Hebrews 7:11-17: a reflection

11Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law. 13For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest, 16who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life; 17for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews explains why Christ's priesthood is different from and greater than the old one. The Levitical priests became priests by legal descent, by physical requirement, one dying and the next taking his place. But Christ, a priest in the order of Melchizedek, became a priest, the writer says, not on the basis of a legal requirement about physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. His priesthood rests on the fact that he lives, forever, and cannot die again.

Notice the ground of Christ's priesthood: an indestructible life. The old priests held their office only until death; each one's ministry ended when he died, and another had to be raised up. But Christ, risen and alive forever, holds a priesthood that death cannot interrupt, because his life cannot be destroyed. He is a priest forever, and the forever rests on the indestructibility of his life.

That is a deep security. Our great High Priest is not one who will one day die and hand his work to a successor; he lives by an indestructible life, and so his priesthood, his intercession, his representation of us before God, never ends. Whatever changes, whoever fails us, however time passes, we have a priest whose life cannot be destroyed, and whose ministry for us therefore cannot end. Rest in the priest who holds his office by the power of an indestructible life. He will never cease to be your priest, because he will never cease to live.

Lord Jesus, you are a priest not by legal descent but by the power of an indestructible life; because you live forever, your priesthood never ends. Thank you that my great High Priest will not die and hand his work to a successor, but lives forever to intercede for me. When everything else changes and fails, give me security in the priest whose life cannot be destroyed. You will never cease to be my priest, because you will never cease to live.