Jesus' Way is Far Better!

HEBREWS SEVEN

Chapter seven assures Christians that it makes all the difference in the world whether they approached God through the priestly order of Aaron or the High Priest of Melchisedec’s order. Christ’s priesthood, like Melchisedec’s, is superior in its order—it is eternal and effective. Through Christ believers have immediate access into the very throne room of God and eternal security in salvation.

The initial truth in this chapter presents the fact that Melchisedec’s priesthood preceded Aaron’s and the Law (7:1-10). First this is observed in the fact that Melchisedec was serving as a priest when Abraham first met him (7:1). Secondly because Abraham recognized the greatness of this priest and even offered him tithes. Thirdly, because the Scriptures do not record his parentage, birth, or death, one is left with the impression of his endless life. Thus, Melchisedec ministers continually as a priest and in this regard he is like “the Son of God” (7:3). W. W. Wiersbe observed, “Melchisedec was a type of Christ as both king and priest (Heb. 7:3, 15).  Jesus is our King of Peace, our Prince of Peace and God’s Righteous King. So, in his name and his offices, Melchisedec is a beautiful likeness of Christ.”

In fact, Abraham, the chief patriarch, offered him tithes! This act demonstrated the superiority of Melchisedec’s priestly order. Necessarily, unborn Levi, head of the tribe of the Aaronic priests, is said to have paid tithes to Melchisedec through his great-grandfather, Abraham (7:1–10). Thus the Aaronic priestly order acknowledged the superiority of the Melchisedecian priestly order through their chief representative Abraham. The major argument for superiority continues with the giving of a blessing (7:1, 6, 7). The greater Melchisedec blessed Abraham!

The second major truth presented is Christ’s priesthood supersedes Aaron’s and the Law (7:11-22). This is achieved through a series of contrasts. Christ’s priesthood is contrasted with that of the OT order of Aaron to demonstrate its superior ministry (7:11–28). Christ’s priestly work brought about perfection while the Aaronic priesthood was totally incapable of doing this (7:11). Kenneth Wuest observed that the word “perfection” signifies the act or process of consummating. An institution is perfect or complete when it effects the purpose for which it was instituted. The purpose of the priesthood was to remove the obstacle of sin, which kept man from God, and make a way of access for man to God. The Levitical priesthood could only typify this pointing to the Messiah and His substitutionary death on the Cross. Because the Levitical system could not actually provide salvation for sinful man, a new priesthood after the order of Melchisedec was introduced.

As with Melchisedec, Christ’s priestly ministry does not rest on family line, but on the power of an indestructible life (7:16). Not merely an endless life, but a life undying and risen in character—the power of a life not subject to destruction noted William Newell. The word “disannulling” (7:18) presents the fundamental idea of doing away with something established. It means the making void of a document; cancelling or being superseded by another document. The law which established the priesthood of Aaron has been annulled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness. It has been canceled by the coming of Jesus Christ. Aaron’s priesthood was likewise set aside because it was unable to provide perfect access to God. In the Lord Jesus, Christians have “a better hope … by the which we draw nigh unto God” (v. 19). Additionally, Christ was not appointed by a weak commandment, but by God’s oath and he serves as a guarantee of a better testament than the law of Moses (7:21, 22). Newell stated, “The solemnity of the oath of God is the covenant with which this priesthood was inaugurated, is the measure of its superiority and existence.”

The third major mark of superiority is Christ’s priesthood proceeds beyond Aaron’s and the Law (7:23-28). Aaron’s priests died. Jesus continues forever as a permanent Priest. Therefore as Christians’ everlasting Intercessor, Christ is able to save them completely (7:25). This the Law nor Aaronic priesthood could achieve. Christ the sinless and perfect priest is the best fit for believers. According to Hebrews 7:27, there is a threefold difference between High Priest Jesus and the Aaronic priests. First of all is the frequency: their offerings were daily, but Christ’s only once.  Secondly, they offered mere animals, but the Lord Christ offered Himself.  Thirdly, they offered sacrifices for their own sins, but Christ had no sins to atone for. These facts evidence the weaknesses and imperfections of the Levitical priesthood.  Christ's way is far better!