Changing the Priesthood

(Hebrews 7:13-22 – Changing the Priesthood)

There is a perception in the minds of some people that the New Covenant is some kind of extension of the Old Covenant. It is not. It is very different in many ways.

One of the ways that it differs is there has been a changing of the priesthood under the New Covenant. The Old Covenant operated under the priesthood of Aaron and the Levites, who were selected by God. Moses, through whom God gave the law, was also a Levite. His brother Aaron was the first high priest under the law, and the priesthood is named by his name.

But when the New Covenant commenced with the death of Jesus Christ, a new and different priesthood came into effect. Jesus was not a priest of the order of Aaron. He became a priest under the order of Melchizedek. Changing the priesthood is important for many reasons, as we will see.

What this scripture says about changing the priesthood

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 Melchiz’edek, 16 who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz’edek.” 18 On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath. 21 Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but this one was addressed with an oath, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘Thou art a priest for ever.’” 22 This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant. (Hebrews 7:13-22)

Changing the Priesthood from Aaron

The priesthood of Aaron was established to administer the law, including the Ten Commandments. There were many duties and roles associated with this priesthood. They were charged with all aspects of running the Temple, which was the primary place of worship in Judaism. And one of their main roles was to teach the law to the people and administer the requirements of the law.

Nobody else apart from the descendants of Levi were allowed to be priests under the law. And nobody else but a descendant of Aaron was allowed to be the high priest.

Another aspect of the priesthood and the Levites in general, was that they did not receive a portion of the land of Canaan when it was divided up. Their portion was to serve God. They were required to bear the burden of this service for the rest of the people as the servants of God.

But of course they had to eat and survive, which would be difficult without land to grow crops and feed herds. So, God established the laws of tithing where the other tribes had to give ten percent, or a tithe, of all their agricultural produce to the Levites. And when this tithe was received, the Levite peoples had to give a tithe of the tithe to the Temple for the upkeep and running of the Temple. Nobody from any of the other eleven tribes was permitted to take the tithes. It belonged and still belongs only to the descendants of Levi as it was given as a perpetual due by God.

A Priest of Melchizedek

When the New Covenant came into effect, it was not like the Old Covenant. We are told as much in these following words:

8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “The days will come, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not like the covenant that I made with their father on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord. (Hebrews 8:8-9)

If the New Covenant is NOT like the Old Covenant, then what is it like? It is not a covenant of law like the Old Covenant. Instead it is a covenant of freedom:freedom from sin and freedom from law. And it is much, much more than that.

But because it is not a covenant based upon the law, changing the priesthood became essential. The Levite priests and high priests under the order of Aaron were established to administer the law. But this new covenant is not a covenant of laws and ordinances.

Thus changing the priesthood was not just a good thing to do, it was essential. And that is why Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi, but of Judah. Had He been born as a descendant from Levi He would have to have been a priest under the Levitical priesthood. But being born of a different tribe from which no-one is allowed to serve in the Temple, He was able to take up a different order of priesthood, changing the priesthood for the New Covenant.

Under the priesthood of Melchizedek, the appointment of Jesus was not based upon His ancestry. It was based upon His obedience to God the Father, and the indestructible life He lives, just as Melchizedek was also an immortal being as the priest of the Most High God.

Why changing the priesthood was necessary

I have already mentioned that the New Covenant is not like the Old Covenant. Ad that is reason enough for this change. But the functioning of the two covenants is so different, and their outcomes so different, a new priesthood was required.

We see in the scripture today that the Old Covenant was flawed in that it could not make a person perfect. Not that there is anything wrong with the laws, but they could only define the difference between right and wrong. The law could not change a person’s heart to bring them to perfection and righteousness.

Furthermore, in the law there was the constant reminder of sin. The law became a “big stick” that condemned anyone who broke the law. While the knowledge contained in the law was good, perfect and true, it could not make a person perfect.

By contrast, the New Covenant is meant to change us within our hearts and minds. It teaches us the laws of God and what is right and wrong, but because part of the New Covenant is to receive the Holy Spirit, we are able to be transformed. This is the work of the Holy Spirit; to transform us into the image of Christ.

This is why changing the priesthood is necessary. These things could not be done under the old priesthood because they are at odds with the essence of the two covenants. The covenants are not opposed to each other, but they follow very different paths to reach the goal.

And the New Covenant is a far better covenant than the Old Covenant. As the last verse in the section above shows, the New Covenant was brought into effect by an oath from God. God swore an oath that Jesus would be the high priest of the New Covenant under the priesthood of Melchizedek. We are also told that the priests under Levi do not receive office with an oath, but to prove the truth and the promise of the New Covenant, God swore an oath. That is why the last verse tells us that Jesus is the surety of a better covenant.

And it is a much better covenant because the offer of perfection, victory over sin, and over the desires of the flesh is possible.

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