RPG Adults
THE CONTRAST OF THE TWO PRIESTHOODS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20
Hebrews 7:1-10
1 John 2:1-2
“And he is the propitiation for our sins …
also for the sins of the whole world.”
THE CONTRAST OF THE TWO PRIESTHOODS
There is a contrast between the priesthood of Melchizedek and that of Aaron. Melchizedek was unique and has no ancestry while the Aaronic priesthood came from the house of Levi one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The name of Melchizedek suddenly came to the scene without any historical background given.
The Levites received tithes but they did not live beyond the appointed time of human life on earth. Melchizedek has a different description and the text implies that he lives. There was also the age limit in the Aaronic priesthood. One was admitted to serve as a priest at the age of thirty years and retired at the age of fifty, i.e. one could serve for a period of twenty years only. This was brief and shows that the life of that order was greatly limited. After Christ came to fill that office, it was abolished completely and the Levites no longer served as priests. Those who force themselves into that office after this serve no meaningful purpose. The text also asserted that Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham.
The writer said this of Melchizedek: “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.” In that his priesthood is eternal and the call that the believers come to Christ only for salvation is stressed. Only Jesus saves. Berkhof added this of the priestly office of Christ, “Besides bringing the great sacrifice for sins, Christ as priest also makes intercession for His people. He is called our parakletos by implication in John 14:16, and explicitly in 1 John 2:2. The term means ‘one who is called in to help, an advocate, one who pleads the cause of another.’”
THOUGHT: The Aaronic priesthood was part of our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.
PRAYER: Father, may I learn well from the schoolmaster as well as from my “parakletos.”