Jesus the High Priest of the Better Covenant

Hebrews 7:11-28, ´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? For when there is a change in priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: ¨You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.¨(Psalm 110:4),

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without oath! Others became priests without an oath, 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.´¨ (Psalm 110:4),

Because of this oath, Jesus has became the guarantee of a better covenant.

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Such a high priest meets our needs – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifice day after day, first for His sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself. 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.´

Melchizedek was a King of Salem and priest of the God Most High who met and blessed Abraham after he had defeated King Kedorlaomer and his allied forces and rescued Lot (Genesis 14:18-20).

After Moses had received the laws and instructions for the building of the tabernacle from God, he was instructed by him to bring Aaron and his sons (descendants of Levi), to serve as God´s priests and thus began the Levitical priesthood. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, and therefore did not have any birth right to priesthood.

His calling to be an eternal priest, to minister forever on our behalf before God, was on oath from God revealed to us in the scriptures in Psalm 110:4. Since he lives forever, His office will be permanent and the salvation He offers through intercession for our sins final and complete.

His one sacrifice, of Himself, is pure and perfect, complete before God that He does not need to offer daily sacrifices to atone for our sins. In the perfection that is Christ, we find our eternal salvation.

So just like Melchizedek, Jesus is a High Priest of God, blessing and interceding on our behalf in Heaven and the King of Jerusalem seated in heaven waiting for His enemies to be made His foot stool.