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Daily Devotions

Hebrews

Hebrews 
Day 
Day 179

"If perfection were through the Levitical priesthood..."

Text: Hebrews 7:11

WAS THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD MEANT TO BE THE PERFECT ONE?

When God established the Levitical system, it could easily have been misunderstood that this was the only priestly system. It was in fact misunderstood for the longest time that there wasn’t any other priestly system! The author of Hebrews offered a special word of revelation from the Lord in the following text.

“Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood
(for under it the people received the law), what further need
was there that another priest should rise according to the order
of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the
order of Aaron?”
Hebrews 7:11

1. The law

a) This is a reference to the law of Moses.
b) The Levitical priesthood was established under the law given by Moses.
c) The order of Aaron was also established in the law given by God through Moses.
i) The sons of Aaron had a special role as “intercessors”.
ii) They were “higher” in rank than the Levites.
iii) Only from the family of Aaron could the office of High Priest be fulfilled.

2. The law made no mention of another priestly system

a) Since there was no mention of any other priestly system in the Mosaic law it was assumed that the Levitical system was “perfect” (and irreplaceable).
b) The offer of a priestly system, the order of Melchizedek did not receive instant support.

3. Much time had to be devoted to explaining the order of Melchizedek

a) The Levitical priesthood had to be questioned… with reference to its “perfection”.
b) By virtue of the severe and chronic failure of the Levitical priests, it should be obvious that this system was far from perfect.
c) The Levitical system was not perfect nor was it meant to last forever.

It was deemed important to argue for the replacement of the Levitical priesthood.