Hebrews 7 - Introduction

CHRIST'S SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD

-- Hebrews 7:1-28 --

We have already been introduced to the idea that Christ was made a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. The writer had much to say about that but, they were not in a state of mind then to understand it. They had made very little progress in their Christianity. In Hebrews seven the writer returns to the subject of the priesthood of Christ. He shows that Jesus' priesthood is superior to the Jewish priesthood.

Jesus was a priest like Melchizedek. Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation and Jewish priesthood acknowledged that Melchizedek was superior, and even he paid tribute to him. But Christ was of the order of Melchizedek. His priesthood was superior to the Jewish priesthood.

Melchizedek stands alone on the pages of the sacred Scripture. He was without any known ancestry and therefore was worthy to be compared with the Son of God. Even Levi paid tithes in Abraham, to Melchizedek."Perfection" could not come through the Levitical priesthood. There had to be a new priesthood in order to have perfection. But to have a new priesthood there had to be a change in the law. (Hebrews 7:12) Under the Jewish system there were many priests. Those priest lived a brief period, and were then removed by death. Under Christianity there is but one High Priest and no dying. His is an unchangeable priesthood. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)"Nothing made the Jews as fond of the Levitical dispensation as the high esteem they had of their priesthood." The Hebrew writer here shows them that being in Christ they have a much better high priest, a priesthood of a higher order, and consequently a better dispensation or covenant, a better law and a New Testament.