Heb. 7:11-28, The Need for Another Priesthood

Valuable background information on today’s passage can be found in Leviticus 16, the account of Israel’s worship on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  Heb. 7:11 asks, “why did there need to be another priesthood besides the priesthood according to the order of Aaron?  Why this “order of Melchizedek”?  A new priesthood means there would be a change in the “law” of the priesthood (7:12).  And clearly there was a change, since Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and not the tribe of Levi (7:13-14). 

The answer to this question must revolve around the ability of the priesthood to make the worshipers acceptable to God.  As 7:19 says, “the law (the OT law on which the Aaronic priesthood was established) made nothing perfect.”  But on the other hand, the new priesthood enables the worshipers to “draw near to God.”  So, what made the “Melchizedek” priesthood better?

·       First, the new Priest is the King (7:14).  Jesus was from the kingly tribe of Judah. 

·       Of great importance is this idea that the new priesthood is based on “the power of an endless life” (v15-17).  In other words, the new Priest is “forever.”  That is what God said to His Son: You are a priest forever! 

Therefore, the first priesthood was weak and unprofitable.  It could not bring the worshipers to perfection (v18-19), by which we mean the “goal determined by God.”  God’s goal is to dwell with men in joyful fellowship.  This cannot happen because men are sinful and God is holy.  The role of the priest is to perform such a ministry as to resolve this problem. 

Again, how could the new priesthood do what the Aaronic priesthood could not do?  According to 7:22 the answer is that “Jesus has become a surety (guarantee) of a better covenant.”  Heb. 8 will tell us about this covenant.  The rest of Heb. 7 (v23-28) tells us why Jesus can be trusted to be the surety of this New Covenant.

·       7:23-25: Aaron and his descendants all died.  But “He (Jesus), because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  What a marvelous truth!

·       7:26-28: Aaron and his descendants were themselves sinners, and had to continually offer sacrifices for themselves as well as for the people.  They did this on the Day of Atonement.  But what do we know about Jesus?  First, He is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.”  Thus He never needed or needs to offer sacrifices for Himself.  Second, “He has become higher than the heavens.”  As the opening words of Hebrews told us, after He made the once-for-all sacrifice for sins He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Another priest was needed.  Another Priest has been provided.  Hope is beginning to rise.