SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 7
MELCHIZEDEK THE PRIEST (vs. 1-10)
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
He was great. Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people – that is, their brothers – even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who died but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still the body of his ancestor.
JESUS LIKE MELCHIZEDEK (vs. 11-28)
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priest (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come – one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 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. For it is declared; “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
The former regulation was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law makes nothing perfect and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 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.”
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office’ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to completely save those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinner, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once to all when he offered himself. For the law appoints a high priest men who are weak ; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
THOUGHTS:
This chapter explained the better priesthood of Christ with the better order under the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a priest of God most High. He is to remain a priest forever because his priesthood has no record of beginning or ending. He was a priest of God in Salem long before the nation of Israel and the regular priesthood began.
Jesus’ high priestly role was superior to that of any priest of Levi because the Messiah was a priest of a higher order. The Jewish priests cannot save the people. They have to offer animal sacrifices every year to seek temporary forgiveness. But Christ’s sacrifice was offered once with total and permanent forgiveness. Under the New covenant,, the Levitical priesthood was canceled in favor of Christ as high Priest. No minister or any Christian leader can substitute for Christ’s work of salvation.
As our High Priest, Christ is our Advocate, the mediator between us and God. He makes perpetual intercession for us with His continuous presence in heaven with the Father. We have the assurance that our sins have been paid for and forgiven thus free us from guilt.
Jesus had died once for all and served as the perfect atonement for our sins. His death completed the work of redemption and brought us eternal life. Have you received God’s greatest gift?