And without all contradiction the less
is blessed of the better. And here men
that die receive tithes; but there He
receiveth them, of whom it is
witnessed that He liveth. And as I
may so say, Levi also, who receiveth
tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
For he was yet in the loins of his father,
when Melchisedec met him. If therefore
perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,
(for under it the people received the law),
what further need was there that another
priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the
order of Aaron? For the priesthood
being changed, there is made of necessity
a change also of the law.
Hebrews 7:7-12
Great question put forth by this writer of Hebrews, one that needs an answer. Why another priest? Did not set forth a priesthood for the nation of Israel? Was not that priesthood in ancient Israel given to Aaron? Yes: "And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar" (Leviticus 1:7-8). Levi a son of Jacob would become a grandparent of Moses and his brother Aaron for a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman and bare children, one being Moses and another Aaron (Exodus 1:1-2; 2:1-3). Aaron chosen to speak the words of the LORD for Moses being now priest also his children were of the priesthood, children of Levi of the Levi tribe: "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that hemay minister unto me in priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons" (Exodus 28:1). Aaron being the first priest and all his sons to be priests from the tribe of Levi the Hebrew writer was completely right in pointing this out, that Aaron would be the one from whom the order should come for any other priest that would come. This was not the case for Aaron had genealogy and the priest that was to come would not have a genealogy of the tribe of Levi but would be pictured by God's priest of Salem: Melchisedec. This difference is important for Aaron would die even though blessed by the less, and even though he and his family would be designated as priests of Israel, Melchisedec prefigured Jesus Christ who came from a line different than Levi. He was to be of the line of Judah, the kingly line and to be a priest as Melchisedec, a king and a priest and to be this He had to be different from the establishment of priests and kings of Israel. The tribe of Levi by commandment became priests and this here too is a difference that must not be overlooked: "For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 7:13-17).
The writer of Hebrews is carefully laying out the justification that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the One who lived, died, a sinless, perfect life, and is both King and Priest, and is the propitiation for sin. The writer's argument cannot be overturned as it is carefully laid out for all to examine and see for themselves that Jesus Christ is who He says He is, and that what He has done on the cross is sufficient to pay the debt owed to God and to have that payment be applied to all who believe upon Him.
This argument will be completed in the next blogs, but until then there is enough evidence for anyone who has questions about Jesus Christ as Savior for them to come to believe and to answer objections. I will put the crowing argument forth in the next blog. Until then, take time to carefully go over this argument, make your elections sure by study and living out what was set forth for all Authentic Christians to do and to not do. You can have security in your mind: Jesus is the Savior, believe upon Him and you will be saved.
And the children of Israel said
unto the LORD, We have sinned:
do unto us whatsoever seemeth
good unto thee; deliver us only,
we pray thee, this day.
Judges 10:15
Repent and be saved
Richard L. Crumb
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