July 15 - Jesus Like Melchizedek

July 15 - Hebrews 7:11-28 - Jesus Like Melchizedek

Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." When God gave His people the law and then gave the Levitical priests the responsibility of bringing the people of Israel to perfection through offering and sacrifice. If they had been able to do their job, there would never have been a need for for a priest to come in the order of Melchizedek.

Then, look at what Hebrews 7:12 says ... with a change in the priesthood, there would be a change in the law. Interesting! Paul had said all along that Jesus' coming to earth meant that a new outlook on the law would become prevalent. The law was all about dealing with sin, Jesus was all about dealing with grace.

Hebrews 7:13-17 makes it clear that Jesus Christ came from a completely different son of Israel. He was not from the tribe of Levi, but Judah. So, when he became priest, he was able to do so under the order of Melchizedek rather than the ancestry by which all other priests had come to serve.

Levitical priests inherited their service. Jesus became the 'guarantee of a better covenant' by the oath that was sworn in Psalm 110:4 by God. (Hebrews 7:21-22). This better covenant or New Covenant was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-33. The New Covenant was about forgiveness of our sin and was confirmed by Jesus Christ in Luke 22:20 at the Last Supper.

In Hebrews 12:24 we are told that " You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance."

He is the priest of the New Covenant.

The ancient Jewish historian, Josephus estimated that there were 83 different high priests between the time of Aaron and the fall of the temple in AD 70. All of these men were subject to death. Jesus, on the other hand will never give up the office. He will always be in a position to save us because he will always live to intercede for us. (Hebrews 7:23-25)

Finally, we read that Jesus is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. There is no need for Him to offer sacrifices for himself, he is without sin. And, He already sacrificed Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The Levitical sacrifical system has been rendered unnecessary by the Son, who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:26-28)