And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
Christ was made priest by God's oath, while the Levitical priests were made priests without an oath by mortal arrangement. That oath gives His appointment special honor, certainty and superiority, establishing Him a priest forever with a permanent priesthood that passes to no successor. He is priest not by descent from Levi but after the order of Melchizedek and the power of an endless life, being of Judah and living ever to intercede and save completely those who come to God through Him. By that oath He became surety of a better covenant, guaranteeing to believers that God will fulfill His promises and enabling their obedience, and giving strong consolation to trust His saving ministry within the veil in the true heavenly sanctuary. Because His Melchizedek priesthood is eternal while the Aaronic priesthood was temporary and ceased at the cross, the tithe Abraham paid to Melchizedek still belongs to Christ as its High Priest for the support of the gospel work.
Oath and Appointment
Christ was made priest with an oath from God, while the earlier priests were made priests without an oath through arrangement by mortal man under the law of Moses. The Levitical priesthood was established without such an oath, but the Melchisedec priesthood that superseded it was established with one, distinguishing Christ's appointment from that of frail and imperfect men made high priests by law. In contrast to mortal, repeatedly replaced earthly priests, He was made priest by God's oath as Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, and His unchangeable priesthood supports His once-for-all offering of Himself and His ministry as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
God's oath, which He would not revoke, declares the honor and dignity of Christ's priesthood. It marks the certainty and superiority of His priestly appointment above the Levitical priesthood, giving this office special importance as conferred by Jehovah forever after the order of Melchizedek. The oath confirms that Christ is a priest forever, with a permanent, age-lasting priesthood that will have no successor.
The oath of God by which Christ was made priest took the place of the law of the Aaronic priesthood. That law reserving priestly service to Aaron and his sons and restricting priesthood to the tribe of Levi had to change because Christ sprang out of Judah, of which Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. That law passed away, so the change was not a change within a perpetual law but a change from one law to another, with the first expiring as the second began to operate.
That required change in the priesthood law does not mean the Ten Commandments or the Sabbath commandment was changed. The verse belongs to Paul's discussion of the change of priesthood from Aaron's line to Christ, not to an argument about the Sabbath commandment.
The oath was since the law, which proves He began His priesthood especially for men after His ascension, having made His sacrifice before He began His priesthood. After His crucifixion and resurrection He ascended and entered His Melchizedek priesthood for the world, beginning His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary beyond the Levitical priesthood. He was made priest not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life, and He continues ever with an unchangeable priesthood.
The oath that made Christ priest gives believers strong consolation and courage to trust that His priesthood will save them as He ministers as High Priest within the veil. That oath is identical with God's oath confirming the promise to Abraham, showing that the promise to Abraham extends as widely as the gospel of Christ. Abraham's righteousness was not imputed for him alone, but also for those who believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead.
Melchizedek as Type
What can be known of Melchizedek comes from the scriptural record guided in every detail by the Holy Spirit, including what it leaves unstated. Without father or mother means no pedigree is recorded, and no record is given of when his priesthood began or ended. No predecessor or successor is known, and no genealogy, birth, or death is stated, with even the omissions expressing divine purpose. For that reason he is a type of Christ, who received His priesthood from no predecessor and yields it to none to come. Christ's priesthood comes from no other and passes to no other but is age-lasting, and as priest He has no genealogy.
Melchizedek supplies features missing from Aaron's priesthood and shows that Christ's priesthood is after his order, not Aaron's. Melchizedek was not Christ Himself, for a type is distinct from the One it foreshadows, and Christ was made like him as priest after the same order. Identifying Melchizedek or establishing his genealogy would obscure and undo the truth shown by the type that Christ's priesthood is distinct. The Aaronic priesthood provides a pattern for understanding Christ's sanctuary ministry, but its deficiencies are supplied by the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was the literal king of Salem in Abraham's time, a priest-king and priest of the Most High God. He was not an ordinary man and was greater than Abraham, who offered him homage. His character, his name meaning king of righteousness, and his city meaning peace made him a fitting type of Christ as the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, our peace, and great High Priest. Like Melchizedek, Jesus is a priest-king, king of righteousness and therefore king of peace.
As King of Peace, Christ is King in His priestly office and makes peace for humanity with God. In that office He makes peace on His Father's throne and between humanity and God through the cross. This priestly work is linked to His offering of His own blood to obtain redemption. Christ receives His priesthood from a higher quarter, from the oath of God, and not from His descent as the Seed of Abraham. Adam was to be the king-priest Melchizedek of this world but failed, so Christ wins the place Adam lost and becomes the Melchizedek of this world in a still closer sense, while the Melchizedek who met Abraham was placed here briefly as a type of that later Melchizedek.
The priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek is the great object of the letter. That subject was introduced in Hebrews 5:6 and is resumed in Hebrews 7 after a digression caused by the unreadiness of the brethren. In the digression their condition was described, solemn warning of danger was given, and encouragement was given from the example of Abraham and the faithfulness and righteousness of God in keeping His promises. The verse turns hope resting on the promises made to Abraham toward the priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek.
Greater Everlasting Priesthood
Christ's priesthood after the order of Melchizedek replaced and superseded the Levitical priesthood because perfection did not come through it, and unlike the Levitical priesthood made without an oath it was established with an oath when the earthly sanctuary gave way to the true heavenly sanctuary and its more excellent ministry. The Levitical priesthood in force in Ezekiel's vision has been replaced by the priesthood of Melchisedec, which passes not to another. The law of the Levitical priesthood with its earthly sanctuary and services was instituted to instruct Israel about the true Melchizedek priesthood of the covenant with Abraham and the true heavenly sanctuary where Christ is priest after that order, but Israel perverted this purpose by making the Levitical priesthood the final priesthood and the earthly service the final service, expecting salvation and perfection by them instead of being led by them to the faith of the covenant with Abraham. Christ was never a priest in the Aaronic order, being of the tribe of Judah of which Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood rather than of Levi, which proves His priesthood is of a different order after Melchizedek. If He were on earth He would not be a priest, because the earthly priests were from Levi and Jesus was from Judah. He was made priest not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life, in contrast to the many mortal Levitical priests who died so the office had to pass to others. Having assumed the office it can never pass to another, for His unchangeable priesthood abides forever without predecessor or successor and He ever lives to make intercession for them. That unchangeable priesthood means He can save completely and for all time those who come to God through Him, because He lives continually to intercede for them as the real Priest who serves in heaven and ministers in the heavenly sanctuary before God's testament after having offered His life for the world. His permanent priesthood supports His once-for-all offering of Himself as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, in contrast to the mortal, repeatedly replaced earthly priests. The oath marks the Melchizedek order as eternal, kingly and universal, embracing all conditions and times and even the universe and continuing for eternity, whose possessor must be a king and at last possess an eternal kingdom. By contrast the Aaronic order was temporary, pertained to a sacrificial system, was instituted to address human need and the putting away of sin and to serve sinful people by dealing with sin because of sin, and had nothing of kingship. Jesus has a twofold priesthood as of the order of Melchizedek and as fulfillment of the Levitical priests, with the sacrifices of the past pointing to Jesus and finding their fulfillment in Him. In presenting Christ as the fulfillment of the old covenant's types and shadows, the context supports that the ceremonial law was abolished at the cross.
Heavenly Sanctuary Ministry
Hebrews 7:20 belongs to the explanation of how the sanctuary service and priestly ministry of the old dispensation finds fulfillment in Christ's ministry and sacrifice, with the Mosaic priesthood prefiguring His work as great High Priest. The Levitical priesthood served the first covenant, while Christ's more excellent ministry fulfills the second, when the earthly sanctuary gave way to the true heavenly sanctuary where He is seated at the right hand of the throne as minister. The earthly sanctuary and its ministration by the Levitical priesthood was a faithful example, pattern and shadow of Christ's ministry in the true tabernacle in heaven, where He carries out what Moses and Aaron performed in the pattern.
Christ was made priest to serve as High Priest for us in the true tabernacle, heaven itself, not the earthly tabernacle made with hands. If He were on earth He would not be a priest, because the earthly priests were from Levi and Jesus was from Judah. He did not fulfill that heavenly work before His ascension because He had to go within the veil first, where He pleads His sacrifice and offers His blood for humanity. That heavenly work includes the anointing of the Most Holy at the end of the seventy weeks, which refers to the heavenly sanctuary and not to an earthly sanctuary made by human hands. The yearly Aaronic service of atonement and cleansing was a type of Christ's real work as High Priest and minister of the true sanctuary in heaven, after the typical service ended, connected with the preliminary work of judgment before His coming.
Christ is Priest-King on His Father's throne, where His priestly rule and mediation continue during the cleansing of the sanctuary while probation remains open. That work began in 1844 and continues until His enemies are put under His feet, when He will receive His own subordinate throne. His priesthood will end when He leaves that throne. His priesthood has a different order and location in heaven, not a Levitical priesthood serving on David's throne, as shown with Hebrews 8:1-5.
As Adam's successor He stepped into the Melchizedek order after the triumph of Calvary, having become the antitypical priest after the Aaronic order as sacrifice and mediator. The oath marks the Melchizedek order as eternal, not connected with a sacrificial system, and kingly, whose possessor must be a king and at last possess an eternal kingdom, in contrast to the Aaronic order which is temporary, pertains to a sacrificial system, and has nothing of kingship, with men made priests without an oath. Christ was never a priest in the Aaronic order, being of the tribe of Judah. With the close of His mediatorial work as intercessor for sinners He will lay aside the antitypical Aaronic high-priesthood and put on the vestments and crown of kingly authority belonging to His office as Melchizedek.
Continuing Tithe Obligation
Hebrews 7 treats the priesthood, not the law of tithing. The priesthood law required priests to come from Levi, while Christ came from Judah and is priest after the order of Melchizedek. Tithing predates that priesthood law, since Abraham and Jacob paid tithes, and Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek supports the continuing obligation of the children of faith to pay tithe.
Christ was made priest of the order of Melchizedek with the oath of God, which together with the power of an endless life makes that priesthood eternal in nature, in contrast to the Aaronic priesthood which was temporary in duration and ceased at the cross. Because the Melchizedek priesthood is eternal, all duties, responsibilities and privileges that had for a time belonged to Aaron's line and were not typical in nature ending at the cross reverted to it, including receiving tithes from the brethren. The tithe which God exacted from the beginning was placed by Him in this eternal priesthood, belongs to the altar or service of God as one of the holy things of the altar, and now belongs to Jesus Christ as its High Priest. That ownership gives Him right to the tithe and gives those who wait at the altar a share with the altar for the support of gospel work.
Abraham's payment of tithe to Melchizedek, who represented Jesus Christ, applies to believers as Abraham's children by faith. The continuing priesthood after the order of Melchizedek remains in force in the Christian era, so Abraham's example of giving tithes to Melchizedek is an example for the faithful under the same priesthood. As Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, believers should pay tithes to Christ, who purchased them with His blood. Since Melchizedek received a tithe from Abram, that priesthood carries a continuing recognition of tithing.
Covenant Assurance and People
The oath by which Jesus was made priest, unlike priests appointed without an oath, establishes Him as the surety of a better covenant. As surety He guarantees to believers that God will fulfill His promises, and He guarantees to God that He will enable their obedience. In that office Christ becomes power within them to overcome evil and to keep God's commandments.
That same oath gives strong consolation and courage to trust that Christ's priesthood will save those who come to Him as He ministers as High Priest within the veil. The oath that made Christ priest is identical with God's oath confirming the promise to Abraham, showing that the promise to Abraham extends as widely as the gospel of Christ. Abraham's righteousness was not imputed for him alone but also for those who believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead. The passage therefore belongs to splendid instruction concerning the High Priest and His Melchizedek priesthood. It gives the wonderful encouragement that God gives to His children, and it shows the certain fate of those who reject the means by which He saves men.
Christ is the great Melchizedek Priest, appointed in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron or Levi, with Christ preeminent even above Melchizedek who served in that same order. Unlike the Levitical priesthood instituted to address human need and the putting away of sin by dealing with sinful people, His royal priesthood is everlasting and suited to all times, conditions, and the universe. His everlasting priesthood continues beyond sin's reign and throughout eternity. Those who belong to Him and are saved are made kings and priests to Him forever, serving as priests under Him.
Christ was made priest by God's oath, while the Levitical priests were made priests without an oath by mortal arrangement. That oath gives His appointment special honor, certainty and superiority, establishing Him a priest forever with a permanent priesthood that passes to no successor. He is priest not by descent from Levi but after the order of Melchizedek and the power of an endless life, being of Judah and living ever to intercede and save completely those who come to God through Him. By that oath He became surety of a better covenant, guaranteeing to believers that God will fulfill His promises and enabling their obedience, and giving strong consolation to trust His saving ministry within the veil in the true heavenly sanctuary. Because His Melchizedek priesthood is eternal while the Aaronic priesthood was temporary and ceased at the cross, the tithe Abraham paid to Melchizedek still belongs to Christ as its High Priest for the support of the gospel work.
Oath and Appointment
Christ was made priest with an oath from God, while the earlier priests were made priests without an oath through arrangement by mortal man under the law of Moses. The Levitical priesthood was established without such an oath, but the Melchisedec priesthood that superseded it was established with one, distinguishing Christ's appointment from that of frail and imperfect men made high priests by law. In contrast to mortal, repeatedly replaced earthly priests, He was made priest by God's oath as Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, and His unchangeable priesthood supports His once-for-all offering of Himself and His ministry as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
God's oath, which He would not revoke, declares the honor and dignity of Christ's priesthood. It marks the certainty and superiority of His priestly appointment above the Levitical priesthood, giving this office special importance as conferred by Jehovah forever after the order of Melchizedek. The oath confirms that Christ is a priest forever, with a permanent, age-lasting priesthood that will have no successor.
The oath of God by which Christ was made priest took the place of the law of the Aaronic priesthood. That law reserving priestly service to Aaron and his sons and restricting priesthood to the tribe of Levi had to change because Christ sprang out of Judah, of which Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. That law passed away, so the change was not a change within a perpetual law but a change from one law to another, with the first expiring as the second began to operate.
That required change in the priesthood law does not mean the Ten Commandments or the Sabbath commandment was changed. The verse belongs to Paul's discussion of the change of priesthood from Aaron's line to Christ, not to an argument about the Sabbath commandment.
The oath was since the law, which proves He began His priesthood especially for men after His ascension, having made His sacrifice before He began His priesthood. After His crucifixion and resurrection He ascended and entered His Melchizedek priesthood for the world, beginning His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary beyond the Levitical priesthood. He was made priest not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life, and He continues ever with an unchangeable priesthood.
The oath that made Christ priest gives believers strong consolation and courage to trust that His priesthood will save them as He ministers as High Priest within the veil. That oath is identical with God's oath confirming the promise to Abraham, showing that the promise to Abraham extends as widely as the gospel of Christ. Abraham's righteousness was not imputed for him alone, but also for those who believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead.
Melchizedek as Type
What can be known of Melchizedek comes from the scriptural record guided in every detail by the Holy Spirit, including what it leaves unstated. Without father or mother means no pedigree is recorded, and no record is given of when his priesthood began or ended. No predecessor or successor is known, and no genealogy, birth, or death is stated, with even the omissions expressing divine purpose. For that reason he is a type of Christ, who received His priesthood from no predecessor and yields it to none to come. Christ's priesthood comes from no other and passes to no other but is age-lasting, and as priest He has no genealogy.
Melchizedek supplies features missing from Aaron's priesthood and shows that Christ's priesthood is after his order, not Aaron's. Melchizedek was not Christ Himself, for a type is distinct from the One it foreshadows, and Christ was made like him as priest after the same order. Identifying Melchizedek or establishing his genealogy would obscure and undo the truth shown by the type that Christ's priesthood is distinct. The Aaronic priesthood provides a pattern for understanding Christ's sanctuary ministry, but its deficiencies are supplied by the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was the literal king of Salem in Abraham's time, a priest-king and priest of the Most High God. He was not an ordinary man and was greater than Abraham, who offered him homage. His character, his name meaning king of righteousness, and his city meaning peace made him a fitting type of Christ as the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, our peace, and great High Priest. Like Melchizedek, Jesus is a priest-king, king of righteousness and therefore king of peace.
As King of Peace, Christ is King in His priestly office and makes peace for humanity with God. In that office He makes peace on His Father's throne and between humanity and God through the cross. This priestly work is linked to His offering of His own blood to obtain redemption. Christ receives His priesthood from a higher quarter, from the oath of God, and not from His descent as the Seed of Abraham. Adam was to be the king-priest Melchizedek of this world but failed, so Christ wins the place Adam lost and becomes the Melchizedek of this world in a still closer sense, while the Melchizedek who met Abraham was placed here briefly as a type of that later Melchizedek.
The priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek is the great object of the letter. That subject was introduced in Hebrews 5:6 and is resumed in Hebrews 7 after a digression caused by the unreadiness of the brethren. In the digression their condition was described, solemn warning of danger was given, and encouragement was given from the example of Abraham and the faithfulness and righteousness of God in keeping His promises. The verse turns hope resting on the promises made to Abraham toward the priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek.
Greater Everlasting Priesthood
Christ's priesthood after the order of Melchizedek replaced and superseded the Levitical priesthood because perfection did not come through it, and unlike the Levitical priesthood made without an oath it was established with an oath when the earthly sanctuary gave way to the true heavenly sanctuary and its more excellent ministry. The Levitical priesthood in force in Ezekiel's vision has been replaced by the priesthood of Melchisedec, which passes not to another. The law of the Levitical priesthood with its earthly sanctuary and services was instituted to instruct Israel about the true Melchizedek priesthood of the covenant with Abraham and the true heavenly sanctuary where Christ is priest after that order, but Israel perverted this purpose by making the Levitical priesthood the final priesthood and the earthly service the final service, expecting salvation and perfection by them instead of being led by them to the faith of the covenant with Abraham.
Christ was never a priest in the Aaronic order, being of the tribe of Judah of which Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood rather than of Levi, which proves His priesthood is of a different order after Melchizedek. If He were on earth He would not be a priest, because the earthly priests were from Levi and Jesus was from Judah. He was made priest not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life, in contrast to the many mortal Levitical priests who died so the office had to pass to others. Having assumed the office it can never pass to another, for His unchangeable priesthood abides forever without predecessor or successor and He ever lives to make intercession for them.
That unchangeable priesthood means He can save completely and for all time those who come to God through Him, because He lives continually to intercede for them as the real Priest who serves in heaven and ministers in the heavenly sanctuary before God's testament after having offered His life for the world. His permanent priesthood supports His once-for-all offering of Himself as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, in contrast to the mortal, repeatedly replaced earthly priests. The oath marks the Melchizedek order as eternal, kingly and universal, embracing all conditions and times and even the universe and continuing for eternity, whose possessor must be a king and at last possess an eternal kingdom. By contrast the Aaronic order was temporary, pertained to a sacrificial system, was instituted to address human need and the putting away of sin and to serve sinful people by dealing with sin because of sin, and had nothing of kingship.
Jesus has a twofold priesthood as of the order of Melchizedek and as fulfillment of the Levitical priests, with the sacrifices of the past pointing to Jesus and finding their fulfillment in Him. In presenting Christ as the fulfillment of the old covenant's types and shadows, the context supports that the ceremonial law was abolished at the cross.
Heavenly Sanctuary Ministry
Hebrews 7:20 belongs to the explanation of how the sanctuary service and priestly ministry of the old dispensation finds fulfillment in Christ's ministry and sacrifice, with the Mosaic priesthood prefiguring His work as great High Priest. The Levitical priesthood served the first covenant, while Christ's more excellent ministry fulfills the second, when the earthly sanctuary gave way to the true heavenly sanctuary where He is seated at the right hand of the throne as minister. The earthly sanctuary and its ministration by the Levitical priesthood was a faithful example, pattern and shadow of Christ's ministry in the true tabernacle in heaven, where He carries out what Moses and Aaron performed in the pattern.
Christ was made priest to serve as High Priest for us in the true tabernacle, heaven itself, not the earthly tabernacle made with hands. If He were on earth He would not be a priest, because the earthly priests were from Levi and Jesus was from Judah. He did not fulfill that heavenly work before His ascension because He had to go within the veil first, where He pleads His sacrifice and offers His blood for humanity. That heavenly work includes the anointing of the Most Holy at the end of the seventy weeks, which refers to the heavenly sanctuary and not to an earthly sanctuary made by human hands. The yearly Aaronic service of atonement and cleansing was a type of Christ's real work as High Priest and minister of the true sanctuary in heaven, after the typical service ended, connected with the preliminary work of judgment before His coming.
Christ is Priest-King on His Father's throne, where His priestly rule and mediation continue during the cleansing of the sanctuary while probation remains open. That work began in 1844 and continues until His enemies are put under His feet, when He will receive His own subordinate throne. His priesthood will end when He leaves that throne. His priesthood has a different order and location in heaven, not a Levitical priesthood serving on David's throne, as shown with Hebrews 8:1-5.
As Adam's successor He stepped into the Melchizedek order after the triumph of Calvary, having become the antitypical priest after the Aaronic order as sacrifice and mediator. The oath marks the Melchizedek order as eternal, not connected with a sacrificial system, and kingly, whose possessor must be a king and at last possess an eternal kingdom, in contrast to the Aaronic order which is temporary, pertains to a sacrificial system, and has nothing of kingship, with men made priests without an oath. Christ was never a priest in the Aaronic order, being of the tribe of Judah. With the close of His mediatorial work as intercessor for sinners He will lay aside the antitypical Aaronic high-priesthood and put on the vestments and crown of kingly authority belonging to His office as Melchizedek.
Continuing Tithe Obligation
Hebrews 7 treats the priesthood, not the law of tithing. The priesthood law required priests to come from Levi, while Christ came from Judah and is priest after the order of Melchizedek. Tithing predates that priesthood law, since Abraham and Jacob paid tithes, and Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek supports the continuing obligation of the children of faith to pay tithe.
Christ was made priest of the order of Melchizedek with the oath of God, which together with the power of an endless life makes that priesthood eternal in nature, in contrast to the Aaronic priesthood which was temporary in duration and ceased at the cross. Because the Melchizedek priesthood is eternal, all duties, responsibilities and privileges that had for a time belonged to Aaron's line and were not typical in nature ending at the cross reverted to it, including receiving tithes from the brethren. The tithe which God exacted from the beginning was placed by Him in this eternal priesthood, belongs to the altar or service of God as one of the holy things of the altar, and now belongs to Jesus Christ as its High Priest. That ownership gives Him right to the tithe and gives those who wait at the altar a share with the altar for the support of gospel work.
Abraham's payment of tithe to Melchizedek, who represented Jesus Christ, applies to believers as Abraham's children by faith. The continuing priesthood after the order of Melchizedek remains in force in the Christian era, so Abraham's example of giving tithes to Melchizedek is an example for the faithful under the same priesthood. As Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, believers should pay tithes to Christ, who purchased them with His blood. Since Melchizedek received a tithe from Abram, that priesthood carries a continuing recognition of tithing.
Covenant Assurance and People
The oath by which Jesus was made priest, unlike priests appointed without an oath, establishes Him as the surety of a better covenant. As surety He guarantees to believers that God will fulfill His promises, and He guarantees to God that He will enable their obedience. In that office Christ becomes power within them to overcome evil and to keep God's commandments.
That same oath gives strong consolation and courage to trust that Christ's priesthood will save those who come to Him as He ministers as High Priest within the veil. The oath that made Christ priest is identical with God's oath confirming the promise to Abraham, showing that the promise to Abraham extends as widely as the gospel of Christ. Abraham's righteousness was not imputed for him alone but also for those who believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead. The passage therefore belongs to splendid instruction concerning the High Priest and His Melchizedek priesthood. It gives the wonderful encouragement that God gives to His children, and it shows the certain fate of those who reject the means by which He saves men.
Christ is the great Melchizedek Priest, appointed in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron or Levi, with Christ preeminent even above Melchizedek who served in that same order. Unlike the Levitical priesthood instituted to address human need and the putting away of sin by dealing with sinful people, His royal priesthood is everlasting and suited to all times, conditions, and the universe. His everlasting priesthood continues beyond sin's reign and throughout eternity. Those who belong to Him and are saved are made kings and priests to Him forever, serving as priests under Him.