Hebrews 7:11-12 "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? (12) For
the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the
law."
Hebrews 7:15-16 "And it is yet far more evident: for that
after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
(16) Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but
after the power of an endless life."
There are many things to which we want to apply the word, "if".
"If I had only...." "If this had happened or if that
had happened...." For most things the word, "If" has no
answers. But in today's verses, we do know the answer to "if".
If the Levitical priesthood could have made the people perfect, there would be
no need for a change. But there was a necessity for change because the
Levitical priesthood could not bring perfection. What is this saying to
us today? The law, given under Moses, could not make anyone perfect. Why?
Because no one could keep the law perfectly. We were all sold under sin. We all
have to deal with the sin nature that is in our flesh. We all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God. We all have good intentions that so many times
do not get carried out. Every time I refer to the passages of the Apostle
Paul in Romans 7, I see smiles and nods of agreement from the congregation.
What does that passage say? "For the good that I would I do not: but
the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:19) The good
things we tell ourselves we are going to do often go undone. The things that we
say we will never do again often becomes a pattern in our lives.
There had to be a change. Why? "For what the law could not do, in
that it was weak through the flesh." (Romans 8:3) The fault was not
in the law, for in another place Paul stated that if righteousness could have
been accomplished by man, then it would be through the law given by God.
But the flesh was/is weak. It is impossible for man to make himself
righteous or even to maintain righteousness on our own ability. So there had to
be a change. What was that change? "For what the law could not do,
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8:3)
God sent His Son to live that perfect life and then pay the debt that you
nor I could pay. He paid the wages of sin on our behalf. He died. There
would be great sorrow indeed if the truth ended there.
Christ was appointed our Great High Priest by God, the Father, "not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." In this statement, the writer of Hebrews is assuring them, and us, that yes Jesus died on the cross. But it did not end there. After three days, He arose! He is now at the right hand of the Father, having obtained righteousness for us. The Father has imputed (accounted unto us) the righteousness of Christ as being our righteousness. As we read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." When God looks at His children, He sees us through the shed blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Yes, He made Himself of no reputation to endure the suffering on our behalf! He is risen from the tomb and is now seated on the right hand of the Father as our Great High Priest. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the approachable One Who is able to help us in all our struggles. Praise His Holy Name!