Jesus – The Greater Priest and Priesthood

Well if you would take your Bible and turn back to Hebrews chapter 7 verses 11 to 19. We read those verses earlier. Now in our scripture reading we only read those verses but in the message I will ask you to turn to chapter 10 verses 1 to 4. That's really just a page or two over so that won't be hard for you to find. Now it has been quite a while since we have been in our study through the book of Hebrews but that break has been good and it has been necessary. In our study or in my study I was thinking about some of the things that we have been studying during this break.

We just finished up a series of messages that I call messages from the pastor's heart and those sermons that I preached on elders and elder ministry I think that has been very very good for us. As a matter of fact one of the men in our church made a comment that that is a good series for a pastor to go study and listen to on their own. I think that's been good for us. It has been good for me. I think about what we studied at Christmas the glory of the Incarnation and I remembered what we looked at back in Thanksgiving the joyful and the thankful Christian.

Those are some sermons that we need to go back and revisit because we need to fight to be joyful and thankful Christians. But here we are back in our study through the book of Hebrews which is all about this supremacy of Christ Jesus. Now back on November the 17th we covered verses 1 to 10 and what I called Melchizedek greater than the priesthood of Levi. Now before we jump into verses 11 to 19 I want to go back to our introduction of chapter 7 because that information will help us in getting back in our study. I made the comment earlier that we may be rusty. We may be a little forgetful with what we've been studying.

Now here in chapter 7 the author is coming back to where he had left off in chapter 5 verse 10 and the author deviated in his teaching here in chapter 5 verse 11 for a practical reason several practical but very important reasons. First of all in chapter 5 verse 14 to chapter 6 verse 3 the author was writing to call these immature believers that were in the church to work towards spiritual immaturity. Now there's a lesson there it is our responsibility to work in our Christian maturity. We cannot sit back and expect the Spirit of God to zap us and instantly make us mature believers. It takes work.

Then in chapter 6 verse 4 to verse 8 the author was working to warn these false believers that were there in the congregation to beware of the real and serious danger of apostasy. Now I want to piggyback off that and say to you if you're not converted here I want to issue you a warning. If you are not truly converted of Christ you can linger that way in the life of the church and then certain circumstances can come along and cause you to apostasize. Beware of lingering in your unconverted state.

That is a very very dangerous place to be and I have seen many people in the life of the church through the years remain unconverted and remain in the life of the church and then through a series of decisions and circumstances they apostasize. They leave quote-unquote the faith. Well they really never were converted to begin with but then third in chapter 6 verse 9 all the way to verse 20 the author was writing to encourage them to persevere in these things because God's promises and God's plans and God's writings are certainly true and trustworthy.

Again we are responsible to be persevering Christians and all that we're studying in the life of the church. So the reality of these serious needs in this congregation caused the author here to interrupt his explanation that Jesus was and is high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Simply as a church and as a people they really were not ready to receive these deep things concerning the supremacy of Christ and the fact that his priesthood that is the priesthood of Jesus is greater.

But in chapter 5 verses 1 to 10 the author explained that Christ Jesus was and is our perfect high priest and he did this by comparing Christ and his priesthood to that of the Old Testament priests and priesthood and then he explained that because of Christ's perfect obedience and being offered as a sacrifice for sin he was designated by God a high priest in the order of Melchizedek. And then starting in chapter 7 verse 1 the author continues with this teaching.

Chapter 7 is all about the priesthood of Melchizedek being greater than that of the Old Covenant Levitical priests and on top of that chapter 7 is all about the priesthood of Jesus being even greater as the priesthood as of Melchizedek. So let's make sure that we see and remember that chapter 7 is all about the great and greater high priesthood of Christ Jesus which is all about the superiority of Jesus and that is where we get the title of the series that's what Hebrews is all about the supremacy of Christ.

Now as we turn our attention to verses 11 to 19 I want us to make sure that we see how this teaching builds it gets higher it gets greater verses 1 to 10 we're all about mysterious King Melchizedek and the priesthood of Melchizedek being greater than the priesthood of the Old Covenant Levitical priests. Now here in verses 11 and 19 which is all about Jesus and this is all about the fact that his priesthood is greater and much like the priesthood of Melchizedek that's why I say it's greater and greater higher and higher.

Now that leads me to the title of the message it's simple Jesus the greater priest and priesthood Jesus the greater priest and priesthood now I want us to read again these verses and we will read them throughout the message and I don't do that just to be redundant these are difficult things and we need to go back to the verses so as to make sure we get these things verses 11 and 19 let's read them again.

Now if perfection have been attainable through the Levitical priesthood for under it the people receive the law what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek rather than one named after the order of Aaron for when there is a change in the priesthood there is necessarily a change in the law as well for the one of whom these things are spoken belong to another tribe from which no one has ever served at the altar for it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests this becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek who has become a priest not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life for it is witnessed of him you're a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek for on the one hand a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness for the law made nothing perfect but on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God now out of these verses I want us to see three things that show us that Jesus was and is greater his high priesthood is greater first we will see the imperfections of the old covenant Levitical priesthood then we will see the importance of the fact that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and then third we will see the eternality of this new priesthood of Jesus and then last we will see the priesthood of the Levites being set aside really even annulled or done away with this will be easy for us to follow so number one I want us to see the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood this is in verses 11 to 12 the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood now let's read these verses again and you'll see the author poses a question here that speaks of the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood now if perfection have been attainable through the Levitical priesthood for under it the people receive the law what further need where there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek rather than one named after the order of Aaron now to get it what the author is saying here I want us to focus on three things this word perfection in verse 11 the point of what the author was making here and then this word change that we see in verse 12 so first this perfection now all of the translations that I normally reference use this word perfection but we need to understand what the author was and he is referring to this word perfection here is often used in the scriptures to speak of a completion as it relates to Christian maturity Paul used this word often to speak of a perfection in Christian maturity or a perfection in sanctification but here in Hebrews that is not the meaning this is a perfection that has to do with being made right with God this has to do with one coming into a perfect or a right relationship with God the Bible scholar Vincent says this refers to the establishment of a perfect fellowship between God and the worshipper and that leads us to second the point the author was and is making here he is explaining that the Levitical priesthood was and is unable to bring a man into a right relationship with God the Levitical priesthood in the entire old covenant sacrificial system did not have the ability to provide forgiveness for sin and access to God one commentator said the Levitical priesthood and those sacrifices did not transform human beings so they became righteous those things did not restore the rule human beings lost when Adam sinned but that leads me to a question or two these questions helped me maybe they'll help you what was the purpose of the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system what did all of that accomplish the Levitical priesthood in the entire sacrificial system did not have the power or the ability to take away sin those things only served to cover over sin temporarily there was a measure of forgiveness but that forgiveness was not complete or a full forgiveness that forgiveness was only temporary so that is why those under the old covenant had to make those sacrifices for sin over and over over and over year after year year after year and it is extremely important that we see and understand this because if the Levitical priesthood and the old covenant sacrificial system had had the power to take away sin then there would have been no need for Christ to come and suffer and die on the cross we see these things clearly stated in Hebrews 10 verses 1 to 4 so we'll take a little time but I want us to read these verses this in this is important for us to see the author says verse 1 for since the law has but a shadow of good things to come instead of the true form of these realities it can never by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year make those perfect those who draw near otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered since the worshippers having once been cleansed would no longer have any consciousness of sin but in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins but that leads us back to that previous question or two if the Levitical priesthood and the old covenant sacrificial system could not take away sin well then what was his purpose this is simple the Levitical priesthood and all that it represented anticipated and pictured another priesthood that was to come the Levitical priesthood was never meant to be permanent it was preparatory it was temporary it is simple the Levitical priesthood and the entire sacrificial system pictured another priest that would come after the order of Melchizedek and that priest was and is Jesus and then third this change that we see here in verse 12 this is an important word this word change here now this word change this means to transpose or to take one thing and put it into the place of another and notice that the author is speaking of change in two places first in the priesthood which he covered in verse 11 and then second in the law which he states and covers in verse 12 but look at this change in the priesthood the Levitical priesthood was never meant to last for forever it was preparatory it pictured another priest that was to come that priesthood anticipated another priesthood that was to come I said it earlier this is simple the Levitical system and the entire sacrificial system pictured another priest that would come after the order of Melchizedek and that priest was and is Jesus so here we see that the Levitical priesthood was replaced by the priest and the priesthood that it pictured but notice this change in the law now look back at verse 12 for when there is a change in the priesthood there is necessarily a change in the law as well now what does this mean this can cause a lot of confusion for some we have to understand that the law spoken of here wasn't is the mosaic law and the mosaic law and the Levitical priesthood were bound together those things could not have been separated actually you could not have one without the other so this means that when the Levitical priesthood was changed or replaced the mosaic law was changed it was replaced as well now to understand this this is going to take a little bit of an explanation and honestly I came across a great explanation given by John MacArthur and I convinced him kind of changed it up but in the scriptures this term the law can refer to several things this can refer to the entire Old Testament or it can refer to the Old Covenant that would be the broadest definitions of this term the law more specifically the law can refer to the first five books of the Old Testament this can refer to the Ten Commandments and this can also refer to the prescribed and required rituals and ceremonies and laws as seen in the Old Covenant but a question what was the writer of Hebrews referring to when he says the law here what was he speaking about many scholars believe and I do as well that the author was referring to those rituals ceremonies and laws that were prescribed and required under the Old Covenant and since those laws were tied to are bound to the Levitical priesthood those laws were done away with they are no longer necessary since those things anticipated and pictured the one who would fulfill all those things perfectly and that was and is Jesus but a much needed and very important question here that maybe some of you are thinking about does this mean that the Ten Commandments are done away with no the Ten Commandments which many scholars called the moral law was never meant to be done away with that is because the moral law of God which is stated in the Ten Commandments are truly a part of the very nature of God so that law as seen in the Ten Commandments can never ever be done away with or changed that is why we see that in the New Testament God's moral law is never done away with or changed actually it is further explained in the New Testament in the Old Testament we see things like adultery stealing lying and coveting those things are sin but Jesus goes on to say that not only is it a sin to commit those things literally it is even a sin to commit those sins in thought in motivation in intentions even in our minds and hearts John MacArthur says and I'm quoting here far from setting aside his moral law in the New Covenant he thus God has strengthened it as far as standards for his people are concerned the New Testament demands a greater judgment on disobedience when it were comes to those things so the simple point here is this the ceremonial law that was all tied to the Levitical priesthood was changed and done away with just like the Levitical priesthood was those things were exchanged far and replaced by Christ Jesus and his perfect sacrifice for sin which fulfilled all that was pictured in the ceremonial law and the Levitical priesthood again go back and read chapter 10 verses 1 to 4 so notice what we have seen here just in these two verses verses 11 to 12 the inability of the Levitical priesthood and the ceremonial law to make the worshiper right with God listen to those verses in the amplified it helped me maybe it'll help you now if perfection a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper have been attained through the Levitical priesthood for under it the people were given the law what further need was there for another in different kind of priests to arise one in the manner of Melchizedek rather than one appointed in the order of Aaron for when there is a change in the priesthood there is a necessity a change of the law concerning the priesthood as well now before we move on and before I give us a little application for us in our day I want us to see how this applied to the original audience and then those a little later on in the New Testament Church remember this original context they were Jews in this congregation scholars tell us this was primarily if not a hundred percent a Jewish congregation some were truly converted and some were not but many were struggling to let go of Judaism and life under the Old Covenant the temple and temple worship was still there in place and scholars tell us that many were still participating in temple worship so the writer was explaining that Jesus was greater than the priesthood of the Levites and those Old Covenant ceremonial laws that those things were done away with so there was no need to go back to the temple he was saying temple worship the Levitical priesthood all those animal sacrifices are doing away with so think about it it was complete and total lunacy for them to go back it's easy for us to understand that in our day but notice how we see this at other places in the New Testament late and later on in the progression of the church in the New Testament we see some Jews who profess to believe in Christ Jesus some I'm sure were truly genuine and some were not but some continued to persist in holding on to certain religious rights and rituals from the Old Covenant and to make matters worse they began to make those things necessary for salvation and to others who wanted to become Christian they were known as the Judaizers and they were an infectious disease in the New Testament and in the early church for years even centuries and they taught that for a Jew or even a non-Jew to come to saving faith in Christ they needed to be circumcised as seen in the law they needed to make sacrifices there at the temple when it was still there and they needed to adhere to certain Jewish laws and ceremonies and rituals as seen in the ceremonial law this was a cancer in the church and this was a cancer to the gospel because they were saying that it was the gospel plus lawkeeping that saved and gospel plus anything will never say but what about us we're not Jews we do not live in this day so how does this apply to us first we must see that no priest or priesthood can bring a man to God only the one and only priest who came after the order of Melchizedek can do that Jesus said in John 10 9 I am the door if anyone enters by me he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture you may say well pasture we believe that well there's a Catholic church just a few blocks from here that teaches and believes that somehow a man can be taken to God through a man a priest and that's heresy second we must see that no sacrifice can bring a man to God Hebrews 10 for says for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins you may say pastor I believe that we don't have a problem with sacrificing animals well in Baptist work people do not bring animal sacrifices to God in hopes that that sacrifice will somehow make them right with God but many in the life of the Baptist Church bring the sacrifice of religious works thinking that somehow those religious works will make them right with God third we must see that no person can gain a right standing before God by keeping the law the relations 216 says yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus you may say pastor I don't know anyone who is trying to keep the old covenant ceremonial law you may say pastor I don't know anyone who is trying to mix law and grace like we see with the Judaizers that's saying dangerous sin goes on today and it is more devious and deceptive than you know and anytime someone even hints at that we are made right by the gospel and anything else they are a Judaizer of another day and another time we are not saved by grace through faith plus something we are saved by grace through faith alone and nothing else so the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood and the ceremonial law there was probably more there than you knew but then next number two wants to see the importance of the fact that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah verses 13 to 14 the importance of the fact that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah look back at those verses for the one of whom these things are spoken belong to another tribe from which no one has ever served at the altar for it is evident that our Lord that's Jesus was descended from Judah and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests now the point of what the author is saying here is real simple and much shorter from verses 11 to 12 the author explained that a new priesthood had been established Jesus came after the order of Melchizedek fulfilling all that was anticipated and pictured in the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system and all of the ceremonial law and here the author takes things one step further he declared that the greater high priest Jesus did not belong to the tribe of Levi and that would have caused these Jews that received this to really perk up that is because they knew that the Levitical priests were exclusively from the tribe of Levi and even more exclusively they knew that the high priests were descendants of Aaron and his sons so that meant that there was no provision in the scripture for any priest to be a descendant from any tribe but what is the author telling us here Jesus wasn't is a priest but he wasn't is a priest in another order he was from the tribe of Judah that's what the verses tell us now what's the point the author wasn't is showing that the priesthood had changed Jesus wasn't is a completely different priest with a completely different heredity because the law was changed remember we discussed that I like how MacArthur explains this change through this new heredity he points out that the heredity of the Levitical priesthood was typical temporary and imperfect but the heredity of Jesus and his priesthood was Melchizedek like in that it was real but it was eternal so the author was and is explaining that Jesus was a priest of a completely different order and that he was from the tribe of Judah and this fact highlights and emphasizes the fact that God brought about a new priest a new priesthood in the order of Melchizedek really this goes right along with verses 11 to 12 and then number three I want us to see the eternality and power of the priesthood of Jesus we see this in verses 15 to 17 the eternality and the power of the priesthood of Jesus again let's go back to the verses this becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek who has become a priest not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of the indestructible life now here the author is continuing to build his case that Jesus priesthood was and is greater than the Levitical priesthood in the order of Melchizedek notice how the author just built his case to me he's getting greater and higher greater and higher from verses 11 to 12 the author explained that a change had been made in the priesthood the Levitical priesthood and even the ceremonial law was changed it was exchanged for a new priesthood from verses 13 to 14 the author confirmed that this change had indeed taken place as Jesus was not even a descendant of Levi but of the tribe of Judah well here the author proclaimed that this new priesthood was even greater because this priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek it is eternal and it is all powerful but here I want us to see three facts that the author tells us about this new priest first he says he is another priest notice verse 15 this becomes even more evident when another priest arises now notice all the translations we normally reference use the word another now we may not see this on the surface but this word another here is key language scholars tell us that in their language they had two words for another one which meant or means another or another of the same kind but there was another word for another which means another of a different kind I don't know why this example came into my mind maybe it helps you their season is over now a new season is here it's called get things straight at home the yard the house the honeydew list well I enjoy bow hunting I enjoyed I enjoy rifle hunting all that good stuff and this year I didn't take anything with my bow but I was doing some looking around cleaning out of my office and I found the paperwork on my bow and I didn't realize it but it's 14 years old it still works fine now if I were to sell that bow and buy another one that's about 14 years old I would get another of the same kind but if I were to get rid of that old bow and get a new bow well I would get another bow but one of a completely different kind some of you ladies checked out but some of you men know exactly what I'm talking about now what's my point here Jesus in his priesthood is not just another priest and another priesthood of the same kind just like those Levitical priests Jesus and his priesthood is of another kind in that he was and is completely different even of a completely different order and a completely different kind then second he says that he is a risen priest verse 15 says this becomes even more evident when another priest arises and this word arises has great meaning this speaks of two different things first Jesus arose as this new priest he arose and that he had no Levitical heredity he was and is a new priest he was and is this new priesthood and then second he arose in that he was crucified dead buried but he did not stay in the grave he arose so this is a reference to the resurrection now notice what this tells us his resurrection validates his priesthood and the validity of the fact that his priesthood is another of a completely different kind and notice what else this tells us all these things tell us that his priesthood was and is in the likeness of Melchizedek not of the Levites and then third this tells us that his that he certainly is eternal he is eternal and the all-powerful priests look back at verse 16 who that's Jesus has become a priest not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent bodily heredity but by the power of an indestructible life now here the author is just continuing to prove the greatness of Jesus and his priesthood and even the permanence the power and the eternality of his priesthood and he does this by making a comparison he points out that the Levitical priests were appointed and served strictly on the basis of one standard physical lineage heredity the New American says that the Levitical priests were appointed on the basis of a law of physical requirement this is heredity but this new priest was appointed and served not on the basis of any physical lineage his appointment and service was strictly on the basis of one standard the power of the indestructible life the amplified says that Jesus was appointed on the basis of the power of an indestructible and endless life so this tells us that Jesus and his priesthood was indeed all-powerful permanent and eternal now one more thing here you may see in your Bible that verse 17 the author is quoting the Old Testament specifically he is quoting Psalm 110 verse 4 and the point here is this Psalm 110 verse 4 is a reference to the priest King Melchizedek and here the author is quoting this Old Testament scripture about Melchizedek to support his teaching that Jesus did and does possess this all-powerful indestructible eternal life simply to these Jews who knew their Old Testament the author was using the Old Testament to prove his case that Jesus was the greater high priest so notice what we have here in verses 15 to 17 the eternality of this priesthood the eternal power in indestructible nature of this priesthood I like what the Bible scholar Tom Shriner says here and I'm quoting all Levitical priests die but Jesus is a priest who has triumphed over death forever his life will never be brought to an end surely such a priesthood is superior to the one where death leads to an endless succession of death now an application I want to point out two things using two words the first word depression depression it must have been unbelievably depressive for these Jews to see death upon death death upon death year after year year after year all these animal sacrifices that it best could appease the wrath of God and provide temporary forgiveness for sin now this is a hypothetical but this will give you just a little bit of a glimpse of what that looked like say a good Jew who loved God based on the scriptures that he had was obedient to all that he saw in the scriptures say all week he battled lust he battle lust he battle lusts thoughts of adultery so what does he do he obeys what the Old Testament says he goes to the temple and he makes the appropriate animal sacrifice and he is temporarily forgiven his conscience is soothed but he walks right out the door and all of a sudden that lust comes right back no forgiveness it's gone how depressing that must have been but then the second word victory it is unbelievably victorious to know and to experience the fact that in Christ Jesus we have permanent and eternal forgiveness for sin because our great high priest is all-powerful indestructible and eternal and he that's Jesus entered once and for all into the holy places not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood that's securing an eternal redemption so for those of us who are in Christ Jesus the day we came to faith the day we came to the cross and we savingly repentant of our sin we receive victory forgiveness a forgiveness and a victory that those Old Testament Jews could only yearn for so we have the eternality the indestructible power of our new high priest and then last number four we see the priesthood of the Levites was set aside it's done away with the priesthood of the Levites was set aside it was done away with let's read our last two verses verse 18 and 19 from the one hand a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness for the law made nothing perfect but on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God now here the author comes to the pinnacle of his teaching that is drawing near to God true and unhindered access to God which is what these Jews wanted which is what they worked for for centuries again think of the horrible unending frustration that they live with they never were able to attain true and unhindered access to God through that Levitical system remember it was endless again depressing but notice that two things had to take place for this drawing near to God this access to God to come about and we see this in a comparison that the author makes here first there had to be a setting aside of the old we see that in verse 18 the author says that the former commandment had to be set aside in this former commandment refers not to one commandment but the entire Levitical priesthood and the entire ceremonial law the entire system had to be set aside it had to be done away with in this word translated set aside must be understood it means to reject it means to put away it means to abolish so this means that the new was not added to the old the old Levitical system was completely and totally abolished it was put away but why was it totally abolished the author tells us he says that it was weak and useless to bring a person near to God the Levitical system was unable to provide perfect access to God then second there had to be an establishment of the new we see that in verse 19 here the author says that a better hope was and is introduced in that better hope fulfilled the entire Levitical system and completely abolished it and that better hope wasn't his Jesus who wasn't is the greater high priest who instituted the greater high priesthood in the order of Melchizedek I like something that the Bible scholar Tom Schrodinger points out here he shows how this word better captured and even held the author of the books attention all throughout the book the author here says that Jesus is better than the angels chapter 1 verse 4 he says that those who were in Christ experienced better things chapter 6 verse 9 he says that Melchizedek is better than Abraham chapter 7 verse 7 he says that Jesus guarantees a better covenant chapter 7 verse 22 and chapter 8 verse 6 and this covenant has better promises chapter 8 verse 6 he says that Jesus offered better sacrifices chapter 9 verse 23 he says that believer a believer is looking forward to a better country chapter 11 verse 16 and a better resurrection chapter 11 verse 35 he says that the Old Testament saints of God will experience a better fellowship with the New Testament saints chapter 11 verse 40 and he says that the blood of Jesus speaks better than the blood of Abel chapter 12 verse 24 and Schrodinger goes on to say and I'm quoting it is inconceivable according to the author that the readers would forsake what is better to cling to the law and the Levitical priesthood and I add to that by saying a Levitical priesthood that was useless to bring them near to God and I want to piggyback off what Schrodinger says by asking you why do you hold on to your empty religion and empty religious works which has not brought you new life and hope when you have what is better before you you're just like those Jews you're just like those Jews look what's before you Jesus who is a better hope he is the only hope and the only hope to have access to God why hold on to your empty religion you're just as foolish as those Jews who went right back to the temple I like how MacArthur compares the old useless Levitical system to the better hope who is Jesus he says and I'm quoting the old system could reveal sin it could even cover sin in a certain way and to a certain temporary degree but it could never remove sin and so itself had to be removed it brought nothing to conclusion it gave no security it gave no peace a man never had a clear conscience why do you hold on to the old when it will not clear your conscience he goes on to say but the priesthood of Christ Jesus made all of what Israel looked forward to a reality it brought access to God do you see that you have right before you what these old covenant Old Testament Jews who love God yearn for so notice what we have in verses 18 to 19 the priesthood of the Levites in the entire Levitical system with its priests and laws was abolished it was done away with those types and shadows and promises and pictures were fulfilled and realized in a better hope who was in his Christ Jesus and it is this hope that man and man can draw near to God and notice what side of redemption history we live on the Old Testament saints of God look for and towards and to the coming of a better hope that was promised all throughout the Old Testament but we have the better hope right before us he has come God's promises have been fulfilled and those of us who have savingly believed in Christ Jesus we have this hope we've experienced this hope we do experience this hope we live this hope because he is our hope and our access to God so the old Levitical system has been abolished it's been set aside and a better hope has come now in closing notice what the author has explained to us here in verses 11 to 19 oh it's a lot and I don't think I've done it justice Jesus is the greater high priest and he brought about a greater priesthood like that of Melchizedek as seen in the Old Testament scriptures so the title of the message Jesus the greater priest and priesthood and just like we always do I want us to pray over what we've studied asking the Holy Spirit of God to apply these things according to our individual needs and then just like last week we will transition to laying hands on Jared and praying over Jared and commissioning him to the work of elder ministry in our church