09/10/F – Our Perfect and Powerful Priest

NT: “Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:11-17‬ ‭CSB)

The word ‘perfection’ here has to do with completion and fulfillment. The Levitical priesthood under the order of Aaron was prescribed by the law to uphold the law, but it could not complete and fulfill the law. The One who was called by God the Father and anointed by God the Spirit to complete and fulfill the law was Jesus Christ. He was not from the tribe of Levi, but was from the tribe of Judah. According to the law, only Levites could serve as priest. Therefore, by Christ’s fulfillment of the law, the law was made obsolete and a new priesthood was established.

Centuries before Christ’s ministry on earth, King David prophesied that the Anointed One of God would be made a priest, not under the Aaronic order, but according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). Melchizedek pre-dated the law. He was the King of Salem (now known as Jerusalem) and had been appointed by God to serve as Priest of the Most High God. As the writer of Hebrews explained, while Levi was yet unborn and still within the loins of Abraham, he, through Abraham, offered tithes to Melchizedek. Therefore Melchizedek was greater than Levi and the Levitical priests that came from his seed. Melchizedek was not of the law, he was not limited by the law, and his priesthood was not ordained under the law. In the same way, Jesus Christ (who brought perfection to the law and priesthood) transcends the law and has been appointed as priest, not by law or inheritance, but by God the Father and the power of indestructible life. Through Christ, the old has been fulfilled and done away with, and a new covenant has been established by His sacrificed life and is ever upheld by His everlasting and indestructible life.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You have brought perfection and power to the priesthood. I thank You that You fulfilled the law and the prophets (when no one else was able) and now serve under the new covenant of grace as my powerful Priest forever. Now, as I remain in You, I am called and anointed to serve God as a member of His royal priesthood – bringing people to Christ and bringing praise and honor to the Lord forever. Help me to serve by grace under Your priesthood as I remain in You by faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.