What is Lacking in Levi?

Introduction

The problem is simple: how can Jesus legitimatly be the eternal high priest over God’s covenant people if he doesn’t meet the covenantal requirements for being a priest (since he isn’t a Levite)? The answer is that Jesus belongs to another, more ancient line of priests by virtue of his being the Son of David, and therefore inheriting the kingship over Jerusalem and the priesthood that accompanies it. This priesthood, in the line of Melchizedek, is not only just as good as the Levitical priesthood, but is better in every way and stands above the priests serving under the Law of Moses as the more legitimate and superior order of priests. The result is that we have the most qualified person possible interceding for us in a priesthood that is more ancient and stands on a better covenant than what we see in the OT Law.

Levi a Lesser Priesthood than Melchizedek

Levi Pay’s Tithes -

Levi Receives Tithes as a mortal -

Levi needed replacing -

So, from verses 4-10 it is easy to see that the priesthood of Melchizedek is clearly superior to that of the Levites, but why? What was lacking in Levi that we need in the priesthood of the New Covenant? This is the question asked in verse 11, “if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood, what further need would there have been for another priest to arise?” The rest of chapter 7 will go on to explain this to us.

Levi Lacks a Perfecting Law

Levi Lacks Life

Levi Lacks Holiness

Conclusion: Salvation Requires More Than What Levi Could Give