JESUS Christ’s High Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7:1-10, FAR MORE EXCELLENT THAN Aaron’S PRIESTHOOD, 25-28
“For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity, who are weak, frail, sinful, dying. That is, the Levitical priesthood See on ch. 5:1, 2, Ex. 32:21, 22, Lev. 4:3, but the word of the oath which was since the law. By which one was appointed after the order of Melchisedek ver. 21. Ps. 110:4, maketh the Son, ch. 1:2; 3:6; 4:14; 5:5, 8. who ver. 21, 24. Consecrated, who is perfected forevermore.” In this verse the apostle sums up the whole of His preceding discourse, evidencing the true foundation on which he had built. Those who still adhered to the Mosaic institutions allowed that there must be a priest over God’s people, for without such there could be no approach unto Him. So it was under the law, and if the same order be not continued, then the Church must needs be under a great disadvantage. As Owen rightly said, “To lose the high priest of our religion, is to lose the Sun out of the firmament of the Church.” Now the apostle has granted that the high priests who officiated in the tabernacle and temple were appointed by God to that office. His opponents were persuaded that these priests would continue in the church without change or alteration. God has designed a time when they were to be removed, and a Priest of another order introduced in their room. This change so far from being regrettable, was to the great advantage, safety, blessedness, glory of the Church. First, the Levitical priests were appointed under, by “the law”; but the new and perfect Priest “since the law” (i.e., in Psalm 110:4), showing Christ had superseded them. Second, they were but “men”; Christ was the “Son of God.” Third, they were “made” by “the law”; Christ by “the word of the oath”. Fourth, they had “infirmity”; the Son had none. Fifth, they served only in their day and generation; He “for evermore”. “But the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is perfected for evermore”. “The law of Moses constitutes priests that were changing continually. But the Word which came with the oath after the law, consecrated forevermore as High Priest Him who is the Son Heb. 1:1, 2. Only the Son could be the High Priest, and He became the High Priest. Through His incarnation, through all the experiences of His life of sorrow and of faith, through His death on the cross, through His resurrection and ascension, Jesus is perfected forevermore” (Adolph Saphir). Christ abides perpetually in His priestly office because of the validity of His perfect Sacrifice. Hallelujah. “We have the privilege, if we will, of drawing near to God with boldness. We may come near his throne. Though we are poor, and sinful, and deserve neither notice nor mercy, yet we may come and ask for all that we need. We may go to God, and supplicate his favour, with the assurance that he is ready to hear. We may go feeling that the great atonement has been made for grateful and that no other offering is now needed; that the last bloody offering which God required has been presented, and that all that he now asks is the sacrifice of a contrite and a grateful heart. All that was needful to be done on the part of God to provide a way of salvation has been done; all that remains is for man to forsake his sins and to come back to a God who waits to be gracious.” Barnes, Albert &co
