“An Unchangeable Priesthood”

Hebrews 7:15-28

Verses 12-14 "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 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 Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”

We cannot come to God without an altar, a priest, and a sacrifice. But those Old Testament priests, altars, and sacrifices could never bring anyone to God. Therefore, a change had to come. The picture had to be replaced with the Person. The shadow had to give way to the Substance. The law had to give way to grace. The Levitical priesthood had to die to make room for a Priest after the order of Melchizedek from the tribe of Judah (Isa. 11:1; Matt. 1:3; Luke 3:33; Rom. 1:3; Rev. 5:5)

Verses 15-16 "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."

The Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest entered into and exercises his everlasting and efficacious priesthood by virtue of his resurrection glory.

Verses 17-18 "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (See Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:6, 10; 6:20.) "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."

The law made nothing perfect. It was never intended to do so, but only to point sinners to Christ who would make everything perfect (Rom. 8:3-4; Heb. 10:1-4; Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 3:20, 21, 28; 8:1-4; Gal 2:16; Heb. 9:9). By his perfect obedience to God in the room and stead of his people, the Lord Jesus has brought in a better hope (Heb. 6:18; 8:6). In him believing sinners have a good hope through grace, hope founded upon righteousness established, justice satisfied, and grace bestowed. Christ has given us such absolute perfection before God that we can now draw near to God himself with confidence, peace, and assurance (Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 2:18; 3:12; Heb. 4:16; 10:19).

Verses 20-22 "And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."

Our Great High Priest is our covenant Surety, the Surety God himself has accepted as our Representative (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 8:6; 9:11-15; 12:24; 13:20-21).

Verses 23-24 "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."

Our Savior is an unchangeable, immutable, irrevocable, eternal, effectual Priest! The virtue of his sacrifice is everlasting and unalterable! Read verses 25-28 and rejoice!

Verses 25-28 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore" (Rom. 8:33-34; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 9:24-26, 28; 1 John 2:1-2).

April 29, 2001

That “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” is Christ himself, the complete, perfect, unchargeable, unblameable, irreproachable holiness that makes all who believe “meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints.”