Hebrews 7:11 Commentary and Bible Study

Here is another argument. The task which the writer has set himself is to show the vast superiority of Christ’s priesthood to that of Aaron and those who came after him. What he has done so far is to show that Scripture speaks of two priesthoods: the Levitical priesthood, and the priesthood belonging to the order of Melchisedec. He has argued that the Levitical priesthood, which was so well known, was in fact surpassed by another priesthood that Scripture certainly spoke of, but which was obscure to most Israelites. The existence of this priesthood is rooted in a mysterious event in Genesis, but long after that, and long after the law was given and the Levitical priesthood was fully functioning in Israel, this other priesthood was confirmed by David in Psalm 110. This tells us that the mysterious event in Genesis should not simply be passed over and forgotten; it was there to teach something of profound importance. But what about the Levitical priesthood? God does not bring something into the world and then replace it for no good reason. What he does stands forever unless it was always meant to be temporary, and that is exactly the situation here. The proof that the Levitical priesthood was only intended to last for a limited time is that a greater and more enduring priesthood has come after it. By ‘perfection’ he means that it accomplished what a priesthood is designed to accomplish. What is that? A priesthood is designed to bring sinners to God and to reconcile God to man. In other words, it is designed to make atonement for sin. If perfection came via the Levitical priesthood, then why was another priesthood needed? God does not work against himself, or undo what he has successfully done previously. But the Levitical priesthood was not perfect. The offerings that they offered were not effectual; they achieved nothing. The priesthood given under the law of Moses only did this is symbolic form and not in reality. The sacrifices of the Old Testament could not actually take away the sin. What was their purpose then? They were just indications, pointers, foreshadowings, of how a great sacrifice in the future – Christ himself – would take away sin. They taught the people the means ordained by God for the removal of sin – the shedding of blood – but, being imperfect sacrifices, they did not actually make atonement or reconcile anyone to God. They said to the people, God by the shedding of blood will one day take away sin. In the meantime trust in his mercy. The Greek word translated ‘perfection’ means completion, the completion of salvation, the achieving of salvation; that had to wait for Christ. The proof that the Levitical priesthood was less than perfect is that another priesthood came after it. This was not an afterthought on God’s part, for he always intended to provide a priest according to the order of Melchisedec. This is evident from the placement of the original reference to Melchisedec in Genesis long before the law was given. So Melchisedec was a promise of Christ, a promise of something far better than the Levitical priesthood. The Son of God who is a high priest according to the order of Melchisedec has perfectly accomplished what the Levitical priests failed to do. He has made atonement for sin once for all, and removed the guilt of the sin of his people for ever. He has fulfilled the prophetic picture given under the law by achieving what the shadow priesthood could never achieve.