10 Commandments, One final sacrifice (Hebrews 7:11-28, Exodus 20:3-17)

"No more sheep as a sacrifice.  Poor little guys."

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

I would've made a terrible Hebrew.  I love animals : )  But what Jesus did is so amazing.

In this section of Hebrews it tells why the 10 Commandments weren't enough for our salvation.  Basically, we all messed it up.  Jesus came to the rescue! The 10 Commandments would've been great if we could've obeyed.  If we all worshipped one God, there would be no religious wars and we could still be in Eden.  If we never created images like gold calves and TV sets to worship, we'd be more peaceful (ok and unaware).  If we all respected and valued God's name, we'd be conscious of how we speak to each other.  If we always take a break on Sunday, we'd find rest.  If kids honored their parents, there wouldn't be teenage pregnancies or drug abuse.  If no one murdered, we'd be safe.  If people worked things out in marriage instead of adultery, there would be no more lost children with divided families.  If no one stole things, there would be no need for locks.  If no one lied, life would be safe and fair.  And if no one coveted other people's stuff, they could enjoy their own stuff.  But... that's not us.  And God still loved us anyway.  Here's how He worked it out. : )

Hebrews 7:11-28

11 If the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, which provided the framework for the giving of the law, could really make people perfect, there wouldn't have been need for a new priesthood like that of Melchizedek. 12 But since it didn't get the job done, there was a change of priesthood, which brought with it a radical new kind of law. 13 There is no way of understanding this in terms of the old Levitical priesthood, 14 which is why there is nothing in Jesus 'family tree connecting him with that priestly line.

Jesus' family tree would've been through David. His real Father is God. And they are one.

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17)

3 1 You shall have no other gods before Me.
4  2 You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7 “3 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
8 “4 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work:you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
12 “5 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “6 You shall not murder.
14 “7 You shall not commit adultery.
15 “8 You shall not steal.
16 “9 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “10 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's
(NKJV)

So the Melchizedek story is an illustration describing what Jesus did for us.

15 But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy:  Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek, 16 not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life––he lives! –– 17 "priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek." 18 The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; 19 the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way––Jesus! ––a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place.

I believe that God went this route with us as humans because He wanted us to learn.  If there had been no fall in the Garden of Eden, man would've never considered disobedience as a bad thing.  If there was no flood, we would never have known God's power and love for us His creation.  When I started writing code to create web sites I made mistakes but then I figured out how to fix them.  By giving us a Savior, God has provided the grace we needed to become His servants on earth.  We'll be perfected in Heaven.  Not sure what that means exactly, no more sin, crazy governments, poverty, yeah it sounds pretty good! 

This is a great explanation of what God did:

20 The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. 21 But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise:
God gave his word;
he won't take it back:
"You're the permanent priest."
22 This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God––one that really works! A new covenant.
23 Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. 24 But Jesus' priesthood is permanent. He's there from now to eternity 25 to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.
26 So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs:completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God's presence in heaven itself. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He's done it, once and for all:offered up himself as the sacrifice. 28 The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect.
(Hebrews 7:11-28 Message)

Hallelujah! So glad we don't have to sacrifice lambs to be forgiven.  Jesus is the ultimate High Priest for us.  

This song really fits.  Watch the Lamb, Don Francisco (link) 

Feel free to share your thoughts as well.