¹¹ Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

So what was wrong with the Levitical priesthood, if there had to be a new kind of priest? If God gave those priests, then that priesthood must have been good, for God never makes mistakes or does anything in an inferior way, it would seem. That way of seeking God along with the Law of Moses must lead to a person’s becoming perfect in God’s sight, right?

Indeed, Psalm 119:7 tells us, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul,” in the sense of the law being “without defect, blameless.” And we are also told, “You shall be blameless before the Lord your God” (Deut 18:13). Here the word “blameless” means “perfect, complete.” Jesus quoted this verse from the Septuagint (Greek) version of the Old Testament and renders it like this, “… be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48).

To be sure, there was nothing wrong with the Law or the Levitical priesthood (which is also called here “the order of Aaron” the ancestor from whom all the Jewish priests had descended). But it could only take us so far. The Law’s role was to show us the first step in restoring the image bearers of God to their right relationship to Him. That first step is to come face to face with our short-comings, how far we have fallen away from Him. In that sense, the Law is a tutor (see Galatians 3:24) that ultimately leads us to Christ—but only the first step. “…the Law…speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God, because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin” (Ro 3:19-20).”

The Law with the priesthood could not bring individuals full circle, but only part way. The priesthood provided temporary redress until the full revelation would be known about a different, better kind of priesthood, one that in fact came before the Levitical system existed, to which even Abraham paid tribute. But that better, higher priesthood, the one that was like Melchizedek, required a change in the Law, since priesthood and law were so irredeemably intertwined. This changing of the guard, so to speak, facilitates the change from law to the way of grace. We now have a better High Priest, and we have grace!

Lord, You didn’t just eliminate the Law, but You superseded it with grace and a new High Priest. Thank You for providing a way to becoming perfect in Christ.