The Better Priest

A better priest Hebrews 7:10-19

• • Who remembers being on the phone giving someone directions to your house turn by turn
  • But then, the best thing ever. Mapquest. Print out from the computer and hope. 
  • But now? GPS. Some oldies still want to give you directions, gimme address! Why go back?
  • We’ve replaced the old system with a new system. It wasn’t bad- just not enough.  
  • And here’s the best part- the newer system is better. Better directions. You trust them more
  • Christ is our new priest. Not a better version of the old-a completely better system

• And as our new priest, we’re not in charge anymore. He is.

• He’s a Better Priest Because the Old System Couldn’t Perfect (v11) 

• 11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
• Hebrews asks“what further need was there?” If the system worked, why did God replace it?
• The problem with the old system, was that you could you could do everything right within the system and still not be made complete by the system. ///
• Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices… make those who approach perfect.
• This doesn’t tweak the system- it exposes it
• For a NT Christian we believe Galatians 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ
• What we DO doesn’t justify us and never has. Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
• Its always been belief in God that has pleased God. Always, but like any system, it can distort
• Not distort what God established but distort the participants because they begin to believe in the process instead of the one who instituted the process.
• Jesus said this: Luke 11:42 But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
• The condemnation was activity disconnected from a heart in step with the Father
• Here’s a wake up call. Not a condemnation, just a moment of self reflection in love:
• it continues today- you can attend, sing, give, listen, hang out and still miss the point
• Doing things around God is not the same as being near God. Activity isn’t intimacy!
• You can take New Testament freedom and turn it into a new set of laws you think justify you
• Hebrews 7:19a for the law made nothing perfect;
• Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight…

• He’s a Better Priest Because the Priesthood Had to Change (v12–14)

• • 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood
  • The priesthood changed with Jesus and because of that, the law changed as well
  • This isn’t a small adjustment this is a total system change
  • God does not change in His nature, but He unfolds His plan in time.
  •  Mal 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed,  
  • That verse is about: His character his faithfulness His covenant commitment 
  • If God changed, Israel would be gone. His immutability is the reason they’re still standing.
  • Heb 7:12For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

• That’s not God changing His nature That’s God advancing His plan

• • The Law, the priesthood, the sacrifices were never the end goal. They were always temporary and pointing forward.
  • Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ…
  • Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come…
  • When the priesthood changes, God isn’t correcting a mistake, evolving, or reacting He’s fulfilling what He already intended
  • Numbers 3:10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.

• It’s a huge deal that the Priesthood of Jesus came from Judah and not Levi

• • Jesus didn’t come through the line of Levi, which means the old system had no category for Him

• And in a system where the wrong approach meant death, He didn’t resist it He absorbed it

• • Not because He violated the Law, but because He fulfilled everything the Law required
  • God didn’t adjust the Levitical system to fit Jesus He promised a greater priesthood long before Levi ever existed. If perfection didn’t come, something deeper had to shift
  • Unless Jesus has taken that place, you’re still in the old system
  • Hebrews 8:6–7 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry… For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
  • Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days are coming… when I will make a new covenant…
  • Romans 10:3–4 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness… For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
  • God didn’t patch the system, He fulfilled it and replaced it.
  • you might be saying, what does that have to do with me in 2026? I wasn’t under that system

• But you’re under a system. 

• But here’s where is plays for you-For most people, the priesthood in their life has been themselves. They mediate their own life.  They justify their own decisions.They atone for their own guilt. They rule themselves. A life apart from God is a priesthood of you. 
• The Priesthood had to change, and your priesthood has to change from self rule to his rule
• 2 Corinthians 5:15 And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
• If you’re living for yourself under your own rule you haven’t received the new priesthood
• There needs to be a change in your priesthood. You need to have Jesus as your high priest.
  
  

• He’s a Better Priest Because He Lives Forever (v15–17)
  15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

• There’s a dynamic here that’s important to not miss- It’s God himself that brought Jesus 

• • It was God that appointed him (psalm 110:4). He is from Judah (the messianic line). 
  • Hebrews makes the argument- therefore a new priesthood MUST exist. The power of Christs resurrection confirms it permanently. His resurrection Confirms it!
  • Romans 1:4 declared to be the Son of God with power… by the resurrection from the dead
  • Our High Priest is the High Priest FOREVER to the order of Melchizedek
  • Our Savior Lives forever. Our High Priest Lives forever. We are forever covered by his Blood
  • Look at this- Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
  • Now- our High priest once again brings out the bread and the wine of his body and blood
  • Heb 7:3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
  • John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
  • Our High priest always was! And always will be forever and ever to the Glory of God amen

• This isn’t religion. Not lineage. You’re dealing with a living priest!

• (close your eyes) Jesus is in Heaven right now interceding for all of your everythings

• Revelation 1:18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
• Christ can and should and will be a better priest for you and your life. 
• Stop feeling like you’re alone on this journey. He’s there in the foreground doing the lifting
• With your kids- You’re orchestrating their lives on their behalf when they don’t know it
• Their spiritual development. Their friends. Nutrition. Words spoken. You’re directing them without them knowing it. Hopefully they look back as adults and see it. If not- you still do it
• Same with the Lord. He’s orchestrating your life. Not just watching. Interceding for you.
  Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more…

• now everything changes The Result Is a Better Hope (READ v18–19a)

• • The former commandment has been annulled. As if it never existed. It was weak. 
  • It could never be perfect- Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
  • Gal 3:24 the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
  • Since we are justified by faith we have a better hope! Something better introduced!
  • The Levitical priesthood was impossible to provide this hope we now have in Christ
  • 1 Peter 1:3 …who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
  • Our hope is ALIVE because Christ is Alive! We don’t hope in a man who is a priest
  • It’s a much much better hope for us! A living savior for us
  • Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. You are no longer kept at a distance, you are invited near
  • What does it mean to you? Your hope used to rest on you, now it rests on Him
  • So now the question changes- to whom do you hope for that which you hope for?
  • I hope for heaven- I want to hope in a living savior. I hope to overcome all sin in my life
  • I hope to have provision in my life. Protection in my life. I want purpose and meaning and life
  • That’s a living hope! Not a ‘I hope I can try harder’ ‘I hope I can do this’ ‘I hope it works out’

• NO. I have a better hope than that! YOU have a better hope than that! 

• I worked for many years for a paycheck. College, Army, Corporate world. Check hits- secure
• A paycheck isn’t bad. You need one. I had hope in it. But God called me away to trust him
• We left that hope- to a new hope- Preach truth and I’ll take care of you. I’ll provide
• Almost 20 years later- God has proved himself faithful. It’s a better hope. More secure. 
• The paycheck worked for a season. But then It didn’t. I needed a better hope. 

• 5.now the question changes-  The One Who Brings You Near Has Authority Over You (v19b)

• • This better hope by which we draw near to God is the ultimate authority. He now owns me
  • If you’re hope isn’t fully in Christ, you’re the final voice in your life. You still control it. ///

• But now the One who brings you near has the right to overrule you

• Not advise you, not assist you, overrule you. What he wants and demands is your compass. 

• The clearest place that authority gets tested is in your money, your giving, your tithe

• • Because if He has the right to bring you near, He has the right to overrule you. And for most people, the place that gets exposed the fastest is their money, their giving, their tithe. 
  • I’m not even going to unpack what full surrender looks like, because the writer is about to take us there next.
  • Luke 6:46 But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
  • Matthew 28:18 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
  • Christ should have the Authority in your life in everything. Not just one area. He wants it all. 
  • This High priest now reigns in your life and knows all about it and want the authority in your life. 
  • 2 Corinthians 5:15 that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him…

• the essence of the Christian walk. Lord, there’s not one area of my life you aren’t entitled to

• Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

• Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…

• and this is good news- The Priest Who Has Authority Is Also For You

• He doesn’t overrule you to control you, He overrules you to bring you near
• His authority is not against you, it’s the only thing that can save you
• You don’t lose your life under this priest, you finally find it
• I was in the Military. One of the things I loved about it. Was people I trusted to take care of me
• The One who has the right to overrule you is the same One who gave His life to bring you near
• John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• The Abundant life is the life fully submitted to Christ
• Ro 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son… how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?