Hebrews Chapter 7

This chapter is so awesome in so many ways. We start off this chapter reading more about Melchizedek and what makes him special. Here we are confronted with the difference between the Order of Melchizedek, to which Jesus belongs, and the Order of Aaron which represents the traditional priesthood of the Israelites. I've already spoken previously (Hebrews Chapter 5) about the symbolism behind Melchizedek and his name so check it out if you haven't already.

What is perhaps the most interesting section of this chapter is the section from verses 11-16 and 26-28. These verses elaborate on the necessity of Christ's life. Under the original law, the law governed by the Order of Aaron and the Levites, Israel was faced with an impossible task: the keeping of the law. Besides Jesus, no person has every lived a life that perfectly adhered to the original covenant and the Ten Commandments.

Because of this, the Order of Aaron was a flawed priesthood, incapable of raising the Israelites out of sin. This means that a new priesthood had to be created.

God knew this all along so He prepared His Son and sent Him to us. And in doing so, created the next generation of priesthood, one that is not ordained due to his heritage, but is instead invested due to the nature of the "power of an indestructible life". That phrase at the end of verse 15 gave me chills when I read it because of the image it created of Jesus as an indestructible force, a force who triumphs over Death and opens the gates of heaven for His followers. What makes this image more powerful is that this was proven by the Crucifixion and Resurrection three days later.

One final thought. With this new priesthood came a new covenant, one that offered its Priest as surety. Since Christ has the power of an indestructible life, then this covenant, which is sealed by his life, is a covenant that will endure to the ends of time. This offers us, individuals born into sin, a reassurance that there stands one ready to fulfill His side of the covenant forever and ever and ever.....