If
perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed
the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still
need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the
order of Aaron? Hebrews 7:11
Abraham
met a priest named Melchizedek in Genesis 14.
Aaron was introduced later in Exodus 4 and made a priest in Exodus
28. Melchizedek’s priesthood is
mysterious, coming out of nowhere. His
position was not established in the Bible like Aaron’s was—he was just
introduced as a priest.
The
book of Hebrews makes the case that Jesus, as a priest, was more like Melchizedek
than Aaron. Jesus came from the line of
Judah, not Levi, which was the priestly genealogy, so he was not from the
earthly line of Aaron.
For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to
that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if
another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his
ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. Hebrews
7:14-16
Aaron’s
priestly descendants came from an earthly line of descendants. Melchizedek, mysteriously, comes from no
earthly line, making him more of a “godly” figure. The priesthood of Melchizedek is more aligned
with Jesus who is our high priest, but did not get that title through a blood
line. He just is.
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110:4
Psalm
110 calls the order or line of Melchizedek a “forever” line or permanent
priesthood—one only God could have (Hebrews 7:24). While many literally come from the line of
Aaron, only one figurately came from the line of Melchizedek.