Hebrews 7 part 2: A Superior Priesthood

Today’s verses from Hebrews 7:11-19 are a side-note in the larger message of the sermon. It repeats some of what we saw at the beginning of the chapter and in chapter 5.

A rhetorical question

Hebrews 7:11 CSB

Question answered

Hebrews 7:19 CSB

(for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Let’s read the whole thing:

Hebrews 7:11–19 CSB

Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Change of Law, change of tribe

Hebrews 7:12–14 CSB

For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.

Jesus fulfills all the “kingly” prophesies that were given to the tribe of Judah, King David, etc. But the priesthood of Jesus is what the author is trying to educate us on here. It’s a GOOD thing that Jesus was not from the priestly tribe, Levi.

But if the priest is no longer a priest according to Moses, then the Law of Moses is passed.

Hebrews 7:15–17 CSB

And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek was long dead when David prophesies about him here in Ps. 110. David is prophesying that there is one coming whose priesthood is forever. David separates this priest from the Levite priests because David knows (firsthand) that kings can’t be priests. The priest-king to come is from a set of rules older than Abraham.

You may know some people with the last name “Cohen”. Cohen or Kohen comes from the Hebrew word for “priest”. There are some Cohens who can trace their genealogies all the way back to Ezekiel.

Physical priests (people named Cohen) are still around today, so to speak. But salvation does not come from Levi or even Ezekiel. Salvation comes from heaven, as we will see soon in Hebrews. But like Melchizedek stood in the gap for Abraham, someone who spoke with God, a son of David will come from heaven to stand in the gap for us.

The author wants us to know the difference between the shadows of Jesus and the real thing.

Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999) Our High Priest is the Son of God Perfect Forever

In the New Testament, all the focus is on the reality of the glory of Christ, not the shadow and copy of religious objects and forms. It is stunning how indifferent the New Testament is to such things: there is no authorization in the New Testament for worship buildings, or worship dress, or worship times, or worship music, or worship liturgy or worship size or thirty-five-minute sermons, or Advent poems or choirs or instruments or candles. In fact, the act of getting together as Christians in the New Testament to sing or pray or hear the word of God is never even called worship. I wonder if we do not distort the Biblical meaning of “worship” by using the word almost entirely for an event for which the New Testament never uses the word.

Is religion about what we do?

Hebrews 7:18–19 CSB

So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

In what ways do we hold onto “old” ways of religion?

In what ways do we live like we believe in a better hope?

The radical way of living in Jesus is not hiding in the shadow of the temple, but going and telling the world who Jesus is. This is why we study books like Hebrews to learn more about him.