Hebrews 7 - Jesus Is the Superior Priest!

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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. 20 And 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 guarantor 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. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

This letter written to the Jewish Christians was intended to encourage and warn them not to go back to traditional Judaism. At the heart of this Jewish faith was the sacrificial system, by which they were made right with God. The role of the priest was to offer daily sacrifices, and be a mediator between the people and God. He also determined who was clean and unclean and offered other ceremonial cleansings. They also taught the people and blessed them with the Aaronic blessing. 

But Jesus came as a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Melichizedek came before the Aaronic priesthood, and was both a priest and a king. The priesthood of Melichizedek was forever and came with the promise/oath of God. The author says, "The former regulation is set aside because it is weak and useless." What did he mean about that?

It was not that it was wrong, it was just lacking. It could not bring about the transformation of a human heart. It was only temporary. It was founded on mortal priests, the sacrifice of animals, and other rituals. They had to be done endlessly every year and only provided temporary atonement for the sins of the people.

Jesus' priesthood was superior. His sacrifice was once and for all. His sacrifice provided justification for men before God and an eternal relationship with Him. Since Jesus rose from the dead, he also lives to intercede for those who are saved. Jesus was sinless, so he did not have to provide a sacrifice for his own sin. A Levitical priest's job was never finished, he could never sit down, but when Jesus finished his work on the cross, he sat down at the right hand of God. 

With Jesus as our intermediary and intercessor, we can come into God's holy presence any time not just once a year. This leads to the idea introduced in other parts of scripture that we are a "priesthood of all believers". (see 1 Peter 2:9) This is why any of us can intercede for each other before God. It is why James says, "Confess your sins to each other". We don't need a human priest as our mediator, we can go straight into God's Holy presence. This erases the "priest/laity" distance. 

Martin Luther said, "We are all "little priests"." We also have all been given different gifts to build up the body of Christ, which is the Church. 

 Why is all of this important?

I think most importantly you have direct access to God by what Jesus did for you with his once and for all sacrifice. Since you have been made right with God once and for all, you are not subject to rules and regulations of the old covenant. This does not mean God's law, as summarized by the Ten Commandments",  is not morally absolute and infallible. But it means it can't justify us or make us right with God by our adherence to it. It could only point out our sin it could never deliver us from it. 

Would you ever consider yourself to be a "little priest"? When you pray for others, encourage them, and hear their confession of sin, you are acting as a priest to them. You can also proclaim forgive in Jesus' name. 

Jesus, we thank you that you were a superior priest in every way. Thank you that the sacrifice you made for us will last forever. You made us right with God so we can enter into His holy presence every day. Thank you that you have given us a role to play as a priesthood of all believers in the body of Christ. This is the church now acting on Your behalf to preach the gospel and lead people to be made right with God! We know one day you will return, and we will serve with you forever. Amen.