Daily Scripture Reading Hebrews 7:11 - 8:2
Some Christians think all commands in the Bible are binding on all people at all times. This would include the animal sacrifices, so they resort to symbolism to pretend that Christians today can symbolically observe the sacrificial system.
We will see in today’s passage that the laws of the Levitical priesthood are not binding on us today. Furthermore, we should embrace the fact that we have something better than the laws of the Levitical priesthood.
The first 10 verses of Hebrews 7 tell us that since Melchizedek blessed Abraham and collected tithes from him, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. Furthermore, since Levi was a descendant of Abraham, that means Melchizedek is greater than Levi.
Heb. 7:11 ¶ Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
The answer to this question is that perfection did not come through the Levitical priesthood. Therefore, a priest in the order of Melchizedek was necessary to achieve perfection.
Heb. 7:12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
One of the huge debates in the first century was whether or not Gentiles had to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses in order to be saved. Today, there is still debate about this. Some Christians think all commands in the Bible are binding on all people at all times. They resort to symbolism to pretend that Christians today are still observing the sacrificial system.
The whole point of writing about Melchizedek was to tell us that Jesus was not a Levitical priest, He was a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. When the priesthood changes, the law also changes. That means Christians are not under the laws of the Levitical priesthood, meaning we do not need to observe the Law of Moses. Nor do we need to pretend that we are symbolically making animal sacrifices.
Heb. 7:13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
Heb. 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
Heb. 7:15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
Heb. 7:16 who has become such not according to a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
Heb. 7:17 For it is witnessed about Him,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
This is a quote from Psalm 110:4. The pronoun Him refers to Jesus.
Heb. 7:18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
Heb. 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
Look at the words “setting aside” in verse 18. The term “former commandment” refers to the Mosaic Law. When Jesus came, the Mosaic Law was set aside.
Notice the words “bringing in” and the word “better” in verse 19. Christians have something that is a better hope than the Mosaic Law.
Heb. 7:20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath
Heb. 7:21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“THE LORD HAS SWORN
AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’”);
This is also a quote from Psalm 110:4.
Heb. 7:22 so much more Jesus also has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Look at the word “better”. Christians have a better covenant.
Heb. 7:23 ¶ And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,
Heb. 7:24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
Take note of the contrast. The Levitical priests kept dying, but Jesus, a priest in the order of Melchizedek, lives forever.
Heb. 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Since Jesus lives forever, He can save forever. The Levitical priests cannot save forever.
Heb. 7:26 ¶ For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
Heb. 7:27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
The Levitical priests needed to daily offer sacrifices for their own sins. Jesus does not need to do that.
The Levitical sacrifices were daily and had to be repetitive. The sacrifice of Jesus only had to happen once.
Heb. 7:28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever.
The Levitical priests were weak. Jesus is perfect.
Heb. 8:1 ¶ Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Heb. 8:2 a minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
Some Christians use symbolism to pretend that we can observe the animal sacrifices because they believe all commands in the Bible are binding on all people at all times. Today’s passage makes clear that Christians are not under the Levitical priesthood, meaning we are not bound by the requirements of the Mosaic Law. Instead, we are under the priesthood of Jesus, a priest in the order of Melchizedek, and His priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood.
How well do you, your pastor, and your church comprehend the distinction between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of Melchizedek?
Do you grasp the superiority of the Melchizedek priesthood relative to the Levitical priesthood?
How often do you express gratitude to God for the opportunity to live under the better priesthood?
Thanks for visiting Bible Mountain. If you have already joined my email list, thank you and please tell others about Bible Mountain. If you have not joined my email list yet, please do so now. In order to join, go to Bible Mountain dotcom, click on subscribe, and that will take you to a page where you can sign up. Your email address will not be sold nor given away. Once again, thanks for visiting Bible Mountain.
“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”