RPG Adults
THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO ORDERS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
Hebrews 7:11-28
Psalm 110:1-7
“The LORD shall send the
rod of thy strength out of Zion:
rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.”
THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO ORDERS
The Levitical priests were made without an oath; Christ was made a priest with an oath (Ps 110:4). Christ thus became a surety of a better testament. When Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life, He was showing His place as the priest of an eternal covenant. When the gospel is preached today, this truth must be stressed and believers must be born again and must conform to Christ.
The Aaronic priests were many and they died. This shows that they were temporary. They served the purpose for which they were ordained and that was the end. This comparison and explanation was necessary because the human mind is inclined to believe what they see. The service of Aaronic priests had gripped the mind of the Jews for they lived among them so that they were not easily persuaded to accept the priesthood of Christ. However the truth stands.
Christ’s priesthood is unchangeable and He continues ever as a priest. He is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by Him for He lives to make intercession for them. In this He exercises the responsibilities of His office. The office of a high priest requires some qualities, and these high spiritual credentials were seen in Christ. He was holy, harmless and undefiled and was separate from sinners and higher than the heavens. He did not need to offer daily sacrifices but He offered Himself once. This was also another point of difference with the Aaronic priests. The Levitical law prescribed different sacrifices that were repeated daily. This is because none of the animal sacrifices was sufficient. Christ, on the other hand, was both a priest and a sacrifice. He offered His own body. Christ is the perfect one and He has fulfilled God’s promise.
THOUGHT: The earthly priests were made by the law, but the Son is consecrated for ever.
PRAYER: Father, may Jesus Christ ever be my surety.