OCTOBER 24 READING…HEBREWS 7
Hebrews 7 is a very interesting chapter, and its subject is very foreign to us. The writer draws the difference for us between the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods. The first is a priest by direct decree from God, while the latter is a priest by heritage. It was the sons of Aaron that would serve as high priests for the nation of Israel. Melchizedek arrives on the scene in Genesis 14:18-20 and is called the priest of the Most High God…He met Abraham returning from the victory over the kings of the south. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.
Melchizedek translates to “King of righteousness”, and He is the king of Salem, “the King of peace”. There is a difference of opinion as to whether Melchizedek was literally a king, who was a type of Christ, or if He was the pre-incarnate Christ, who met with Abraham. The writer tells us that Melchizedek was without father, mother, or any genealogy…no beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, an eternal priest. This description, along with Abraham’s response to Him, leads one to believe that He was the pre-incarnate Christ.
Melchizedek is perfect, and thus His priesthood is perfect…this is not so about the Aaronic priesthood. How could it be perfect, it was established using imperfect men, this is not so concerning the Melchizedek priesthood. It is clear that through the generations that the high priest according to Aaron were not perfect. Though they could go into the Holy of Holies once a year, they could only do so after sacrifices and ceremonial washes were done. The tribe of Levi was the tribe of the Aaronic priesthood, but it was from the tribe of Judah that Melchizedek would come…for this priesthood is eternal. Once Jesus came and fulfilled all the Old Testament offices, those offices would cease. Jesus is our Prophet, Priest, and King. Hebrews 1 spoke of His fulfilling the office of Prophet…now we are told that He is the Priest/King, Melchizedek. While the Aaronic priesthood was designed to be temporary, the Melchizedek priesthood is eternal, and belongs to the eternal One, Jesus. The Aaronic priesthood was imperfect, because it had imperfect men serving in it. The Melchizedek priesthood is perfect, because it has the perfect, sinless, One who eternally occupies this position.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READING…HEBREWS 8
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