#DailyDevotion Order Of Melchizedek Gives Us A Better Hope
Heb. 7 11Levi’s descendants were the priests; on this basis the people got the Law. Now, if the priests who descended from Levi could have given us something perfect, why did another priest still need to come who is like Melchizedek and said to be different from Aaron? 12When a different person is made priest, the Law also has to be changed. 13The One here spoken of belongs to a different tribe, which never had a priest serving at the altar. 14Everyone knows our Lord came from Judah, but Moses said nothing about priests in this tribe. 15That point is much clearer still when we see a different priest coming like Melchizedek, 16not appointed according to a Law that says he must be someone’s descendant but by the power of a life that can’t be destroyed. 17We are assured: “You are like Melchizedek a priest forever.” 18The earlier rule is canceled because it is weak and can’t help us. 19The Law made nothing perfect, but the coming of a better hope did — it brings us close to God.
We continue on how Jesus is better than the Levitical priesthood. Remember, one of the major themes of Hebrews, especially the first half is–“Jesus is better than. . . .” The method for showing Jesus is better than the Levitical priesthood is comparing it to the order of Melchizedek. The people got the Law on the basis of having a Levitical priesthood. They performed all the sacrifices, applied the commands, statutes, etc., of the Law for the people. He reasons that if the Law could make us perfect, there would have been no need to institute or magnify another priesthood, the order of Melchizedek.
The order of Melchizedek, of which David mentions and prophesies about in Psalm 110, is what the Messiah prophesied there would be. I believe verse one of that should not be translated, “my Lord,” but rather “Adonai,” another name for God, like Elohim, in the Old Testament. Since it is a messianic psalm, the Messiah would be both David’s promised seed and Adonai. The Son of God, Himself, enters and establishes this order. David’s descendant is not of the tribe of Levi but of Judah. Since He is not of the tribe of Levi, there must be a new Law or rather covenant. Jesus established the promised New Covenant in the LORD’s Supper and upon the cross.
He established it not upon the Law but by the power of His resurrection. He died establishing it and rises from the dead never to die again. He gives His life, eternal life, freely to all who put their trust in Him. His New Covenant cancels the Old Covenant. It was weak and could not save us or help us, other than pointing us to Jesus. The life He gives us never dies. It is eternal. The life He gives us makes us perfect. It creates in us a new man whose will, desire, affections and the life are according to the same of God’s. It is spoken to Jesus, “You are like Melchizedek a priest forever.” He forever holds forth before the Father’s mercy seat, the blood He shed for us on the cross. He forever intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.
The Law which made the Levitical priesthood made nothing perfect. The coming of a better hope did. This better hope is the free gift of grace won for us by Jesus Christ. This hope perfects our hearts, minds and souls. It raises up our bodies on the Last Day immortal, imperishable, and glorious like Jesus’ resurrected body. This hope brings us close to God because it allows us into the Holy of Holies in heaven where Jesus as God and Man reigns for us, preparing a place with Him and God the Father. It gives us a clear and clean conscience before the Father.
Gracious God and Father, may we ever hold fast to our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, so we may receive from His sacrifice perfection in the world to come and hope in this life to sustain us until that time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.