PRIEST FOR EVER

Verses 1 to 4 describe the high priest of the Aaronic order. His mediatory role was ‘for men in things pertaining to God’. He appeared before God on behalf of men. He had ‘compassion’ on the needy people he represented before God, because he was himself a man. In these respects, Aaron is a picture of Christ. But there the similarity ends. Christ’s priesthood was totally superior to Aaron’s. Aaron was, at best, a sinner, who needed ‘for himself, to offer for sins’. He was called, ‘of God’ to this honour. In contrast, verse 5 shows that Christ, appointed to this role by the Father, is addressed as, ‘my Son’. So this Priest is not, ‘taken from among men’, but is God’s own Son!

Verse 6 introduces us to a new type of Christ. Although the Aaronic priesthood foreshadowed our Great High Priest’s ministry in a beautiful way, yet it involved many priests, who died and needed to be replaced; constant sacrifices and only a temporary covering of sins. But here is a new order of priesthood, ‘after the order of Melchisedec’. What does this imply? Melchisedec priesthood was superior to Levitical priesthood. Their priesthood, in their opinion, was the oldest, most important, most lasting priesthood in the world. What could be better? The writer proves, in chapter 7, that the Melchisedec order is older. Melchisedec appeared to Abraham before the law was given. It is also more important, as it combined kingship with priesthood, and it is also everlasting, in that it is said of Melchisedec, ‘having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually’, Heb. 7. 3.

In verses 5 and 6, two expressions from the Psalms are quoted to teach the eternal character of our Saviour’s priesthood. ‘Thou art my Son’, and ‘Thou art a priest’. The former teaches the eternal Sonship of Christ. It is in the eternal present that God says of His Son, ‘Thou art my Son, today’. If His Son- ship is eternal, so is His Priesthood, for, we read, ‘Thou art a priest for ever’.

Today, we live in the enjoyment of the fact that the blessed Man at God’s right hand, there on our behalf, is ‘the same yesterday, and today, and for ever’, ch. 13. 8. He’s a priest for ever!