Reading: Hebrews 7
Jesus could never serve as a priest under the Law. The Law entrusted the priesthood to the family of Aaron. Jesus isn’t a descendant of Aaron; He’s from the wrong tribe entirely. But God isn’t trying to make Him that sort of priest.
The Aaronic/Levitical priest of Moses’ Law had to be a descendant of Aaron, who in turn was a descendant of Abraham. But long before the Aaronic/Levitical priesthood was ever established, Melchizedek served as priest of the Most High. Who is this guy? You’ll find his story (what there is of it) in Genesis 14; He met Abraham with a divine blessing, and in turn Abraham paid him a tithe. That means—has to mean—that Melchizedek serves as Abraham’s superior in an older priesthood. A priesthood that has no recorded end and depends, not on genealogy, but simply on divine calling—a calling renewed 500 years after the Aaronic priesthood began, when God moved David to write the song we know today as Psalm 110. “Yahweh has sworn, and will not relent: You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus, the recipient of this prophetic promise, called by God, already risen from the dead, no longer needing to offer daily sacrifices, lives forever to intercede for us, and is therefore “able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.” He is already perfected forever—and remember, He’s our big brother, our Forerunner. Where do you think He means to take you?
If you’d like to hear more on Hebrews 7, check out my Hebrews podcast with Chris Morrison of Gulfside Ministries.
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