based on the silence of Scripture. The fact that there is no mention of his birth or death makes his priesthood typical of one that is underived and eternal. CHRIST— the Antitype: verses 11-28 While the priesthood of Christ is after the order of Melchisedec in that it is eternal, it is after the pattern of Aaron in present ministry and func tion. The verses which we are now to examine, however, reveal that between the Levitical p r ie s th o o d and the priesthood of Christ, there are five points of difference. Not of Levi, but of Judah, 11-14: The end of all priesthood is the per fection of the believer; but the fact that 500 years after the institution of th e Levitical economy another priest of a different order was spoken of (Psalm 110) is a proof that that great system was inherently imper fect (verse 11). And the priesthood being changed there is of necessity a change in the law governing it (verse 12). When on earth our Lord could not be a priest (chap. 8:4), because He belonged to another tribe of which no man gave attendance at the altar (see verses 13, 14). Another priest: a better hope, 15- 19. The imperfection and transitori ness of the Levitical priesthood hav ing been declared, we are now to see that it is replaced by one of a wholly different type; that in contrast to Is rael’s priests who took office according -to a law of physical descent, the Mel chisedec priest comes after the power of an indissoluble life (51-16). For, again to quote Psalm 110: “Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec” (verse 17). “The sacred writer means, of course, the Lord Jesus, and is thinking, not of His life as commencing with His miraculous conception, but of that which began with His' resurrection to glory. The subject here is that priesthood after the order of Melchisedec with which He is invested now in consequence of His return to God.” The new order demanded a change
of the law governing priesthood, and with it was introduced a better hope by which we draw nigh to God (18- 19). A divine oath: a better surety, 20- 22: Hebrews 6:13-14 is God’s first recorded oath; Hebrews 7:20-22 is His last. Established thus by the oath of God, the Lord Jesus becomes not THE BLESSINGS THAT REMAIN There are loved ones who are missing From the fireside and the feast; There are faces that have vanished, There are voices that have ceased; But we know they passed forever From our mortal grief and pain, And we thank Thee, O our Father, For the blessings that remain! Thanksgiving, oh, thanksgiving, That their love once blessed us here, That so long they walked beside us, Sharing every smile and tear; For the joy the past has brought us, But can never take away, For the sweet and gracious memories Growing dearer every day. For the faith that keeps us patient Looking at the things unseen, Knowing Spring shall follow Winter And the earth again be green; For the hope of that glad meeting Far from mortal grief and pain— We thank Thee, O our Father, For the blessings that remain. For the simple joys of living. For the sunshine and the breeze, For the beauty of the flowers And the laden orchard trees; For the night and for the starlight, For the rainbow and the rain— Thanksgiving, O our Father For the blessings that remain. — Annie Johnson Flint only a superior priest; He becomes also the Guarantor of a better cove nant. “God placed behind Christ’s commission the eternal verities of His throne, and the immutable attributes of His nature. If they can change, the new priesthood can change. Otherwise, it cannot.” 34
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