33
The Tabernacle just here for the Holy Spirit's own words about this truth: "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an un- changeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Aaron, because he was a sinner, had to offer daily sac- rifices, "first for his own sins, and then for the people's" (Heb. 7:27); but Christ, who was without sin, suffered for a sin-cursed world. He Himself was ever "holy, harm- less, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Heb. 7:26). Having compared the Aaronic priesthood with the eternal, unchangeable priesthood of the Lord Jesus, in Hebrews 5:1-7:28; that is, having shown that Christ, in His divine Being, is far "better than" the very best that Judaism had to offer; the Holy Spirit concludes this part of the Epistle to the Hebrews by saying, in 8 :1: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum (or 'chief point,' R. V.) : We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." Then He continues the comparison between the Levitical priesthood and that of Christ by showing the difference in the ministry of the two. Not only is our Great High Priest, in Himself, in His righteous and matchless Per- son, far greater than any earthly priest could ever be; but in His service He is the only perfect Priest. The com- parison that follows, in Heb. 8:2-10:22 fairly glows with the radiance that beams from the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and from His risen majesty and glory! A few
32 The Tabernacle study, we believe that he was a man, a king-priest, whose family descent was deliberately withheld by the Holy Spirit, in order that he might become a type of our King- Priest, even the Son of God, who is, in very truth, "with- out ... beginning of days, nor end of life." (See Heb. 7:3.) And the Epistle to the Hebrews reiterates the heart of the matter, that thus he becomes a type of the eternity of Christ's priesthood; for He is "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Aaron died; his sons died; their ministry lasted for only a brief time; then others succeeded them in the priestly office. But because there is no record of Melchiscdec's parentage or birth or death, he is typical of Jesus, our Great High Priest, "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5: 2), who has neither beginning nor ending. That Christ, our Great High Priest, is greater than Aaron, Israel's first high priest, is the central theme of the Epistle to the Hebrews; and the argument is very plain: Melchisedec was greater than Aaron, not only for the rea- sons already named; but also because he was greater than Aaron's forefather, Abraham. He was greater than Abra- ham because he blessed Abraham, and received tithes from the patriarch. "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better" (Heb. 7:7); and one who receives tithes is greater than the one who gives them. Again, Aaron came through the tribe of Levi, and was only a priest; Christ, from the kingly tribe of Judah, is both Priest and King. (See Heb. 7:14.) Aaron and his sons were made priests without an oath. But to the Son of God the Father "sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Heb. 7:21). We have already observed that Aaron and his sons died, whereas Christ ever liveth. We quote Heb. 7:23-25
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