“Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.”
The author has educated us about the order of Melchizedek and is now moving on to explaining the old system was flawed and never achieved perfection. At the time of the letter, Christians returned to the Jewish traditions due to the persecutions and difficulties of life associated with following Jesus. Pharisees kicked Christians out of the Jewish community and synagogues. They were becoming outcasts within their nation and community. They were being hunted down and killed for their faith. It was not easy for people to declare Jesus as the Messiah. For those reasons, people were looking at returning to the Levitical way to have their lives reinstated and continue living in the world.
For us today, this is still highly relevant teaching. Many people, once they encounter Jesus and accept Him, will VERY quickly fall into the trap of living in the ways of man (the Levitical way or rules and regulations based on society or culture). People fall into the trap of following a pastor or leader, believing in that person’s anointing. Or people fall into the trap of focusing on and following structures, programs, and communities instead of focusing on Jesus. Or people fall into the trap of collapsing into a religious system not too different from the Levitical ways and never encountering the freedom of Jesus.
Today remember that the way of Jesus is very different from the ways of the world, and reflect on how you walk and live as a church separate from everyone else. Or do you still fall under the same social rules and boundaries that the world creates?
