The
writer of Hebrews declared that “Levi”
was “yet in the loins of his father”
when Abraham “met Melchisedec” and
was in effect giving “tithes”
to “Melchisedec”
through Abraham. In chapter seven and verse eleven of Hebrews
the writer shares about the imperfection of the “Levitical
priesthood” where we read:
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?
The
verse begins, “If therefore perfection were by the
Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the
law,)...”. The writer began
with the word, “If”
which means “whether and forasmuch” “therefore”
which is a conclusion word that means “then, accordingly,
consequently and these things being so” “perfection”
which means “completion, verification, absolution and performance”
“were by the Levitical”
which means “was and agreed to have according to the tribe of Levi”
“priesthood” or
“the sacred priestly office”, “(for under it” which
means “under the Levitical priesthood” “the people”
or “tribes, nation and all those who are of the same stock and
language; Israel” “received the law”
or “enacted, prescribed and established the legislation and law of
God”). The writer referred to the “priests”
within the tribe of “Levi”
who received the “law”.
The
verse continues, “...what further
need was there
that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and
not be called after the order of Aaron?”. The
writer added the words, “what further
need” or
“to what degree and increase of time of necessity, duty or business
” “was there that another”
which means “was there an added number or additional same nature,
form, class, kind or different” “priest”
or “one who offers sacrifices and in general in busied with sacred
rites” “should rise”
which means “cause to be raised up, appear, bring forward and
stand” “after the order”
or “down from, throughout, toward and along the arrangement, post,
rank and position” “of Melchisedec”
whose name means “king of righteousness” and was “the king of
Salem and priest of the most high God, who lived in the days of
Abraham”, “and not to be called”
or “not to be affirmed, maintained, taught, exhorted, advised,
commanded and directed” “after the
order”
which refers to “down from, throughout, toward and along the
arrangement, post, rank and position” “of
Aaron”
whose name means “light-bringer” and was “the brother of Moses
and the first high priest of Israel and head of the whole priestly
order ”. If the “priests” within the tribe of “Levi” were
“perfect” there would not have been a need for a “priest after
the order of Melchisedec” which was not within the “order
of Aaron”.
When
we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how there would not
have been a need for another “priesthood” if the Levitical
“priesthood” would have been sufficient for the salvation
of man. Jesus Christ, the “perfect” and “great high
priest”, was the only one who was capable of forgiving man's
sin and bringing man to God. This is the reason we have the
“theophany” or Old Testament appearance of Jesus as
“Melchisedec”. Jesus was superior to the Levitical
“priesthood”, and those who are wise will submit to Him
and thereby save their souls.
Next
time the writer shares about how there was for “necessity
a change also of the law”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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