JESUS Christ’s High Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7:1-10, FAR MORE EXCELLENT THAN Aaron’S PRIESTHOOD, 11-28
“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?” (v. 11) “Perfection” means the bringing of a thing to that completeness of condition designed for it. It speaks of that unchangeable standing in the favor and blessing of God which Christ has secured for His people.As priesthood respects God, its chief design was to make expiation of sin by means of an atoning sacrifice. But this the Levitical priesthood was unable to do. This is positively stated in Heb. 10:4, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” John Owen says, “That which Christ hath produced to the glory of God and the blessing of His people is, First, righteousness. The introduction of all imperfection was by sin. This made the law weak Rom. 8:3 and sinners to be “without strength” Rom. 5:6. Therefore perfection must be introduced by righteousness. That was the fundamental of the new covenant: see Is. 60:21, Ps. 72:7, etc. Therefore, do the saints speak of Christ as “The Lord our righteousness” Jer. 23:6. Christ has brought in an “everlasting righteousness” Dan. 9:24, and therefore are believers “made the righteousness of God in Him” 2Cor. 5:21. Second, peace is the next thing which belongs to the evangelical “perfection” of Christianity. As the High Priest of the covenant, it pertained to the Lord Jesus to make peace between God and sinners. “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10. Therefore, is He denominated “The Prince of peace” Isa. 9:6: He is such because He has “made peace through the blood of His cross” Col. 1:20. The result of this is that believers have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Rom. 5:1. Thus, the evangel we proclaim is “The Gospel of peace” Eph. 6:15. Third, light. God designed for Christians a greater measure of spiritual light and knowledge of the mysteries of His wisdom and grace than were attainable under the law. God reserved for His Son the honor of making known the fullness of His counsels Jn. 1:18, Heb. 1:1, 2. There was under the Levitical priesthood but a “shadow of good things to come” Heb. 10:1, but the mystery of them remained hid in God Eph. 3:9. The prophets themselves perceived not the depths of their own predictions 1Pet. 1:11, 12. Hence, the attitude of the Old Testament Church was a looking forward unto a fuller revelation: “till the daybreak, and the shadows flee away” Song 2:17, 4:6. 1Jn. 2:8 says, “The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth”. Fourth, access to God. There belongs to the “perfection” which Christ hath brought in, a liberty and boldness of approach unto the throne of grace that was not only unknown but expressly forbidden under the law. In the tabernacle, none save the priests were suffered to go beyond the outer court, and they not at all into the holy of holies where God dwelt. However, today. “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” Eph. 2:18. “Havingtherefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” Heb. 10:19, 22. It continues.
