“… there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.”
(Hebrews 7:15-16)
It is written that Jesus is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. In Hebrews 7:2, we discover the meaning of the King of Salem’s name. Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”. We also find that King of Salem means “king of peace.” Being the King of Peace and Righteousness is most certainly descriptive of our Lord Jesus. The similarities between Jesus and Melchizedek continue as the author writes. He states that Melchizedek received a tenth of Abraham’s possessions like a priest would have received according to the law, even though Melchizedek was not a Levite.
According to the Law of Moses, priests came only through the tribe of Levi. But Melchizedek was considered a priest before the Law or even Moses existed. This is just like Jesus because Jesus, the Highest Priest of all, was also not born a Levite. Jesus was born into the tribe of Judah.
Therefore, Melchizedek and Jesus went against what was customary of the Law by being labeled priests. Hebrews 7:12 reads, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.” Technically speaking, Jesus being our High Priests goes against the Law … but spiritually speaking, it does not. Hebrews 7:16 reads, “who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.”
Jesus came and changed the tribe of the priest who would reign forever by the power and authority of God. He also changed how we are redeemed from sins and restored to God. Yet, take the word ‘change’ with a grain of salt because it is written that Jesus did not come to change the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus, a priest from Judah, reigning as king, is just as fitting as David being called king.
No one considered David worthy of being king, including his father and brothers. He was the youngest and only a shepherd boy. But David was the anointed king per God’s will, just as Melchizedek was a priest not according to the law but according to God’s authority. Calling people to positions that appear out of order has always been the way of the Lord.
Recall how God declared the older would serve the younger in the case of Jacob and Esau. This was considered out of order. According to customs, laws, and even opinions, the blessing and birthright should have gone to Esau, the oldest. But according to God and his Word, the blessing was given to Jacob. The same occurred when Jacob blessed his grandchildren, Joseph's sons.
In Genesis 48:13-20, Joseph was displeased that his father, Jacob, placed his hand on his youngest grandson to bless him over the oldest grandson. Since Jacob’s eyesight was terrible, Joseph may have assumed Jacob mistakenly blessed the wrong son due to his poor vision. So, Joseph told Jacob he was blessing the incorrect son. But Jacob replied, “I know it, my son, I know it.”
Jacob knew blessing his younger grandson went against what was expected, yet he knew it was the correct way. The way of God may not always seem to be the right way. According to the customs and law, Jesus should not have been High Priest. But when we look at God’s word, Christ was not only ordained as High Priest, but God took an oath that this was the way of the Lord. Hebrews 7:21 reads, “For they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
No other priest was given office through a vow from God besides Jesus. The former priests were ordained by law, not by vow. This vow God made concerning Jesus superseded the law, and it was for our good. The final verses of Hebrews 7 remind us that the former priests all eventually died and had to sacrifice for their sins as well as the people's sins. Yet, Jesus died once, lives forever, and does not need to offer sacrifices for us or himself continuously. He only needed to offer himself once for all of humanity.
This excellent fulfillment of the law appears to violate the law, yet it does not. The way God fulfills promises will sometimes go against the grain—it will seem to directly violate our standard customs, regulations, and ways of thinking. Recall how unusual it was that Balaam was used as a mouthpiece for God in Numbers 22-24 while being a pagan. Yet, God spoke through him.
Even when we examine the Old Testament, we know that the Hebrews were God’s chosen people. It appeared that no one besides God’s chosen people—those within the twelve tribes of Israel—could be members of the Kingdom of God. Yet, Leviticus 19:33-34 reads: “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself.”
God commanded the Hebrews to welcome those not within the twelve tribes to be among them as if they were also God’s people. Inclusion within the Kingdom of God was always within God’s plan, and it was even foreshadowed in the Mosaic Law. Gentiles being a part of the kingdom doesn’t go against God’s law any more than Jesus being High Priest as a descendant from the tribe of Judah.
This is important to remember because sometimes, we may assume God’s will for others or ourselves according to customs and opinions. There could be a particular type of person who traditionally speaking, never comes to Christ. For someone who comes from a family of devout Jews or someone who was born into the occult, we may assume they are not likely to come to Christ because of what is customary. Yet, no one expected Paul, a devout Jew, to be saved. Yet, he became one of God’s mightiest members within the kingdom. In the case of Paul, God’s will went against the grain.
God’s way may also include calling believers to unexpected positions like Joseph being the youngest brother and becoming ruler in Egypt; Esther, an orphan, being positioned as Queen; and Gideon, the least of the tribes of Israel, being called to lead. In the case of these people of God, God went against the grain. I find that God and His Son often go against the grain. It certainly isn’t outside of their usual way of doing things.
Christ said, “the first shall be last, the last shall be first” (Matthew 20:16). He said God uses the weak to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27) and calls those who were once sinners children of God. Christ healed on the Sabbath, ate with sinners, and God sent His highly exalted Son to a lowly death. God most certainly goes against the grain, and he has consistently done so since the beginning of time.
So, if you feel God is calling you towards himself, yet it feels unusual because no one in your family or surroundings is saved, don’t be alarmed. If you feel God calling you to do something that makes no sense to you or anyone else, don’t be shocked. He is a God who goes against the grain. But because he is God, technically, he is not going against the grain at all.
He simply sticks to his perfect will and way. The same will he had in mind before the earth was formed. When it seems as if God is going against logic, know that he is only standing firm in his plans that will last forever and throughout all generations.
Reader, that is all I have for you today. Be encouraged in knowing that God’s plans are always ordained and will always stand, even if they go against laws, customs, and opinions—even if they go against the grain. Be blessed, and have a wonderful day.
Quin Arrington here, I just wanted to thank you for reading this week's Write On! Wednesday word. Browse the website for Christian Fiction & Nonfiction Books as well as Christian Apparel & Merchandise. The Now, That's A Word! YouTube Channel is here:
Have a blessed day!
Absolutely! Fantastic! I love the part about treating strangers fairly! The whole world needs to hear this! To God be the Glory!!