11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 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. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
The law demanded access to God, it demanded perfection, but the law couldn't provide it. The Levitical priesthood was not enough. Full relationship with God, complete communion with God, was not possible through the Levitical priesthood. If perfection could be achieved, in other words, if full relationship and communion with God could be achieved, through the Aaronic priesthood, there would have been no need for another one, for a better one.
But in Psalm 110 God declared that another priest would come, because the Levitical priesthood was not enough. And because it was not enough, this new priest could not be a Levitical priest from the order of Aaron, but rather a priest in the order of Melchizedek. A Superior Priest - and Jesus, descended from Judah, was that Most High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek.
The old system was replaced with a new one. There was no longer a need for the old system, the Aaronic priests and all the ceremonial laws that went with it. (The moral laws still apply of course!) They've been replaced by a new covenant, a new sacrifice, a new High Priest. In order for us to achieve perfection, full communion with God, we need to come through Jesus. Jesus is the door to God. Jesus is the Way to relationship with God.
3 comments:
Don't you love how God's plan covers everything? Every tiny detail was planned for.
The most interesting thing to me is that all, before, during, and after the Law was given must come to God by his grace and by Christ's covering perfection. It was true for Adam, Abraham, Moses, Ruth, King David, Peter, Paul, me, and you. The law was a tutor to point us to The Savior, never a savior in and of itself.
It's so beautiful how God kept the same plan even with the different circumstances of the different covenants. He is so faithful!!!
I know! He orchestrated the meeting between Melchizidek and Abraham, and had it recorded in scripture so that the Jews would recognize that there had been a priesthood different from the Aaronic one in the past, making it easier to accept the new priesthood of Christ. So cool!
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