[20] “And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, [21] but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” [22] Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.”
Now, let’s examine the benefits of this priesthood.
First, Jesus lives forever so that His priesthood is permanent. There is no longer the issue of continuity. Generation after generation can rely on the faithfulness of our High Priest because He is permanently present with the Father to stand in our place, to present His own blood as a sufficient sacrifice for our sin, and to provide mercy and grace for those who come to God through Him.
Hebrews 7:25 NIV
[25] “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Second, Jesus provides complete salvation. He is not only priest but also sacrifice. He is everything we need to satisfy the Father’s wrath against sin and to provide for us on our journey to the Father.
There is no flaw or weakness in Jesus. He is able to save us because He is alive, because He is perfect, and because the Father appointed Him as high priest with an oath.
So, our writer concludes…
Hebrews 7:26-28 NIV
[26] “Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. [27] Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. [28] For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”
Truly, Jesus is a high priest upon whom we can rely with absolute confidemce because He ticks all the boxes. No other person can come near to Him in His person and work to save us from all the ravages of sin.
Hebrews 8:1-2 NIV
[1]”Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, [2] and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.”
To be continued…