¹³ For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

Like a sober parent emphatically and at great length explaining the dangers of a particular activity to a young teen being drawn into a hurtful life pattern, so the writer of Hebrews emphatically and at great length continues to emphasize the superiority of Christ over the Levitical priesthood. Continued stressing the point behooves the situation because like a teenager, the 1^st century target audience is being drawn back into the life style of the Law, which will prove to be their downfall. So, he continues to reason with them the foolishness of embracing that which is immensely inferior.

This Melchizedek, whom we have noted before looks suspiciously like a pre-incarnate manifestation of the 2^nd person of the Trinity, was emphatically not a descendent of Levi, from whom the right to the Jewish priesthood derived. And no one other than a descendent of Levi had the right to “officiate at the altar.” So this Melchizedekian priesthood is of a different kind than the Levitical priesthood.

Now here is where the connection between this Old Testament personage and Jesus Christ is made clear. Previously (vs. 3), he was said to be “made like the Son of God.” Then from verse 4-13, the entire focus has been on Melchizedek. Now in verse 14, the writer makes it clear that he has “The Lord” in view, which must refer to Jesus Christ, “the Son” first mentioned in Hebrews 1:2. He is the one that comes from a different tribe than Levi, namely, from the tribe of Judah. And further, the Law of Moses (here mentioned as being Moses himself) did not teach that priests come from the tribe of Judah. Therefore, if Christ is in fact a priest in the order of Melchizedek, then it has absolutely nothing to do with the Jewish priesthood. It is far superior.

To the writer, this is a big deal. And to the readers it should have a huge impact. They were being tempted to go back to the Law, including the priesthood, which they thought would give them access to God. But that access would not be direct, and it would be unfulfilling. And as will become evident as the letter to the Hebrews continues to unfold, it leaves them no better off than they were before Christ. In fact, going back to a religion of works and priests and ritual would be to trample on what He did as being a colossal waste of time.

Lord, thank You for rescuing me from a dead religious system that gave no hope. I believe in Christ’s sacrifice for me and pray for those still in ignorance.