Hebrews 7:11-19

A priesthood that brings perfection-- Hebrews 7:11-19: If perfection, remission of sin, could have been obtained by the sacrifices offered by the Jewish priests, there would have been no need that God give a new law and a new priesthood. God sent another priest who was not after the order of Aaron. This priest was God's own Son, a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Old Testament priesthood was limited to one tribe, Levi, and to one certain family, that of Aaron. Under that priesthood and those sacrifices there was no forgiveness of sins. That helped us understand the necessity of raising up another priest, after the order of Melchizedek and not after the order of Aaron. God's mercy was seen in the giving of the law and even more so in the taking away of the law. Now sins can be forgiven!

Under the Levitical priesthood the next high priest was the eldest son of the present high priest. Death brought a new high priest. The law, by which Christ was constituted a priest, after the order of Melchizedek, was the power of an endless life. Life and immortality is what gave Jesus His priesthood.