A better priest – Heb 7
We have seen that Melchizedek is put forward as a type or picture of Christ in that he was a king of Righteousness and Peace. In Jesus we see both God’s perfect righteousness and His plan to restore peace with His creation – even at the cost of the death of His beloved Son.
However, the main purpose behind the introduction of Melchizedek was to show that the priesthood of Jesus Christ is infinitely superior to that of Aaron. Chapter 7 starts the second major section of the book and he priesthood of Christ is its focus. In chapter 7 the point is that His high-priesthood is superior in its order. In chapter 8 the emphasis is His better covenant and in chapter 9 it is the better sanctuary. Chapter 10 gloriously rounds off the section by focusing on Christ’s better sacrifice.
The Jewish people were familiar with the priesthood of the tribe of Levi. The Levites were chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle (Ex 29; Num 18). Aaron was the first high priest appointed by God and in ch 5 we saw how Christ fulfilled the Aaronic type and that He possessed all the qualities needed to be a high-priest. But although the Holy Spirit showed that Christ fully met those requirements, that was not enough, He also wanted to make it clear that Christ is an infinitely better priest.
To say that Christ was a High Priest “after the order of Melchizedek” was tantamount to declaring that the Aaronic priesthood with its sacrifices and ceremonies was divinely set aside. That is exactly why v 12 talks about the priesthood being changed. This was desperately hard for a Hebrew, even a converted one, for it meant giving up all the traditions and rituals that they had been brought up in and which their fathers had gloried in for fifteen hundred years for something invisible.
An eternal priesthood
Although Aaron was a picture of Christ he was an imperfect type, in particular, because, like all the priests, he died –. 38Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. 39Aaron was one hundred and twenty–three years old when he died. Num 33
So the chief way Christ’s priesthood is better than that of Aaron is that it is an eternal priesthood. Aaron and his sons lived, for better or worse, served and died. Jesus died and rose again, never more to die! See how many times this point is rammed home:
• High Priest forever 5v20
• a priest continually 6v3
• the power of an endless life v16
• a priest forever v21
• He continues forever v24
• He always lives to make intercession for them v25
• perfected forever v28
If God says something once it is important. How important do you think something is then when Scripture says it 7 times in 29 verses? If 7 is the number of perfection then perhaps God wants this to be perfectly clear! Do you get the message? Jesus will never die and pass the job on to someone else! In OT times there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing v23. They grew up and learned their role, got to know their people and, hopefully, their God. Then, just as they were getting the hang of things, age caught them and they retired and died. You see the impact of this on the life of Israel over and over again eg 2Ch 24:2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest… 17 Now after the death of Jehoiada …they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.
It is always frustrating when you find someone, perhaps a doctor or a lawyer, who proves to be a lot of help and then they retire, die or just move on. Often things just aren’t the same with their successor. When it comes to our salvation it could be disastrous if our case was passed on to another high-priest. Imagine getting to the gates of heaven and saying ‘your predecessor said that I had been forgiven and could come in.’ But the new high-priest says ‘well I can’t find anything to that effect in your file, so I’m sorry but you can’t come in. I’m sure you are telling the truth, but I’m afraid my predecessor wasn’t very good with the paperwork!’
What a wonderful contrast we have with our beloved Saviour! 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. There is no change, no ‘fresh perspective,’ no new, unsympathetic high-priest who does not know our history. He who died to save us always lives to make intercession for us and, because He is always there for us, He is also able to save to the uttermost! As our Saviour Christ delivers us, but we also need Him as our high-priest to watch over us and represent us before the Throne of Grace now we are saved – to preserve us, moment by moment, for the rest of our lives.
And notice that it says save to the uttermost not, save from the uttermost. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that Jesus can’t save us from our sin, no matter how bad or how terrible it is. Thank God, He can even save the chief of sinners! But that is not the point of this verse. This shows that when He saves He also keeps, come what may. From the guttermost, to the uttermost, as someone put it. Truly this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast as 6:19 puts it. Why? Because this hope is anchored in glory, in Christ Himself, and it will stay anchored there for all eternity come what may.
It was to represent all of this that Melkizedek was made like the son of God. Since Scripture is silent about the end of his priesthood or indeed, his life, he illustrates the eternal priesthood of Christ which He executes in the power of an endless life. What a wonderful high-priest!
Imperfection and Perfection
Aaron also fell badly short as a type because of the flaws in his character
• making the golden calf and encouraging Israel to worship it. (Lev 10)
• grumbling, with their sister Miriam, about Moses and his Ethiopian wife. (Num 12)
Although it’s still probably a better record than most of us could claim it symbolises the imperfection that is inherent in the OT law. The law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God v19
God does not want us to live according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life – v16. Life in Old Testament days was all to do with keeping the law, or making sacrifices in atonement for a failure to keep it yet God had much more in mind for His people: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Eze 36:26 – Cp He 8:8-10.
The Christian life is about Christ living out his endless life in us in the power of His Spirit – yet how much do we really know of this in our modern, sophisticated world? Law and life are contrasts. We wouldn’t have laws forbidding theft if people didn’t steal. But even the best written law can’t stop theft. It only provides a basis for thieves to be punished and while fear of punishment may deter theft, it cannot change thieves into honest men.
Aaron was a priest under the law, a law that made nothing perfect. It only flagged up our sinfulness and our need of Christ. We cannot live up to the standard set out in the law. In contrast, when we are saved Christ gives us His life through the indwelling Holy Spirit, this enables us to live in a way which pleases Him. He wants to change our desires so they come into line with His. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son Rom 8:29. This is a difficult process and we tend to resist it.
The law puts us down because of our inevitable failure. Christ’s life flows through us to lift us up and to give us the power to do His will. The law promises death to all who break it. Christ promises life to all who trust in Him. Truly this is a better covenant v22 and Jesus is its surety. What is a surety? It is a guarantee, something that proves your right to some property, title or suchlike. What can we offer as our surety when we stand at the gates of heaven? Some may point to themselves, their goodness, their charitable deeds, but that can never overcome their sin. I can only point to Jesus and His invitation, written in His own blood. He, Himself is my surety and nothing less can gain my admittance, or yours. Jesus, Your blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress.
King and priest
Melkizedek was both priest and king – something unknown in all the history of Israel. Indeed King Uzziah was punished with leprosy when he tied to act a priest.
They withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honour from the LORD God.” 2 Chron 26:18
This has been the general rule throughout all cultures. It was just never safe to allow both offices in one man’s hands, because Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. (Lord Acton, 1887.) However, that which was always kept apart in the hands of fallible humans has been wonderfully brought together in the Son of God. Because of His perfection He can be trusted to exercise both roles, perfectly and without conflict or abuse.
Kingly authority naturally belongs to the creator of all things. The priestly responsibility for His people’s spiritual well-being, as well as for our temporal well-being had to be earned at a great cost. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Oh that we might catch a glimpse of Jesus, as our High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens 8:1, and enjoy the power of His endless life flowing through us and working in us as our Priest-King. Sometimes we want this, but don’t really understand that we need to give up the world to fully enjoy the heavenly walk. Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. The Cross proclaims Pardon from sin; the Throne Power over sin.
Conclusion
Aaron and his priesthood were an imperfect illustration of Jesus work as priest. Aaron’s work focussed on sacrifice, atonement and reconciliation with God. The sacrifices enabled Aaron to enter through the veil once a year, but he could not remain there. He had to come out again after only a few moments. The glory of Christ’s priesthood is that He tore the veil and entered into Glory for us.
He now sits at the right hand of God to receive and give the Spirit of God and the powers of the heavenly life. Through Him we can now draw near to God. The power of His endless life and His unceasing intercession for us in heaven keep us and will also, finally, bring us home to glory – to be with Him for eternity.
It is good to see Christ as our Aaron, His sacrificial death on our behalf should be very precious to us, yet it is also crucial that we see Christ as our Melchizedek. It is the eternal, ascended Christ, always representing us before the throne of grace, who brings us Power, victory, peace, joy and holiness. In him alone we have provision to live as children of the King in the power of his heavenly life.
The work of redemption was accomplished on earth in weakness (2 Cor 13:4); it is communicated from heaven in resurrection and ascension power. The cross proclaims the pardon of sin; the throne gives the power over sin. The cross with its blood sprinkling, is the deliverance from Egypt; the throne, with its living priest king, brings us into the rest of God and its victory. With Aaron there is nothing beyond atonement and acceptance; nothing of kingly rule and power; it is with Melchizedek that the fullness of power and blessing comes, the blessing that abideth continually.
It is as the soul no longer ever again seeks the foundation, but resting on it and it alone, is built up into Christ Jesus, the perfected and exalted One, that it will be delivered from its feebleness and know the power of the heavenly life. The more we consider and adore our Blessed King-Priest, our Melchizedek, the stronger will our confidence become that from His throne in heaven He will, in divine power, Himself apply to us all the blessed fruits of His atonement, and make a life in God’s presence and nearness our daily experience. (Andrew Murray)
May He make this true in our experience.
