The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Hebrews 7:11-17,
"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? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 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 writer of Hebrews is wonderfully considerate in helping us understand the things of Jesus Christ. Here he provides an explanation as to why Jesus Christ is recognized as our great high priest when he didn't descend from the tribe of Levi as the law God gave required. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.
Earlier, in Hebrews 3:1 we read, "Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest." Jesus is called our "merciful and faithful high priest in service to God", Hebrews 2:17. He is not just any high priest but our "great high priest", Hebrews 4:14.
A priest represents the people to God. The high priests offered gifts and sacrifices for their own sins as well as for the sins of the people, Hebrews 5:1-3. But the blood offered on the altar by the high priests under the law was the blood of animals. Jesus, however, offered his own blood as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind for all time, thereby becoming our great high priest.
The writer of Hebrews quotes psalm 110:4 to explain that the levitical priesthood has not been the only order of priesthood in God's economy of things. We read of Melchizedek, king of Salem (Jerusalem) in Abraham's day, 2 millennia before the birth of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 14:18 we read, "He [Melchizedek] was priest of God Most High".
Jesus is likened to the order of Melchizedek in that he was not a descendant of Levi (Levi was not born yet!). In the Scriptures we read nothing of Melchizedek's parents, nothing about his lineage, nothing about his birth or death. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and though he entered into the human race through Mary, as the God the Son, he has no beginning and no end recorded because he is eternal. This is why we read in verse 3 about Melchizedek, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever."
The Levitical priesthood is not the only priesthood in God's order of things as Hebrews points out. You and I are priests as well! "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5. Also, 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"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? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 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 writer of Hebrews is wonderfully considerate in helping us understand the things of Jesus Christ. Here he provides an explanation as to why Jesus Christ is recognized as our great high priest when he didn't descend from the tribe of Levi as the law God gave required. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.
Earlier, in Hebrews 3:1 we read, "Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest." Jesus is called our "merciful and faithful high priest in service to God", Hebrews 2:17. He is not just any high priest but our "great high priest", Hebrews 4:14.
A priest represents the people to God. The high priests offered gifts and sacrifices for their own sins as well as for the sins of the people, Hebrews 5:1-3. But the blood offered on the altar by the high priests under the law was the blood of animals. Jesus, however, offered his own blood as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind for all time, thereby becoming our great high priest.
The writer of Hebrews quotes psalm 110:4 to explain that the levitical priesthood has not been the only order of priesthood in God's economy of things. We read of Melchizedek, king of Salem (Jerusalem) in Abraham's day, 2 millennia before the birth of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 14:18 we read, "He [Melchizedek] was priest of God Most High".
Jesus is likened to the order of Melchizedek in that he was not a descendant of Levi (Levi was not born yet!). In the Scriptures we read nothing of Melchizedek's parents, nothing about his lineage, nothing about his birth or death. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and though he entered into the human race through Mary, as the God the Son, he has no beginning and no end recorded because he is eternal. This is why we read in verse 3 about Melchizedek, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever."
The Levitical priesthood is not the only priesthood in God's order of things as Hebrews points out. You and I are priests as well! "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5. Also, 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment