The Perfect Priest-King

When I say the word "perfect", what comes to mind? What is the definition of that word when you think about using it in a sentence? What are the thoughts that come to mind when you hear me say that word out loud?

I remember in seminary we would have to write all sorts of papers. There were some that I even got an A on. Now, getting an A+ is pretty good. But from the teacher's perspective, is the paper perfect? No, it's not perfect. The fall of man and the introduction of sin into the world has stained everything. Because of this, there is nothing here that is perfect. I asked you about that word, "perfect" because it is key to our understanding of today's passage from Hebrews. Specifically we need to understand the word in the way that the writer of the book makes use of it. There are many words that we use these days in sloppy ways. For example: love. I love that book or I love Cheetos. We have likewise used "perfect" in imperfect ways. Did you see what I did there? Maybe you saw the newest Top Gun movie and someone asks, "How was the movie man?" We might give the response, "it was great. It's a perfect movie." We toss that word around. Do we mean that there was nothing at all wrong with it?

That's where we need to gain understanding about how the author of Hebrews uses the word "perfect" in describing Jesus. It's not that Jesus is JUST better than previous high priests. It's not just a category of superlative like we might see in a yearbook. I.E. best hair or most likely to succeed. No, when the author writes about the perfect of Jesus, he's talking about an intrinsic attribute. True perfection. He can't help but be perfect. It's who He is. It's also a defining characteristic of His priestly ministry. And the reason His ministry is perfect is because Jesus Christ is objectively perfect. Not like a perfect grade from a fallen human professor but truly, objectively, perfect. He is the only one who can fulfill this perfect ministry because He is the only one who can claim being fully divine and fully human. He is the perfect God-man.

Now, I need to set up some context for how our passage fits in the context of where we have been and where we are going. This is the the book of Hebrews. A group of Hebrew Christians who are being pressed hard by the culture around them. They stand out because they believe and worship differently than the preponderance of the culture around them. They are facing pressure to give in to the culture and religious leaders around them and to return to their old Jewish ways of worshipping. The stakes are high. A writer pens a divinely inspired letter to them to encourage them to stand firm in their faith. He tells them to persevere and to encourage this and spends a great deal of time on how Jesus is better than anything or anyone else, even those in their religious tradition because Jesus was in fact, the point of their religious tradition. The author had been making the point that Jesus is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek and he continues to explain the comparison of Jesus and Melchizedek. Let's pick it up in verses 11 through 28.

Read Hebrews 7:11-28

Hebrews 7:11–28 ESV

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

This is the Word of the Lord. Let's pray and ask Him to give us understanding and obedience.

**PRAY**

I read that the reason this passage doesn't seem as shocking to us as it should is because we in 2022 America are so far removed from the original cultural context. Therefore, we need to take a look at that context. When we understand this context you will hopefully see the legal problem that requires a better priest than the Levitical priests.

I. The Legal Problem (v.11-14)

The Levitical priesthood was the backbone of Jewish society and one of the major components of God's covenant with Israel. The shock of this passage for the original audience is that the author is proclaiming that Jesus Christ brings an END to the Levitical priesthood. This thing that had marked their culture in so many ways and signified their connection to God and favor with Him was being proclaimed as ended because something better and perfect had come along. For us today we see that and think, "well, yeah." But this was scandalous to Jewish people. Al Mohler writes,

>The priesthood defined the Jewish people. God established it through the male heirs of the tribe of Levi. These descendants of Jacob had certain priestly duties to perform. Due to the weighty responsibility entrusted to the Levites, other tribes actually took up contributions to feed and care for them.

The particularity and preservation of the line of Levi was paramount to Israelite society. As the mediators between Israel and God, the Levitical priests represented the people of Israel before Yahweh. They were the people’s proxy. They also represented God back to the people through the fulfillment of their priestly duties. The writer of Hebrews declares that a greater priesthood exists than the one covenanted through the Levitical tribe. The priesthood of Jesus Christ is truly superior because Levi’s priesthood did not achieve perfection. As right and righteous as Levi’s priesthood was, it was imperfect. Thus, the Levitical priesthood could not accomplish the salvation of God’s people. (R. Albert Mohler Jr., Exalting Jesus in Hebrews (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), Heb 7:11–12.)

So what are the issues with the Levitical priesthood?

A. Levitical problems

They weren't truly capable of being the true mediator between God and man for eternity. If they were sufficient then what would have been the need for Israel to wait around for a great high priest to come. If this priesthood could get to perfection then there would not have been a need for any need for another greater priest to come. If that was the case, the whole mention of Melchizedek would have been devoid of meaning. There would not have been a need for the Messiah to come to serve as mediator between God and His followers. Here are some problems that are presented in the passage to which Jesus and His priestly ministry was a direct solution.

1. Priests died (v. 23)

There were many of the Levitical priests over the years because death prevented them from continuing to serve. They grew old and died. They were not able to serve as an eternal mediator because they were finite themselves. But Jesus, 100 percent God and 100 percent man died in the place of sinners on the cross and rose again and will never die again. He exists eternally as our high priest and go between with the Father.

2. Levite priests had sin of their own (v. 27)

The insufficiency of the priests comes to the forefront when we realize that they had to offer sacrifices for their own sin before they could offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. They represented the people before God and were to represent God before the people but they could only do so as an imperfect representation. There needed to be a mediator who could offer a once and for all sacrifice who had no sin of His own. Only this type of person could stand between God and man as perfect high priest and mediator.

When we get to verse 19, it tells us that the law made nothing perfect. But the writer of Hebrews says there was a better hope introduced. This better hope was the solution to the problems with the Levitical priesthood.

II. The Solution: A Better Hope Introduced (v. 19)

The better hope is Jesus. It's the message of the gospel. He is the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament law and the solution to all of the issues with the Levitical priesthood. It is Jesus who is referred to in verse 13 as "...the one of whom these things are spoken..."

A. Different kind of priest/different line/order - A Royal Line

Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi, inheriting this role genetically. He was from the tribe of Judah. No one from Judah had ever served as the priest. There were distinctions between the tribes and their roles in Jewish society. The priest was not to be a king and the king could not serve as a priest. Levi was the tribe of priests and Judah was primary known as the tribe of King David and gave Israel its kings. So here we have a foretold Messiah who will reestablish David's throne. He's a priest but also from the kingly line and tribe. Jesus' ministry has three functions or aspects. They are prophet, priest, and king. This kind of perfection and perfect ministry is not found in the old covenant. There is not a category for it in the old covenant. Only Jesus can operate in these ways in perfect fulfillment of the law and the prophets. There are four truths about Jesus and this high priestly ministry of Jesus that we can see reflections of in the scripture. These show why this is all VERY good news for us.

1. Perfect plan, perfect Savior

- flawless

- there were no oversights or shortcomings. Jesus is not a backup plan. He is THE plan.

- perfect nature

- Not only was everything Jesus did perfect but He is perfect in His very nature. I poked around at this earlier in the message. It would be against His nature to not act perfectly. It is who He is.

2. Permanent

- final - Nothing more to be said on it. It is done. Jesus' priesthood is the final one. It is ultimate.

- eternal - Jesus' priesthood is eternal. His mediation for us means that there will never be a day when those who have been purchased out of sin by the blood of Jesus on the cross will ever need anyone else to mediate for them with the Father. Jesus is always there and always claims over His people that they are His.

- continuous - This is closely linked with eternality. Jesus is always there and so we can approach the throne of grace at ANY time. There's never a time when we, who have trusted in Christ, can not cry out in prayer to the Creator of the universe. It makes me ashamed that there is a lack of prayer in some of my busier days.

3. Perfect guarantee

- God guarantees this all with an oath. Verse 20 is a promise that we can cling to. Because God sealed it with an oath, we can trust that it will always be true. Jesus will be a priest forever. God will not change His mind. He accomplishes what He sets out to accomplish.

4. Perfect sacrifice

1. Once and for all - Never again will a sacrifice for sin have to be offered.

2. All-sufficient - Jesus is enough. His death was sufficient to atone for all of your sin. Your very sin nature atoned for by Jesus dying in your place. You should have hung on the cross. You should face eternal damnation for your sin against a holy and perfect God but Jesus took that sin on the cross for those who place their trust in Him alone for salvation. This is incredible. Don't miss out on this!

As depraved and totally sinful and deserving of hell as I am and as your are remember that:

"There is more mercy in Christ than sin in you."

Conclusion/Call for Response:

This better hope is the way by which we draw near to God. (v. 19)

- by which we are sanctified/grow in Christ

What are the implications for Christians?

What are the implications for non-Christians?

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