Jesus the Priest-King

Hebrews 7:15-18

The author of Hebrews continues to tighten the cords of reasoning around his courtroom-like argument. The appearance of Jesus Christ as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek should instantly reveal the limitations and inadequacy of the Levitical priesthood. The Aaronic priests were used by God to prepare his people for the coming of the Messiah who would achieve the final, complete atonement. God, when he sends Christ, establishes his Son as the final priest.

As already noted, Christ does not descend from the tribe of Levi. Christ’s priesthood is not predicated upon blood lineage—his priesthood runs much deeper. Christ’s priesthood is founded on “the power of an indestructible life.” This is one of the fundamental differences between Christ’s priesthood and Aaron’s priesthood. The Levitical priests died. Not one of them could fulfill the responsibilities in his mediating work as a priest forever. Yet the priest who arises according to the order of Melchizedek endures forever. This priest is not merely a priest because of lineage, but because his priesthood never ends—because it is predicated upon the power of an indestructible life.

The contrasts between the basis of the legal requirement and the power of an indestructible life are stark. Fulfilling the legal requirements of familial lineage does not render Jesus the great high priest. Something infinitely greater and eternally superior qualifies him for the position—namely, an indestructible life. This refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “For it has been testified,” the author of Hebrews notes, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 110:4). The word forever is a weighty word. Our human minds, in their finitude, cannot grasp the reality of it. We cannot fathom what it means for something to never end. We can sing it, we can say it, we can read it, but we cannot fully grasp it. We can know, however, that it is forever that sets Christ apart from and above every Levitical and earthly priest. Christ is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The author of Hebrews then, following his assertion of Christ’s eternality, tells his audience about the shortcomings of the former commandments and the former law, which they held in high regard. The writer is not alone in pointing out these shortcomings. Paul also points them out. In Romans Paul reminds the church that the law was powerless to do what Christ did for us. Jesus accomplished and effected our salvation, while the law was incapable of doing such a wonder. The law is perfect in the sense that it does all that God designed it to do, but it does not lead to salvation. Only Christ can do that.

The author combines two words in verse 18 that are incredibly powerful: unprofitable and weak. The law was not unprofitable in regard to its utility—it still adequately performed its given responsibilities. Paul tells us we should be grateful for the law since it exposes great need for a Savior. In Romans 7:7 Paul explains that he would not know he was a covetous person without the law. The law, therefore, is not unprofitable in the sense that it has no use at all but in the sense that obeying it does not provide any ultimate, eternal rewards. The law is used to condemn, but it can never be used to save. For effecting salvation, the law is unprofitable.

This is the heart of the law’s weakness, as well. On the one hand, the law is so strong that it is stamped into the hearts and minds of every single human being in such a way that none are left untouched (Rom 2:15). That’s how powerful the law of God is. Yet on the other hand, it is not able to save. The law is weak in this regard. The law is weak and unprofitable where salvation is needed because God did not design it to save sinners.

Hebrews 7:19

The author of Hebrews again makes a statement about perfection. This time he highlights the inability of the law to perfect anything. This contrasts with Christ the great high priest, who, through union with him by the working of the Holy Spirit, washes wretched rebels spotless before God. The law never made anyone perfect—it never produced a truly holy, perfect people, and it certainly never produced perfect individuals. The law reveals sin and the law kills—it certainly cannot save, for it was never intended to do such a thing. The former commandment is laid aside in order to give way to a better hope that is ours in Christ. In the old covenant, the law functioned in many ways the Israelites desperately needed, but it could not draw them closer to God. The law exposed the pervasive sinfulness of man and, as a result, the great need for a great Savior. Christ, however, does precisely what the law could never do. He saves. Jesus accomplished our salvation and gave us a new hope—a hope through which we now draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:20-22

These final verses once again highlight the fact that Jesus, the true and great high priest, is incomparably superior to the Levites. God may have established the Levitical priesthood, but he never swore an oath to them that their priesthood would continue into eternity. In fact, the fabric of their priestly responsibilities bore witness to their insufficiency.

But the author of Hebrews shows that in Psalm 110:4 God actually based Christ’s priesthood and its eternality on an unchangeable oath. The author is adding layer upon layer to his case for the superiority of Christ over the old covenant. Christ’s priesthood is rooted in the unshakable promises of God.

In verse 22 the author also connects priesthood to covenant. This is an idea that he will more fully explain in chapter 8. Yet for the time being, the author hints at the fact that not only is Jesus a better priest, but his priesthood is actually part of a better covenant, the “new covenant” spoken of in Jeremiah 31. Because Christ is the “guarantee” of this covenant, Christians can be assured that all the blessings of the new covenant will be infallibly applied to them. God’s covenant promise cannot fail because God’s priest, Jesus Christ, cannot fail.