The Superior Priesthood of Christ Hebrews 7:11-22
The grand theme of the great book of Hebrews is the Superiority of Jesus Christ. The author, who is unknown, has presented a powerful argument that Jesus Christ is superior to anything that Judaism has to offer. In fact, in his cogent argument, he presented the fact that the Christian faith and life as being superior (better than) to Judaism or any other religious system. In a convincing way, the writer is urging his Jewish audience to remain steadfast to their Christian profession, and not to abandon Christ because of persecution and troubles they were experiencing. In renouncing the person and work of Jesus Christ, they (his Jewish audience) would be exchanging reality for rituals; substance for symbols!
In his superb argument, the writer demonstrated that Jesus Christ is superior to the Prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3) because the Prophets’ revelation was partial and fragmentary; whereas; the finality of God’s revelation found its completion in Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 1:4-2:18, the author demonstrated that Christ was superior to Angels because Angels were mere messengers of God, but Jesus Christ is the Son of God who will inherit the Messianic Kingdom! In Hebrews 3:1-6, the writer demonstrated that Jesus Christ is superior to Moses, for Moses was a servant in the house; whereas, Christ is the Son over the house! To this point, the author has unfolded several warning passages, and they consist of: the danger of drifting (Hebrews 2:1-4), the danger of hardening the heart (Hebrews 3:7-4:13), and the danger of falling away (Hebrews 5:11-6:20). In an effort to present the superior greatness of Christ’s Priesthood to the Aaronic Priesthood, let us observe: “The Deficiency of the Levitical Priesthood” and “The Declaration of a Superior Priest in Christ.”
- The Deficiency of the Levitical Priesthood – Hebrews 7:11-14
Having established the superiority of Melchizedek’s greatness over the Aaronic Priesthood, the author unfolds the fact that the Law and the Levitical system were inadequate in addressing the critical need of mankind; therefore, the old Levitical system had to be changed by a better system.
In proving the point of the old Levitical system did not address the critical need of mankind, in verse 11, the author declared that a change was needed because the Law and the Levitical Priesthood could not grant the people perfection (absolute and complete) communion with God. The author proves that the Levitical Priesthood was imperfect, pointing to a new priest arising from an order other than Aaron’s. The thing that characterized the Aaronic Priesthood is that it never gave redemption and acceptance before God to the people. In addition to the Levitical Priesthood being inadequate, the Mosaic Law had to come to an end also if a change was necessary from the Levitical order to the Melchizedecan order (v. 12).
In verses 13-14, the author declared that the Levitical Priesthood was superseded by the fact that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and not from the tribe of Levi! Our Lord could not serve as priest after the order of Aaron, but after a new order – the Melchizedecan order. Therefore, the priesthood had to be changed since Christ did not come from Levi. Having discussed “The Deficiency of the Levitical Priesthood,” let us now observe “The Declaration of a Superior Priesthood in Christ.”
- The Declaration of a Superior Priesthood in Christ – Hebrews 7:15-22
In verses 15-17, the author stresses the superiority of Christ’s Priesthood by quoting from Psalm 110:4, a psalm that emphasizes Christ’s endless life: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” In viewing verses 18-19, the author presented a stark contrast between Christ’s priesthood and the inherent weakness of the Aaronic Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood that was weak and unprofitable was replaced with the Priesthood of Christ. Lastly, in verses 20-22, no Old Testament priest was inducted into office with an oath; however, Christ was inducted into office by a singular oath, for God Himself has sworn that Christ’s Priesthood will last forever. The Lord has become “a surety of a better testament” (v. 22). He is personally pledged to see that His Priesthood works.
It is indeed comforting to know as believers, that we have a Great High Priest who lives perpetually (forever) and that He is accessible. As we sojourn in this ungodly world, we are comforted in knowing that our High Priest is in glory praying for us, and He has promised to never leave us alone, for Hebrews 13:5 says: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
We need not fear what man might try to do unto us, because we have an eternal helper in Jesus Christ, for verse 6 of Hebrews 13 says: “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
As also confirmed by the hymn-writer:
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home.
Under the shadow of thy throne,
still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
May God Bless!
