Christ’s Priesthood is perfect in comparison with the Levitical priesthood, because it enables believers to be able to draw near to God. Are we taking advantage of that tremendous blood bought privilege?!
The Perfection of the Priesthood of Christ
Hebrews 7:11-22
Jesus is better! Jesus is superior! He is better than the prophets, the angels, Moses, and the Levitical high priests.
In chapter 7, the subject matter is the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The author is addressing Jews who had professed faith in Jesus Christ but were being tempted to return to Judaism because of the persecution they were experiencing because of their faith. They must have reasoned that it would be much easier to simply go back to the faith they had been raised in. They could still worship the God of the Jews, but would not have to face this fiery persecution.
So, in order to help these Jewish believers to persevere in faith to the end, he is showing them that Jesus is superior to anything they had in Judaism. In chapter 7 he is showing them that the priesthood of Christ is far superior to the Levitical priesthood they were under as Jews.
- In 7:1-10 he shows them that Christ’s priesthood is superior because of the Person of Christ
- In 7:11-22 he shows them that Christ’s priesthood is superior because of the Perfection of Christ
- In 7:23-28 he shows them that Christ’s priesthood is superior because of the Permanence of Christ
Today, we are going to study and meditate upon the Perfection of Christ’s Priesthood in 7:11-22.
Why is Christ’s priesthood superior to the Levitical priesthood? Answer? Because the Levitical priesthood was imperfect, and Christ’s priesthood is perfect. There are 4 reasons why Christ’s priesthood is perfect:
- Because it never needs to be replaced
- Because it is based on the power of an indestructible life
- Because it enables us to draw near to God
- Because it is established on God’s oath
1. Because It Never Needs To Be Replaced (7:11-12)
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?”
This tells us that the Levitical priesthood was not perfect. If it had been perfect, there would have been no need for another priest, Jesus, to arise. Even during the time of the Levitical priests in the Old Testament, God had inspired David to write in Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” The Jews realized that this was a prophecy of the coming Messiah. Now, why would God send them a priest from a different order than that of Aaron? The answer in Hebrews is because the first order of priests was not perfect. It was not bad or evil. It was just not perfect.
7:12 “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.”
7:18 “For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (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.”
Notice that something was changed or set aside, and something else was brought in. The Levitical priesthood with the Law that defined and supported it was changed and set aside. The priesthood of Christ was brought in to replace it. There has been a change not only of the priesthood, but also the law. The law of Moses, which ordained all of the sacrifices, ceremonies, and rituals of the Old Testament is gone. Those laws were necessary as long as the old priesthood was in effect. But now that Christ’s priesthood has replaced the Levitical priesthood, the Law of Moses has been set aside. Certainly those laws that reflected God’s moral nature continue into the New Covenant, but those which do not have been laid aside. That’s why the New Testament insists that we are not under the law.
When I was in elementary school, we learned to work out our math problems longhand. The problem, of course, is that sometimes we made mistakes and came up with the wrong number. Since then, the calculator was invented. Now children in school are not required to learn how to work out math problems longhand. They simply punch in the numbers on their calculator and wala – they always get the correct answer. One system has been replaced by another. Now working out our problems longhand was not bad, it was just not perfect.
When I first learned to drive, I would carry a paper map in the car. I remember driving across country with Debbie in 1982 using paper maps everywhere we went. Since then, the cell phone with its GPS technology has become extremely popular, and it has replaced paper maps. The paper maps weren’t bad, but maps on our phones is so much more accurate and convenient, that they have completely replaced them.
Christ’s priesthood is like the calculator and the GPS maps. It has completely replaced the Levitical priesthood, because it can do things that the old priesthood could never do. And, it can never be improved upon.
This is why it would be so damaging and destructive for these Jewish believers to forsake Christ to go back to Judaism.
2. Because It Is Based On The Power Of An Indestructible Life (7:13-16)
7:13-16 “For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.”
Dt. 18:5 says that the priests had to be the sons of Aaron, from the tribe of Levi. A person who was from the tribe of Judah was not permitted to serve as a priest. Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Therefore, He is not qualified to serve under the Levitical priesthood.
However, he is not a priest from the order of Aaron. He is a priest from the order of Melchizedek. So, it doesn’t matter which tribe Christ is from. None of that matters under His priesthood.
How did priests qualify for the priesthood in the Old Testament? Verse 16 tells us it was on the basis of a law of physical requirement. It was all external. There was no list of moral qualifications a person had to fulfill to be qualified to be an OT priest. Of course, in the NT a person must fulfill the moral qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 to serve as an Elder or Overseer. But there was nothing like that for the Levitical priests. Their only requirements were physical, not spiritual.
They had to be born of the right family and tribe. And, they had to be free from a number of physical defects (Lev. 21:16-23). But that was it.
What about Christ? How does He qualify for His priesthood? Our text in verse 16 tells us it is “according to the power of an indestructible life.” Melchizedek was a type of Christ. The Scripture does not give any information about his parents, lineage, birth or death. Thus, he is a fitting type of Christ, who never began to exist, and will never die. He possesses an indestructible life! He is the great “I Am”! He is self-existent. He never began to exist, because He has always existed.
The Old Testament priests were mortal. They all died. They all had to be replaced so the priesthood could continue. Not so with Christ. He possesses the power of an indestructible life. Death and the grave could not hold Him!
Jesus said in Revelation 1:17-18, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”
Since, Jesus possesses an indestructible life and will never need to be replaced, He is the high priest of a perfect priesthood. Thus it would be crazy for a Jewish believer in Christ, to leave Christ and the gospel to go back to Judaism and human priests.
3. Because It Enables Us To Draw Near To God (7:17-19)
7:17-19 “For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (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.”
Now here we really get to the heart of the matter. Here we discover what the author means by “perfect.” We would have thought verse 19 would say, “(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we are made perfect.” But instead it says, “through which we draw near to God.” Therefore, “being made perfect” in Hebrews 7 is equivalent to drawing near to God.
And it must be recognized that this is the essence of Christianity. This is its highest and greatest experience – drawing near to God. The fullest expression of our faith is to draw near to God, enter the Holy of holies where He is, and fellowship with Him there.
And this is the one thing that the Levitical priesthood could not accomplish. In fact the Levitical priesthood prevented the ordinary Jew from doing this. It had set up priests as high priest who would draw near to God, instead of them! And the Law had established a thick, heavy veil which separated everyone else in the nation from being able to draw near to God, upon pain of death!
You see, the sacrificial system of the OT priests could cover sins, but they could never remove sins. That’s why the Jews could not draw near to God. Their sins were covered but not put away, and thus they could not have direct access to the Almighty.
But when Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple split from top to bottom, showing that this was the hand of God, and not of man. God was visibly demonstrating, that Jesus Christ had done what was necessary to once and for all, put away sins, so that sinners trusting in His death and resurrection, could come directly into His presence! And that is exactly what the author of Hebrews is exhorting his readers to do!
Heb. 4:16 “Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
7:19 “there is a bringing in of a better hope through which we draw near to God.”
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.”
Heb 10:1, “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.
Heb 10:22, “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Over and over in this book the author is exhorting us to take advantage of and enjoy the purpose of our salvation – to draw near to God!
Jesus has done perfectly what the OT priests could never do. He has provided direct and immediate access to God without any human middlemen or mediators.
4. Because It Is Established On God’s Oath (7:20-22)
7:20-22 “And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (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’”); so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”
Now, what are these verses teaching us? They are telling us that Christ was made a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek according to God’s oath. The Lord has sworn! Remember back in Hebrews 6:13 that God swore by Himself in making a promise to Abraham? Well, God has put Himself under oath in this situation as well. God swore and will never change His mind about this. Jesus Christ is a priest forever.
What about the Levitical priests? Verse 20 says that they became priests without an oath.
What does this tell us? It tells us that the priesthood of Christ is super to the Levitical priesthood. It is so superior, and so perfect, because God the Father Himself confirmed it by swearing and taking an oath that Jesus would be His high priest.
The priesthood of Christ is more sure, more solid, more reliable, than any priest you can find in the Old Testament. God never took an oath before installing any of them as high priests, but He did in the case of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Saint, do you understand your privileges? Do you understand what you have because Christ is your high priest? Do you really see the glory of the truth that you and I can draw near to God because of Christ? We are not held at bay from His presence.
I think we take for granted something that a devout Jew in the Old Testament would have given anything for. We have full and free access to God through the Spirit at any time, and we have full assurance of faith that Christ has purchased a complete and perfect salvation from sin. He has not merely covered our sins, but removed them, put them away, atoned for them fully forever.
So the big question is are we taking full advantage of this purchased access to God? Do we draw near? Do you draw near?
What does it mean to draw near? It means we come near through praise and prayer to worship and commune with Him.
Christianity is not just one major religion among many others. It is the only religion of the world that enables the sinner to draw near to God to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. It is the only religion in the world that can actually put away your sin forever. It is the only religion in the world that promises you a heavenly intercessor, an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
I would like to end with a discussion question: How do you draw near to God? What do you do to draw near? What does it look like? What keeps you from drawing near, and what helps you to draw near?
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