Jesus Christ, Priest Forever
Today marks the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day, and if you will indulge me, I would like to tell a short story of Patrick and why he is my favorite saint—possibly tied with St. Nicholas. In about 400 AD, Patrick was about 14 years old and taken captive by Irish raiders from Scotland and made a slave. He was captive for 6 years during which time he prayed for God to protect and save him. At about 20 years old, Patrick had a dream in which the Lord showed him how to escape captivity. Sure enough, the path to freedom was just how he dreamed it, and Patrick was able to make his way home. Being free and back in Christendom, Patrick joined the priesthood and devoted his life to the service of God.
One day, Patrick had another dream in which the people of Ireland cried out for Patrick to return to Ireland and “walk among them once more.” Patrick knew the Lord was calling him to return to the land of his slaveowners and preach the Gospel. Of course, his family and fellow priests thought he was crazy, but bold Christians are always thought crazy. =
Patrick did just that, and legends exist about the greatness of Patrick’s evangelism. The whole “driving out all the snakes” probably started because Patrick was able to drive out demonic forces and, through Christ, evangelize the barbaric Irish.
Fast forward to Rome’s final collapse, and it would be Ireland where the history of the Western World was protected. Thomas Cahill has a great book called How the Irish Saved Civilization that makes the case, if it were not for Patrick and his legacy of monastery building, we might have lost much of our history during the Dark Ages. While some believe Cahill overstates the case, the fact remains St. Patrick’s legacy far exceeds the drunken holiday that we have come to know.
He was a servant of the Lord who gave up his home and comfort in the pursuit of obedience and the Kingdom of God.
This week, we continue our study of Hebrews in which we learn about the Great High Priest who lives forever and is the One for whom St. Patrick imitated for his own priesthood.
Last week, we ended chapter 6 of Hebrews in which the author uses Abraham to establish the unwavering promises of God. This week, we will look at the second character, Melchizedek.
The Priest before the Priests | Hebrews 7:1-10
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Hebrews 7:1-10
Melchizedek is a somewhat innocuous character in Genesis. We know almost nothing about him historically. He lived in the time before great empires when much of the Middle East was ruled by city-states. With that said, do you know what the city of Salem was called later in history? It is Jerusalem.
We have talked about typologies in the Old Testament that foreshadow the Messiah and his work. Melchizedek is loaded with these typologies, and it begins with his city. ‘Salem’ means ‘peace’ (verse 2 tells us that, too), and it is also the latter part of “Jerusalem”. The initial part, “Jeru,” is the Hebrew word yeru which has a couple of meanings, “you will see” or “flow.” And so, Jerusalem could mean “You will see peace” or “Peace will flow,” and either meaning is quite prophetic considering how the Lord uses Jerusalem to bring about His Messiah.
Now, if we add into account Melchizedek is the king of this city, his typological connection to Jesus becomes apparent. Who is the true king of Jerusalem who brings God’s peace? Jesus is!
The next typology within Melchizedek is his name itself. Hebrews says his name means “King of Righteousness”—a combination of melek (king) and zedek (righteousness). “Zedek” is also an ancient Phoenician (or Canaanite) word for “the Most High God”. Genesis 14:18 even says Melchizedek “was a priest of the Most High God,” and Genesis 14:22 equates the two names when Abraham says, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.” Keep in mind Melchizedek and Abraham are not too terribly removed from the time of Noah’s sons. Genesis 11 records nine generations between Noah and Abraham. It just may be that before Egypt conquered Canaan, memory of the One True God still existed, at least in some form, at Salem. But, of course, corruption of this knowledge ran rampant which is why Abram was called out of Ur in the first place.
All of that is to say this: When the Lord called Abram out of Ur, He began the process of bringing about the Messiah who would cleanse the world of sin and make the LORD known throughout the world. And this seemingly innocuous character, Melchizedek, confirms God’s sovereignty over nations, time and space. Here, in Hebrews, the author wants us to connect Melchizedek with the Messiah because what God did 2,000 years before Hebrews was even written, foreshadowed what He would do in the first century AD, and for those of you wondering about Jesus’ Second Coming, I would absolutely recommend keeping an eye on Jerusalem—especially the Temple Mount.
Melchizedek’s appearance in Genesis (cir. 1800 BC) is a typology of the Messiah’s appearance fulfilled by Jesus.
Verse 4 has an interesting word order that is lost in the ESV translation. It emphasizes the status of Abraham. One commentator translates the phrasing more literal with, “to whom Abraham gave a tenth of the choices spoils of war—the patriarch!” (Lane, WBC 47a, 158). The idea is that however great and honored Abraham is, consider the fact that Abraham chose to give Melchizedek more honor through his tithe. Hebrews goes on to say, in verses 9-10, that it is possible to say Levi gave tithes, also, being a descendant of Abraham.
The point that Hebrews is making is simply this:
The power and authority of the Levitical priestly system did not originate in the priests themselves, but rather in the Most High God who established the system to supplant the pre-Abraham system.
Hebrews is about to turn its attention to Jesus who inaugurated a new covenant between God and humanity, and this ‘priestly turnover’ is not without precedent. Aaron, and his Levite descendants, inaugurated the Old Testament priestly system in obedience to God. But even prior to that, people (Abraham especially) sacrificed to the Lord. But sacrifices took on a new approach and image when God ordained the Levites.
Now, through Christ, God has done it again.
The Priest to Replace Priests | Hebrews 7:11-28
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”
Hebrews 7:11-21
A common accusation against Jesus by Jewish leaders was that He did not “obey the commandments.” The Gospels are riddled with conversations between Jesus and the Pharisees in which they accuse him of disobeying commandments and traditions. One of the prevailing themes throughout all four Gospels is Jesus demonstrating the lack of understanding and obedience on behalf of the Jewish leaders. It is not that far of a stretch to see how this line of thinking continued even after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension. Here, Hebrews establishes the qualifications of Jesus based on the historical precedent of the Lord establishing new covenants and new laws.
First, perfection was unattainable through the Levitical priesthood. Hebrews will return to this topic in chapters 9 & 10. We tend to forget just how corrupt the Levitical priests were in the first century, but the first readers of Hebrews would be all too familiar with the political and spiritual corruption in Jerusalem. The priests failed to show the peace of God for whom the city gets its name.
Second, the idea that God’s priests must come from the Levites is second in history to Melchizedek who certainly did not come from the line of Levi. In fact, one could argue Melchizedek comes from a Gentile nation. The Father of the Jewish people paying tribute to a Gentile King is a notion that should mortify any good Jewish leader, and yet there it is in Genesis. Judah, being the much more faithful tribe of the Old Testament, makes more sense as bearing the Messiah even though Moses does not command priests to come from Judah.
These two points remind us that God is far more interested in our obedience and faithfulness than ritual systems. This notion is a difficult concept for Christians who tend to lean into the legalistic side of Christianity. Traditions are not always a testimony of obedience. Ritual behavior does not always equate to obedience.
The fact that Jesus arises out of a completely different tribe of Israel than the tribe of priests testifies to the utter corruption of the Levitical priests.
The Jewish leaders knew the Messiah would come from the line of David because the Messiah would be King. But, they failed to recognize the priestly kingship of Jesus because He was not concerned with political power, but rather the spiritual power of the Kingdom of God. Hebrews is making the case that Jesus’ priesthood was established by the same authority that established Melchizedek. Melchizedek represents the Son of God, having no known ancestry and being a priest by the authority of “an indestructible life.”
Jesus’ Resurrection establishes his ability to be “a priest forever.” The word for “indestructible” is only used once in the New Testament. Its historical precedent is in 4 Maccabees 10:11 where it denotes “unceasing” or “endless”. The life of Jesus cannot end. Having overcome the grave, Jesus will never see death again, and thus, his priesthood will continue on into eternity. The corruption of the Levitical priests remained evident by their subjection to death. The evidence of Jesus’ eternal priesthood is evident by his overcoming death.
The priests would change with each generation because each priest was subject to death, but Jesus is no longer subject to death having already died and rose again.
Hebrews specifies this point in the next verses while explaining the better covenant established in Christ who is the better priest.
The Priest Above All Priests | Hebrews 7:22-28
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 7:22-28
Though the Levitical priesthood was corrupted, it did serve its purpose of foreshadowing the work of the Messiah. The priests would enter the Holy of Holies and offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. Unfortunately, they were not worthy to enter the Holy of Holies on their own merit. They, too, had to offer sacrifices for themselves being guilty of the same sin.
But now, Jesus is our high priest who does not need to offer sacrifices for himself, being without sin, but he did offer himself as the final sacrifice for humanity’s sin. He did this once for all (a topic to come again later), and now sits next to God making intercession for us.
Now, let’s take a look at the adjectives Hebrews uses to describe our High Priest.
He is holy—set apart, sanctified and pure. Jesus stands apart from the rest of humanity in person and purpose. Only Jesus is able to do what Jesus does because He is holy.
He is innocent—without guilt or shame. The Greek word is a negative of “worthless”, “bad”, or even “injurious.” And so, Jesus is worthy, good, and healing.
He is unstained—the unblemished Lamb of God. His purity is without spot, both morally and ceremonially. The moral laws and ceremonial laws of the Levitical system are perfectly fulfilled in Christ Jesus.
He is separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. He is no longer subject to even the temptations of sin as He was in his earthly life because now, He sits on the throne of Heaven. We have no concern of our High Priest being corrupted as the former priests were. We know he will fulfill the will the God perfectly and without fail.
Jesus can guarantee a better covenant because He is the better priest.
Last, Hebrews 7 has quoted Psalm 110 a few times, and here in verse 28 it summarizes its main point. The Law appoints men as high priests because the role of high priest was necessary for Israel. But after the Law, in Psalm 110, the Lord said He would raise up a Messiah. If we glance quickly at Psalm 110, we see this Messiah would:
Make [the Lord’s] enemies [His] footstool (verse 1)
Give the people holy garments (verse 3)
Shatter the kings (verse 5)
Execute judgement among the nations (verse 6)
Shatter chiefs (verse 6)
And this Messiah, as Hebrews has quoted, is sworn to do this by God Who does not change His mind. Even more so, the Messiah’s priesthood would not be based on the Law, but on the authority and power of a sacrificial system that predates even Abraham.
Now, before we close, I have one more thing. I have mentioned how Melchizedek’s sacrificial system predates Abraham, but where did Melchizedek learn to sacrifice? That teaching also has an historical precedent. To find it, we must go all the way back to Genesis 3.
Just after the Fall, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, the Lord finds them hiding in the Garden. They are naked and afraid because of what they have done against God. The Lord does, in fact, pronounce a curse on them because of their sin, but He also does one more thing in verse 21.
And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
Genesis 3:21
In the very beginning of humanity’s descent into the consequences of sin, God established the way out of sin. It would be through sacrifice. Where did the garments of skins come from? The LORD sacrificed His own animals to clothe Adam and Eve. Melchizedek’s sacrificial system came from the teachings of the first parents down the generations to Noah, then to Melchizedek, then to Abraham’s children, and into the Levitical priests.
The LORD promised to provide for humanity’s salvation in the very beginning with this first act of sacrifice, and He fulfilled that promise through Jesus Christ.