Scripture: Hebrews 7:11-28, ESV
"Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,
'You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.'
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
'The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever."'
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever."
I confess. I am sometimes lazy. Particularly when it comes to tightening screws when something needs fixing. I will try to undo a screw with a half a scissor blade, a butter knife, my nails or whatever else seems vaguely strong and flat. And the thing is this actually works. Sometimes… and mostly only for a while. Eventually the screw will loosen again, because it hasn’t really been screwed in properly with the right tool. Inevitably the work has to be done again, and again, until I finally use the right tool to do the work.
That is the Levitical priestly system. The priesthood was designed to point people to Jesus, to the perfect sacrifice of the perfect priest, some day in the future. But the problem with the Levitical system is that the people thought it was the system that would save you, that would clean you from your sin. But that is using the wrong tool to do the job. The Levitical sacrificial system could never save you, it could never really remove your sin. It only pointed to the one who could save you. It pointed to the ultimate sacrifice, from the ultimate priest. Jesus himself.
Jesus is different form the Old Testament system in several ways.
First: Jesus was a better sacrifice. Unlike the offerings that had to be offered again and again every time the sinner wanted reconciliation with God, Jesus was a once for all sacrifice. His sacrifice is eternal and covers our sin, past, present and future.
Second: Jesus was the better priest. The Levitical priests who were descendent from Levi, and thus descendent from Adam, were sinful. They inherited sin from their ancestors and then added their own sin through their own actions. However, Jesus had no earthly father from whom he could inherit sin. He was born sinless and so could serve as a better priest.
Third: Jesus’ sacrifice is for all who would believe. The old covenant promises belonged to God’s people - the Israelites. And so the Levitical system governed the Israelites. Jesus’ sacrifice is for everyone who would come to believe. That means that his sacrifice spans time and place. There is no more division between Jew or Gentile.
Since most people who will read this are likely Gentiles, isn’t that a good thing?
Amen.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the superior sacrifice of Jesus. Thank you that He is the better sacrifice, the better priest, and that his sacrifice covers all who would believe. Thank you that I am included in that group. Help me to live in the full assurance that what Jesus has done for me is eternally sufficient. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
Today, take a moment to reflect on any areas of your life where you struggle to trust that Jesus’ sacrifice is enough. Surrender these areas to Him in prayer.
Let's not keep sacrificing the once for all sacrifice