THE PRIESTHOOD BEING CHANGED
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Hebrews 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
In verse twelve of our Hebrew’s seven text it should be made clear that in the change of the law, it only speaks of the change in the law of the priesthood. For the entirety of the law remains the same. We recall the words of the Lord Jesus concerning the law. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The apostle wants it made perfectly clear that the Lord Jesus Christ is now the only High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
And we read in our Hebrews 8:4 verse, listed above, that if the Lord Jesus had remained on earth, he, being of the tribe of Judah, and not of the tribe of Levi, would not qualify as a priest to attend the Jewish altar in their temple. Then we understand that this change of the priesthood from Levi, ministering only for the Jews under the law of Moses, changed to the eternal priesthood of Christ, ministering to all believers of all nations. Thus with the change of the priesthood the law of the priesthood changed forever.
And this different priesthood was after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Levi. For Melchisedec was a priest-king, serving the most high god to all peoples long before Moses and the law. And no king of Israel was allowed to be a priest. (See 2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Thus was Christ the Priest-King, serving the most high god, and not just the God of Israel. And he, being a sovereign king over all heaven and earth, (Matthew 28:18), serves all believers of all ages! Zechariah 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
After bringing his people out of Egypt, having brought them to Sinai, the Lord instructs them as to his purpose for them, IF they will be obedient to him. Exodus 19:1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
And this purpose was only fulfilled in the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
For the true, borned-again believers, making up the spiritual church, are the priests of God, enabled to come to God without religious, human priests being over them. For no priesthood on earth can lord over God’s heritage! Their only priest for their mediation to God is the Lord Jesus Christ! 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Popes, pastors, teachers, prophets – whoever they might be, have no personal priesthood authority over the Lord’s people! No believer should tolerate the practice of priestcraft over them! None should be allowed to bind, nor rule over the consciences and souls of the Lord’s people! 1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
For the Lord’s ministers are servants! Not rulers! Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
And the Lord Jesus, being chief among us, made himself servant of all! Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Lord’s peoples are priests in their own rite! They need not seek access to the Lord God through any other mediation! For they have been given the privilege, since the tearing of the temple veil, of entering into the holy of holies for themselves! It is their “new way.” It is their “living way.” For entrance was gained, not just through the tearing of that cloth, but through the tearing of the very flesh of the Lamb of God – the Lord Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
And this priesthood of the believer is conducted and carried on by the indwelling Holy Spirit within the individual souls of every redeemed servant of Christ. John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
This being the case, every believer, as it were, has the school house, the school teacher and the school books within him. 1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Dear Reader, I implore you to most carefully, and prayerfully consider that verse twenty one. For there you have revealed for you why the Apostle John – the apostle whom the Lord Jesus greatly loved – stating to you what he knew, by the Holy Spirit, was the intent of his writing his portion of the Scriptures! Take careful notice! It was not that he wrote because you know not the truth, but because you know it!!!! THAT gives you an entirely different understanding of your relation to your bibles and to your pastors! For truth comes from within. Never from without! Your ears are to hear what your heart knows to be the truth!!! For our edification depends upon the revelation of God, by the Holy Spirit – not education! For external religious education is of no benefit except it be usable for the Holy Spirit’s work within the heart!
The Apostle Paul stated that he counted all his Jewish training under the tutorage of the great Rabbi Gamaliel, but dung. Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Therefore he didn’t attempt to make those who heard him preach to become proper Jews, but spiritual believers in Christ! 1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
You need not any man to teach you the truth. That is is the function and effectual work of the Holy Spirit alone! The ministerial gifts (see Ephesians 4:11-14), are for “edifying and perfecting” – not for revealing! Christ IS THE Truth! (John 14:6). And none but the Holy Spirit has the authority from God to reveal him unto you. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
The only inner, effectual motivation to come to Christ is the result of being taught by God! John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Dear Reader, the Lord God is a Spirit! His words then must be spirit in order to be life! John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Therefore we need ‘messages,’ not “sermons!’ We have surrounded ourselves with scholastically trained sermon merchants, who can easily get up a sermon from a dead, writer’s sermon notes. But we need fresh bread from heaven for our current lives!
For we are instructed, not just to follow one’s sermons! – but one’s faith! Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow,… For the gospel is continued throughout the ages as it goes from “faith to faith!” Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The Apostle Peter sets forth correctly the relationship of the former writings of the prophets of God and his being able to bring it as fresh bread from God. 1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. David can’t wear Saul’s armor! He must use that which is fitted to him for his slaying of the giant!
The Lord Jesus warned us of the danger of sitting under educated men who only had lip service, but not faith’s walk. Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
The church in our day is suffering from an unregenerate church membership and an uncalled ministry. Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. May God have mercy!
Pastor Gene Breed
August 17, 2017
