JESUS Christ’s High Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7:1-10, FAR MORE EXCELLENT THAN Aaron’S PRIESTHOOD, 20-24
“An analysis of our chapter reveals that Christ’s superiority over Aaron appears in the following points. First, Aaron was but a man; Christ was “the Son of God” (v. 3—and note the repetition of this item at the close of the argument in v. 28!). Second, Aaron belonged to the tribe of Levi; Christ, according to the flesh, sprang from the royal tribe (v. 14), and is the Priest-King. Third, Aaron was made “after the law of a carnal commandment”; Christ, “after the power of an endless life” (v. 16). Fourth, Aaron “made nothing perfect”; Christ did (v. 19). Fifth, Aaron was unable to bring the sinner, “nigh unto God” (v. 19); Christ has (v. 25). Sixth, Aaron was not inducted into his priestly office by a Divine oath; Christ was (v. 21). Seventh, Aaron had many successors (v. 23); Christ had none. Eighth, Aaron died (v. 23); Christ “ever liveth” (v. 25). Ninth, Aaron was a sinner (v. 27); Christ was “separate from sinners” (v. 26). Tenth, Aaron was only the priestly head of an earthly people; Christ has been “made higher than the heavens” (v. 26). Eleventh, Aaron had to offer sacrifice “daily” (v. 27); Christ’s sacrifice is “once for all”. Twelfth, Aaron was filled with “infirmity” (v. 28); Christ is “perfected forevermore”. Well may we praise God for “such a High Priest” (v. 26).” Pink Arthur W. The priesthood of Aaron was not instituted with an oath; Christ’s was. Now that which is connected with an oath can never be changed, for God is immutable. “In the same way as He sware unto Abraham, ‘Surely blessing I will bless thee’, in order that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie…the High Priesthood of Jesus can never be altered, because it is based upon the eternal decree and counsel of God, and because it is essentially connected with the very nature and purpose of God Himself. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent” (Adolph Saphir). “For those priests were made without an oath, but this with an oath”. “But this with an oath, by Him that said unto Him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”. The person swearing is God the Father, the One unto whom He speaks is God the Son: “The Lord said unto my Lord” (Ps. 110:1). The oath of God is the open declaration of His eternal purpose and unchanging decree. Thus is the same act and counsel of God’s will spoke of in Psalm 2:7. “I will declare the decree”. “We summarize the cardinal features of which Melchizedek foreshadowed Christ. First, Melchizedek was the only priest of his class or order, and thus pointed to the solitariness of Christ’s priesthood—He shares it with none. Second, Melchizedek had no predecessor, and therefore his right to office depended not on fleshly descent; foreshadowing the fact that Christ’s priesthood was quite distinct from the Aaronic. Third, Melchizedek had no successor: typifying the fact that Christ’s priesthood is final and eternal. Christ did not succeed Melchizedek but was his Antitype. Unto those who object that nothing is said in the Old Testament about Melchizedek’s offering sacrifice to God, we would reply, neither is there anything said of his making intercessiont It was not in those things that God designed him to prefigure Christ, but in the particulars pointed out above.” Pink Arthur W.
