Read

Hebrews 7:15-19

¹⁵The change in God’s law is even more evident from the fact that a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has now come. ¹⁶He became a priest, not by meeting the old requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. ¹⁷And the psalmist pointed this out when he said of Christ,

“You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. ¹⁹For the law made nothing perfect, and now a better hope has taken its place. And that is how we draw near to God.

Reflect

Jesus as a priest was far superior to that of any priest of Levi. If the Jewish priests and their laws had been able to save people, why would God need to send Christ as a priest? The law was not intended to save people or to make them perfect, but to point out sin and to point toward Christ. Salvation only comes through Christ who gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Since the old requirement about the priesthood was old and useless, Christ, our better hope provides a permanent way to draw near to God.

Respond

Why was the old way of sacrifices not good enough for salvation?

In our lives, can we draw near to God by being ethical, helping others and giving to charitable causes?

Why was it necessary to send a different priest if God had established the Law?

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