A continuation from #286..........
Hebrews 7:1-28 ~ to save space and time, please read these short verses first, then I'm going to give a brief understanding of them for our readers consideration.
Hebrews 7 will teach us that the Mosaic period with its Levitical Priesthood was temporary, inadequate, defective. The Hebrews believed that the Levitical system of priesthood was "perfect". It had been instituted by Jehovah Himself,
so surely it must be sufficient and permanent! If the whole Aaronic system was of Divine appointment how could it possibly be,
in itself, so unsatisfactory that it must now be discarded? The inspired writer will prove this to be so by invincible logic that the Levitical system
was imperfect, and therefore had been superceded by something
far better in so many ways.
First, the inspired writer proves this by a
Priest of God whom even Abraham acknowledge to be great by giving him a tenth of the spoils Abraham had gotten when he met him returning from the slaughtering of the kings. This priest named
Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, was made priest like unto the Son of God. His
name signified the King of
righteousness and the place of his origin ~
Salem, meant a King of
peace, both perfectly typified the Son of God.
Hebrews 7:3
“Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”
Means there was
no record of his birth or death, which allow him to perfectly be made like unto the Son of God. So much more so than the priest under the Mosaic system, or the first/old covenant.
Hebrews 7:11
“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 apostle now points out some of the consequences of Christ’s being a Priest "after the order of Melchizedek". The
first he mentions is that the Levitical
was unable to bring in "perfection". This was evident. Had it done so there was
no need for introducing another. But wherein was it that the Levitical system fell short? What was it that it failed to procure? To answer these questions we need to carefully weigh the expression "perfection".
"Perfection" means the bringing of a thing to that completeness of condition designed for it. Doctrinally it refers to the producing of a satisfactory and final relation between God and men.
It speaks of that unchangable standing in the favor and blessing of God which Christ has secured for His people. In Hebrews 12:23 we read of "the spirits of just men made perfect", which does not mean that the Old Testament saints had been perfected in holiness and happiness (though that, of course, was true of them), but that they had been "made perfect"
as their title to heavenly glory. This did not take place till the sacrifice of Christ had been offered, though, in the certain prospect of its accomplishment, they
had received the blessings which flow from it long before: Hebrews 11:40
In our present section the apostle insists that "perfection" could not be produced by the Levites, and that a priesthood which did bring in perfection
must be superior. It therefore remains for us to enquire next, What are the great ends of priesthood? What is it that the priest should effect? The priest was the mediator who drew near unto God on behalf of others. His work was to present to Him a sacrifice for the satisfying of Divine justice. It was to effect such a procuring of His favor and such a securing of a standing-ground before Him for those whom he represented, that their conscience might be at peace. It was to come forth from His presence that he might pronounce blessing. Had the Levitical priesthood been able to obtain these things? Had Aaron and his successors obtained God’s remission from all the consequences of sin and brought in a complete and abiding redemption?
No, indeed.
The office and work of a priesthood may be considered two ways: first, as it respects God, who is the prime and immediate object of all the proper acts of that office; second, as it respects His people, who are the subject of its blessings and the beneficiaries of its administration. As priesthood respects God, its chief design was to make expiation of sin by means of an atoning sacrifice.
But this the Levitical priesthood was unable to do. A typical, ceremonial, and temporary value attached to their sacerdotal ministrations; but an
effectual, vital, and permanent did not. This is positively stated in Hebrews 10:4 "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins". Why, then, were such appointed? To exhibit the holy claims of God and
the requirements of His justice; to prefigure the great Sacrifice yet to come.
Let us next inquire, What was the "perfection" which Christ hath brought in? And here we cannot do better than give a summary of the most helpful exposition of John Owen. That which Christ hath produced to the glory of God and the blessing of His people is,
First , righteousness. The introduction of all imperfection was by sin. This made the law weak (Romans 8:3) and sinners to be "without strength" (Romans 5:6) Therefore perfection must be introduced by righteousness.
That was the fundamental of the new covenant: see Isaiah 60:21; Psalms 72:9, etc. Therefore do the saints speak of Christ as "The Lord our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6). Christ has brought in an "everlasting righteousness" (Daniel 9:24) Therefore are believers "made the righteousness of God in him. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
Second,
peace is the next thing which belongs to the evangelical "perfection"
of Christianity/New covenant of pure grace. As the High Priest of the covenant it pertained to the Lord Jesus to make peace between God and sinners. "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10) Therefore is He denominated "The Prince of peace"~(Isaiah 9:6) He is such because He has "made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:10) The result of this is that believers have "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"~Romans 5:1. Thus the evangel we proclaim is "The Gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15)
Later....
letgodbetrue.com
images of God, worldly religious philosophies, traditions and high days of man) we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship "the Father" in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him "must worship him in spirit and in truth". 
