HeBrews: A Better Blend
Hello!!! I’m back…at least for today. If you remember back to our last post from our study of the book of Hebrews, we learned about King Melchizedek. He was an interesting character, to say the least. He was King, but also priest. He was a picture of what would the perfect or better priest would look like one day far in the future.
A good question at this point would be why would there need to be a better priest?
Great question!! Consider Hebrews 7: 11-28.
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people),why was there still need for another priest to come–one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ “ 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
The priest in the earthly tabernacle had to continually offer daily sacrifices for the sins of the people and his own sin? Since God required continual sacrifice, we can reasonably assume that those sacrifices did not completely cover the sin of the person offering the sacrifice. Their sin was covered only until they sinned again. If I had been the one offering the sacrifice for my sin, I pretty much would have had to move into the tabernacle because I would need to offer a sacrifice pretty frequently. I sin, intentionally or unintentionally, way more times in one day than I care to think about. How about you?
Hebrews 7:11 addresses this need specifically. The first two words of the verse are particularly important. ‘If perfection’. What does that mean? The Greek word for perfection is ‘teleiosis’ and it means the state or attainment of perfection; to complete, fulfillment. (Zodhiates p, 1679). The writer of Hebrews is saying that if it were possible to have complete salvation through the Old Testament priesthood where sacrifices were offered continually, why would it have been necessary for God to send a BETTER high priest in the person of Jesus.
Bottom line: the Levitical priesthood was flawed from the start. Not because God made a mistake, because God does not make mistakes. Rather, it was flawed in order to point out the need for a BETTER priest. One who could provide perfection or complete salvation.
Go back and read verses 26-28 once again.
Remember the word ‘perfection’ back in Hebrews 7: 11? That Greek word’ teleiosis’ is derived from the Greek word for ‘perfect’ that was used at the end of Hebrews 7:28. The writer of Hebrews is telling us that God sent Jesus, the BETTER High Priest because He brought perfection, completion, and fulfillment. No other sacrifice would be needed because this High Priest came to offer the ultimate Sacrifice—that of Himself. Never again would an innocent lamb or goat need to be slaughtered to cover man’s sin. Jesus would be the final, perfect sacrifice to cover the sin of all mankind. How’s that for better??!!!!
MEDITATION MOMENT: Imagine what it would have been like to have to slaughter a lamb to cover your sins. I would have felt terrible for the lambs. I love animals and cannot imagine having to slit the throat of an animal that would die in my place and atone for my sin. It was my sin that drove the nails into the hands and feet of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God. What does that do to you, my friend, to know your sin drove the nails into Christ Jesus’ hands and feet.
