02.14 The Two Covenants and the Priesthood

Wednesday, February 22, 1899; 7 p. m.

SERMON No. X.—THE TWO COVENANTS AND THE PRIESTHOOD.

Text: "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law (Heb 7:12)." The subject that we have had under discussion the last few days and nights is one of great importance. It has many relationships, many conditions, and yet it seems to me that the apostle practically sums the entire subject up in this passage in his letter to the Hebrews. I have been trying to establish three things: First, that the old covenant is done away; Second, that the new covenant is established; and Third, the new testament stands out by itself and is not in any sense a continuation of the old. The apostle seems to have had something like that in his mind when he laid down this proposition. I am willing to hang the entire issues of this discussion on this statement. I know that I represent one side of the contention in the positions that I have announced and that there are many learned and pious men on the other side who contend that the covenant was practically made in the Garden of Eden and that the covenant has never been changed from that day to this, and I put it in my own words and lay down the proposition that if it can be shown by the word of God that there never has been but one priesthood from the day man sinned down to the present time I am ready to admit that there never has been but one covenant. Or to put it in another form: If it can be proven by the word of God that there never has been but one priesthood I will admit that there never has been but one law, and that while the idea has been enlarged, extended, amplified, elaborated, that it is, and has been, and always shall be, the same. But is it a fact that there never has been but one priesthood? That is the question now. The apostle here says that there had been a change of priesthood and that the change of priesthood was followed also by a change of law and that this change in law was a necessity growing out of a change of priesthood. He does not stop there but uses this language: "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before, for the weaknesses and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect; but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God (Heb 7:18-19)." Not only does he intimate here that there has been a change of priesthood but he intimates that the commandment had been disannulled or abrogated or taken out of the way in view of the fact that it made nothing perfect. Again: "For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore (Heb 7:28)." What have we here? A change of priesthood making it necessary to change the law. A change of law and to reduce it to its essence the change of the priesthood following the establishment of the law. Observe the words: "Since the law"— since the law of Moses ended, or was abolished. In other words one priesthood was abolished in the abolishment of the law; the other priesthood was established subsequent to the abolishment of the law.

Let this serve as an introduction while I undertake by your indulgence to trace the idea of the priesthood from the beginning unto the day in which we live. The idea of a priest, a sacrifice, a reconciliation or atonement, underlies all revelation. Men everywhere seem to realize that God is offended and that something must be done to set man right with his Creator. As to the origin of the priestly idea I can only say that it lies in remotest antiquity; that the shadows and the clouds and the darkness and the uncertainty of the ages lost and buried settled down upon it. We do know, however, that as soon as man sinned he began to bring offerings to God. I think I can argue successfully that he was commanded to do it, and still there is no passage in which it is so declared in so many words. However I think the circumstances are at least of a character to make it probable that man was commanded to offer a sacrifice to God. Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices to God. Cain brought of the products of the ground, Abel of the firstlings of his flock. The word "brought" here, I think, signifies that there was a place where they came in obedience to Divine command that the sacrifice might be offered unto Him and that God’s name might be glorified in the doing of the service. Abel, in the New Testament is called righteous Abel. By the word "righteous" in this connection I understand that at least he was a man who did right, and if doing right is doing the will of God, it must have been the will of God that he offered his sacrifice unto Him. In another place we have the following: "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead, yet speaketh (Heb 11:4)." It could hardly be said that Abel’s offering was more acceptable or more excellent than Cain’s if God had not made a choice. If God had not laid down the law, and it could hardly be said that day that "faith cometh by hearing," as it is now, if God had not spoken. Until we shall have better evidence we shall conclude that the idea of an altar, a priest, a sacrifice, an atonement, was a revelation from God. In the early ages every man was his own priest. In the middle ages—using "middle" as applicable to the ages between the Patriarchal times and the Christian times—one family was set apart to the priestly functions; but in our age there is only one high priest and that is Jesus Christ the Son of God, our Lord, our Master, and our Redeemer. There is no order of priests that sets one above another—all Christians under the reign of Jesus are priests unto God (Rev 1:6). For the want of better terms I will designate these three grand divisions as the Patriarchal Priesthood, the Levitical or Aaronic Priesthood, and the Everlasting Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Written over the entire history of priests and sacrifices from the beginning, covering every page and every century and every nation, so far as they were affected by the development of the purpose of God, we have these words: "There being a change of priesthood there is also made of necessity a change of law." And that we may have something definite before us I will say that the Patriarchal Priesthood extended from the earliest dawn of history down to the giving of the law, that the Levitical or Aaronic Priesthood extended from the beginning of the law down to the cross of Christ and that the Everlasting Priesthood extended from the day our Lord entered heaven by His own blood unto now and will extend unto the end of time. The earth was cursed on account of man’s sins. That may account for the fact that altars were reared up as if the worshipper desired to lift himself or lift his sacrifice, or lifting himself and sacrifice, lift his heart up to God. Noah built the first one that is mentioned: "And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar (Gen 8:20)." When Abraham arrived in the land that God had promised to give him, God spoke to him and he erected an altar there doubtless as a memorial of the fact that God had again broken the silence: "And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him (Gen 12:7)." Again, Isaac, Abraham’s son, to whom the promises were renewed, reared an altar and called upon the name of the Lord: "And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father; fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants digged a well (Gen 26:24-25)." Again, Jacob in whom the promises had been vested after Isaac by direct command, and this is the first recorded command, reared an altar unto his God and thus worshiped Him: "And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother (Gen 35:1)." There were other priests—priests wherever there were men. When Joseph went down into Egypt; after varied experiences there, as the result of other people’s sins, he was elevated to a place of importance and honor and glory in that land and was given in marriage to a daughter of a priest. When years afterward Moses fled out of the land of Pharaoh and went to the land of Midian he found there a man who was a priest and he married his daughter. Following the same idea, there were priests among the Hebrews when they came out of Egypt. I will turn to the proof: "And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them (Exo 20:22)." Here it is evident that the priests occupied responsible positions. They are represented as those that draw nigh unto God. I will not pause to discuss that but I want to briefly run over the ground. At first it appears that every man was his own priest. He built his own altar, brought forth his own victim, plunged the knife, shed the blood, kindled the fire, and saw the smoke of the sacrifice arise to God. Later on it appears, in these patriarchal times, that the head of the family was the priest. It is thought by scholars that the office or the function descended with the birthright and that the eldest son therefore became priest of the family or priest of the tribe. We know as a matter of fact that Abraham as the head of the family officiated, Isaac as the head of the family officiated, Jacob as the head of the family officiated and Jethro the priest of Midian as the head of the family officiated, and we know also that before Aaron and his sons were consecrated young men offered sacrifices under the supervision of Moses, and that at the consecration of Aaron and his sons Moses officiated as priest. But during these patriarchal times there appeared one priest, a very remarkable priest. Indeed more is said about him on this score than any other priest who appeared during these times. When Abraham was in the land of Canaan his nephew Lot got into trouble and was taken into captivity, and Abraham, great general that he was, took his army of trained servants and followed the captives and brought the captives back. On the return he was met by a distinguished man, Melchizedek by name. But as the account is very brief and does not go much into details I prefer to give it to you in the exact language of Scripture: "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand. And he gave him tithes of all (Gen 14:18-20)." It is a fact that Melchizedek here is designated the priest of the most high God. And that he was a distinguished character is proven by the fact that Abraham, God’s chosen paid tithes unto him. I want to press that on you—I want you to remember that if you can because I shall call it up later and press its importance from another standpoint. There is something peculiar about this man Melchizedek. We have no record of his ancestry, we have no record of his family, only this: On this one occasion he came out to meet Abraham returning from the slaughter of kings, blessed him, fed him, honored him, and Abraham recognized his greatness by paying him a tenth of all. Let me press another thought just here, that the patriarchal form or the patriarchal idea in which every man was his own priest, and had a right to erect an altar, offer a sacrifice, pray to God whenever he chose, continued right down to the giving of the law. But at the giving of the law there was a change. I should like to go into details and trace the history and the fortunes of mankind under the times when every man did the best he could, raising his altar, raising sacrifices, raising his heart, unto God, but time would fail me. However I will say this much: that during the last year in Egypt the angel of destruction went over Egypt and the homes of the Egyptians were homes of mourning because the first born in every house was dead but the first born of the Israelites were saved and on this account God said He would take the first born of all Israel as a heritage unto Himself: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine (Exo 13:1-2)." Later, however, He said He would take the Levites in the place of the first born of the children of Israel and their cattle in the place of the first born of the cattle of Israel: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord (Num 3:44-45)." The Levites were the children of Levi, the descendants of Jacob, the descendants of Isaac, the descendants of Abraham. The Levites showed their devotion to God at mount Sinai. When all Israel had gone a whoring after gods of their own hands, Moses came down and called for volunteers to put into force the law that was a ministration of death and the Levites responded to the call and went through the camp of Israel and executed the word and the command of God on those who had broken His covenant. Whether this had any influence on their fortunes in the future years I cannot, I dare not say. It is a fact, however, that is very peculiar that the idea of the priest was being narrowed down. First, it was practically the heritage of the entire human family, and every man was his own priest, every head of a tribe his own priest, every head of a family the priest of his family or of his tribe or of himself, and still another narrowing down: it was confined unto Aaron and unto his children. Let me press this thought just here that the priestly family or the priestly idea was put in the tribe of Levi, in the family of Aaron, and that the office of the high priest followed in regular succession from Aaron to his first born on down the line unto the end. And a man could not be a priest whose pedigree or genealogy was not correct. Remember that. It is very important. I will call it up farther on. Aaron and his sons were consecrated, set apart to the priestly office by very elaborate and very remarkable ceremonies. They were clothed in the beautiful garments designated by Jehovah; animals were put to death; the blood was placed on the right ear of Aaron indicative of the fact that he, as their high priest, was to hear God’s word and he was to tell it to the people; on the right thumb of the right hand indicative of the fact that his hand should be used in the service of God; on the great toe of his right foot indicative of the fact that his feet should mark the path that God desired His children to tread and that as their priest and leader and intercessor he should lead the way. Not only this, but there was a profusion of anointing oil poured on Aaron’s head and it ran down on his beard, down to the very hem of his garments. But on Aaron’s sons and on Aaron again, blood and oil were sprinkled in order that they might be set apart to the service of God. The entire tribe of Levi was set apart by elaborate ceremonies. They were brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, washed, shaved, sacrifices were offered while the congregation of Israel laid their hands upon them and by that solemn act gave them to Aaron, gave them unto God. Mark you now that the high priest’s office was confined to Aaron and his successors by birth. The ordinary functions of the priestly services were confined to Aaron’s sons, that is except the high priest, and the high priest could do any of the services about the tabernacle. The general work belonged to the tribe of Levi. The tribe was divided into three parts—Kohathites, Merarites and Gershonites—and during the long sojourn in the wilderness, they, by means of oxen and wagons and on their shoulders bore the sacred tabernacle and its furniture from place to place. The dress of the high priest was very elaborate, consisting of beautiful garments of eight different parts, breeches, mitre, two girdles, broidered coat, robe, ephod, breastplate, and all of these were beautiful and glorious. On his breast and on his shoulders he bore the names of the sons of Jacob and the tribes of Israel. We are told that he did this for a memorial. He did it because he was a representative (Exo 28:1-43; Exo 29:1-46). I call your attention however to one very striking fact. It is this: that when he went in before God to stand before the sacred flame which shone between the cherubim over the ark of the covenant, he had to lay off his beautiful garments and be dressed in white. He was a sinner and though he went into the tabernacle as a representative character, God would only accept him, when he was clothed in spotless white. The garments of Aaron’s sons were far more simple, made of linen—breeches, mitre, girdle, coat, and I call your attention also to the head dress of the high priest. On it were written the words, "Holiness unto the Lord.” Not only were his feet, his hands, his ears, his breast, his shoulder, but his mind also was consecrated unto God. It is a remarkable fact that these things were given under the first testament and were in a sense figures of that which was to come. Let me press on you one thing: That in general terms the priestly office belonged to the tribe of Levi, but the tribe of Levi alive today would be dead tomorrow. Therefore the office passed down from one generation to another. The priestly office was confined to Aaron and his sons. But Aaron and his sons of today would be dead tomorrow and therefore the office was entailed in the family and passed down from generation to generation. It is a fact that even the garments of the high priests were passed on from father to son and from son to son until they were worn out and had to be replaced with others. The apostle caps the climax for us just here and I will give you his words. There was a line of many priests; we know the names of many of them but many of their names are not known. Why was the priestly office transferred? Mortal man cannot tarry, like the grass of the field and like the flowers he is here today and gone eternally tomorrow: "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death (Heb 7:23)." The duties of the high priest were of a peculiar character. While he was associated with the ordinary priests and could perform any act of service pertaining to the tabernacle of the congregation there were services that only the high priest of Israel could perform. Only the high priest wore the garments of glory and beauty. Only the high priest wore the names of the tribes on his breast and shoulders; only the high priest was permitted to go into the tabernacle of the congregation with the blood of animals on the tenth day of the seventh month to do what he could according to the law of God to roll back their sins for a year. The high priest only was the mouthpiece of Jehovah, and through that wonderful Urim and Thummim learned and communicated the will of God to man. The priests, Aaron’s sons, did as they were commanded under the law. Paul gives us a very graphic idea of this service and I will let him speak for himself: "Now when these things were thus ordained; the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience, which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation (Heb 9:6-10)." Notice here that the priests, Aaron’s sons, went always into the tabernacle, morning and evening, constantly, persistently, but the high priest went into the holy place only once each year. The time of the entering of the priest upon his office, that is the age at which he entered, is not made known in the law. Presumably the young priests were men of maturity, but we can imagine that necessity may have Driven some of them to work when they were very young. The high priest entered on his post when there was a vacancy; Aaron died on mount Hor and the garments of glory and beauty were taken off of him and put on Eleazar his successor. We know that Aaron was an old man but the age of his successor we know not. We do know this however that the Kohathites and Merarites and Gershonites entered on their duties from twenty-five to thirty and continued until they were fifty, and that is all we know. I go into these perticulars because I shall find application for them all in the examination of this argument when we come to the testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The priests were supported by taxation. And we can well understand that when one tribe was supported by eleven and when the taxes amounted to from ten to twenty per cent that the office was one that men would naturally seek. Hence Korah and a company of malcontents who sympathized with him, rebelled against Aaron and against his authority and the earth opened and swallowed them up (Num 16:1-46). But the Lord designed that the question might be settled once for all and here is the way He did it: He told Moses to speak unto the children of Israel and he told them to get a rod to represent each tribe and bring them in and lay them up before the Lord in the tabernacle of the congregation and by that method He would express His law and desire—and when they brought them forth they found that the rod representing Aaron or Levi had blossomed and borne its fruit as an attestation of the power of Jehovah and of the choice of Jehovah. And the question was settled. There was never any rebellion in Israel after that so far as we know. And the law went forth and the children of Israel in fear said: "And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die: shall we be consumed with dying (Num 17:12-13)?" Aaron’s rod that budded was deposited in the ark of the covenant as a token against the rebellious: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not (Num 17:10)." Notice that the priesthood that I am discussing began at Sinai and that the law of Moses was administered by and under this priesthood. In other words, that the offerings designated and required by the law were presented by Aaron and his sons; that they were the teachers of the law, the expounders of the law and the judges of the law. Hear the apostle again: "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron (Heb 7:11)?" I assert that this priesthood began at Sinai and extended with all the varying and changing fortunes of Israel down to the death of our Lord and Redeemer on the cross. Let me give you a little proof. When Jesus was born his parents went to the priest with an offering designated by the law: "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord); And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons (Luk 2:22-24)." When He cleansed the lepers He sent them unto the priest telling them to go and present the offering designated or commanded by the law: "And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voice, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed (Luk 17:11-14)." He was tried before the high priest and condemned to death according to the law, they supposing that in claiming to be the Son of God, He had made Himself a blasphemer: "And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy (Mat 26:62-66)." And again, the proof that the Levitical priesthood under which the law was received and administered continued right down to the end of the time of Jesus on earth is this: That the veil of the temple was not rent from the top to the bottom until Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost. Hear Matthew: "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (Mat 27:50-51)." I would have you survey the patriarchal priesthood, the Levitical priesthood and answer one question: What was its unending and unvarying character? You can only answer that it was infirm—weak. The father died, the son succeeded him. The head of the tribe passed and the next legitimate heir took up the work if he chose to do it or neglected it if he so chose. Under the law the office passed on down the line year after year, age after age, father after father, son after son, as long as it was God’s pleasure for that institution to last. If the law has been changed, if the priesthood has been changed, it stands to reason that we are no longer under the patriarchal service. No longer is a man expected to rear an altar, to slay an animal and burn it upon an altar and send his heart up in gratefulness or penitence to God. When the patriarchal priesthood ended at mount Sinai the law, whatever it was, under which those men offered sacrifices practically ended too, and if the law of Moses ended on the cross and I have demonstrated it beyond any doubt, beyond any cavil, beyond any contradiction, then it follows that the priesthood of Levi, or Aaron which was also infirm, ended there too. Again I would have you survey the whole situation and answer another question. It is this: What was the character of every priest from the first priest who ever offered a sacrifice down to the expiration of Jesus on the cross? You must answer, you can only answer that he was a sinner, realizing his sins, lost in the sight of God! Then I ask you another question: If every priest from Abel down through the patriarchal times, if every priest from Aaron down was himself a sinner, is it not a fact that he could do but little for himself or anybody else? It is a fact, brethren, that the great overwhelming desire, and the great unsatisfied ambition of every heart, is to have help from a power higher, stronger, better, abler, than himself. I can only lift you to the height on which I stand or drag you down to the level of the mire in which I wade. Abel was a sinner. Abraham was a sinner. Jacob was a sinner. Jethro was a sinner. Aaron was a sinner, an idolater a few days before he entered upon his office. He was a sinner, they were all sinners, and therefore they offered for themselves and for the errors of others.

I think we are prepared now to contemplate and investigate the priesthood of Jesus and I raise this question: Was He always a priest? Was He a priest on earth, is He a priest now? The question of whether or not He was always a priest is a very important one. By your prayers, by your indulgence, and by your own sympathy I will get to the bottom of it before I stop. It is asserted that the line of priestly offering or office has been unbroken from Abel down and that the line of the covenant has been unbroken from Aaron down; that the priestly office descended from Abel to Abraham and from Abraham to Aaron and from Aaron down to the end and the covenant likewise. It is asserted therefore that Jesus Christ when He came to earth entered upon the priestly office at the age of thirty by baptism at the hands of John. I have heard that asserted by prominent men, scholarly men, able men, influential men. I ask, is it a fact? It either is or is not. If it is a fact, let us know it. If it is not a fact, let us spurn it. Note this: The age at which Aaron and his sons became priests, is not designated by law; therefore the fact that Jesus was baptized at the age of thirty argues nothing whatever. I heard once in a discussion, in which I was fortunately on the right side, a gentleman assert that Jesus was baptized to initiate Him into the priesthood. On the morning of the first day of the discussion I quoted the text of tonight and I said: "I hang the issues of the entire discussion on that; if my friend will show that there never has been but one unbroken priesthood from the beginning until now I will admit that there never has been but one covenant or law. He treated it very lightly at the start, and I saw that I had my lance in a vulnerable place and I gave it a twist or two every time I had an opportunity. I kept that before him. I knew where he was forced to land; to either abandon his position or take the position that Jesus was baptized to make him a priest. And at last he took that position. How weak, how futile, how vulnerable such a position as that! Let us look at it for just a moment. Weigh it, turn it over and look at it on the other side. Is it a fact that our Lord became a priest by baptism? His idea was, or at least he wanted to make it appear so, that that was the act of consecration just as Aaron and his sons were consecrated. Now you look at the baptism of Jesus. I will just turn and read the account of it; it is too important to pass over lightly and then I will compare it for a moment with the description of the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priestly office: "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God, descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mat 3:13-17)." At the consecration of Aaron and his sons they were brought forth, clothed with the garment of glory and beauty, animals were sacrificed, oil was poured on Aaron, oil and blood on Aaron and his sons, blood was put upon the ear and upon the right thumb and upon the great toe of the right foot. I say that a man who can see in the baptism of Jesus His consecration to the Levitical priesthood is either voluntarily or involuntarily ignorant. That is strong but I will tell you brethren the time has come when we must meet the issue fairly and squarely. But I will give arguments positive, unequivocal, and unanswerable, that Jesus could not become a priest by baptism or by any other act on earth. I will give you the proof now: "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood (Heb 7:14)." What was said about the tribe of Judah? I think I had better turn and read that to you: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be (Gen 49:10)." Moses says that our Lord came out of Judah. Then the prophecy of Jacob was fulfilled. But he says that no mention of Judah was made in relation to the priesthood. Therefore Jesus did not belong to the right tribe. When Aaron was called to that office, when the Levites were called to that office, the law went forth that any stranger or any member of any other tribe who drew nigh as a priest should be put to death. Therefore Jesus could not become a priest on earth at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, either high priest or low priest, except on the penalty of death. And again he had nothing to offer. Hear the apostle: "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer (Heb 8:3)." What did our Lord and Master have to offer when here on earth? Nothing, absolutely nothing but His life. And He did not offer that as a bloody sacrifice until He came down to the end. He offered himself, according to the testimony of Peter, while here by going about doing good (Acts 10:38)." God gave Him: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)." He gave Himself: "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me (Psa 40:6-7)." Again: "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me), to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offering and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb 10:5-10)." Again: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2Co 8:9)." Again: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Php 2:4-8)." Again: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Heb 5:8-9)." God loved the world and gave His Son. Jesus loved the world and gave Himself. He knew that God was tired of the offerings and with the smoke of the sacrifices that went up, and therefore it is declared that God had prepared Him a body and that He had come to do His Father’s will. Study these passages. Weigh them in your heart. Bear in mind that during all of our Lord’s life He was not acting as priest, he was the teacher, friend, brother, consolation, hope, desire and expectation of men. No man can lay his finger on a single syllable indicative of the fact that he ever officiated at the altar before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation or the temple or anywhere else, or in any other way, on earth. How was Jesus made priest? That is an interesting question. How was Aaron made priest? That is an interesting question. How were the patriarchs made priests? This is an interesting question. I answer the last first. The patriarchs were made priests either by the command of God and their choice, or by a recognition of their needs and their choice. Aaron and his sons were made priests by the choice of Jehovah and by the terms of the consecration laid down in the law. How was Jesus made a priest? Let David answer that. By the way of prophecy, looking far away into the day of the Lord’s entrance upon his priestly functions he says: "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Psa 110:4)." Again: "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment," —that is the law of Moses—"but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever"—no change in His priesthood—"after the order of Melchisedec (Heb 7:15-17)." Mark you here that our Lord instead of being a priest on earth, instead of descending from Aaron and officiating as a priest here became a priest not even after that order, but after the independent order of Melchisedec. Hear the apostle again: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;"—Jesus our great High Priest is in God’s presence—"A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:"—He presented His life on the cross and His blood in heaven—wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,"—this settles the contention once for all and forever—"seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law (Heb 8:1-4)." Look at that! He sums it all up and says that we have a priest at the right hand of God. That He is the minister of the true sanctuary—a sanctuary that God pitched, that man did not build—that every high priest has something to offer and that Jesus had something to offer and that if He were on earth or when He was on earth, He was not a priest because He did not belong to the proper family and there were men who did officiate in harmony with the will and the law and the commandment of God. I want to press that idea of oath or order upon you; the patriarchs and Levites were not installed by an oath, or by anything like an oath. After the order of Melchisedec, not after the order of Aaron—but before discussing what that order is I want to call your attention to something mentioned before. Abraham the father of the Hebrews paid the tithes for Levi, Paul declares, who was yet in the loins of his father and paid tithes unto Melchisedec too, that is, Abraham as the head and superior of the nation, paid tithes, honor, respect, to Melchisedec for all of his descendants. That is a remarkable statement. It means this, that as the greater includes the less and that as Abraham is the greater and Levi is less that when Abraham paid tribute to Melchisedec, Levi and Aaron paid tithes also, thus acknowledging that even the priesthood of Melchisedec was greater than the priesthood of Aaron or Levi, or all. But what was that order? Keep in mind what I have said already The order of Aaron was a dependent order, established in the house, entailed on the father and the son and the family to the remotest generation. Then in order to be a priest a man had to have the right pedigree—he had to belong to the right tribe—his father must be a priest before him and he must have a son to succeed him in the office that there might be an unbroken line. Allow me to read: "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life: but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them receive tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die"—the sons of Aaron—"receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And, as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him (Heb 7:1-10)." Melchisedec was an official of an independent order, his father was not a priest before him, his mother was not a priest before him. He had no successor in office, and Paul is talking about his priesthood rather than his genealogy, that in the priestly office he was without father, without mother, without beginning of days or end of life, that no record was kept. How utterly unlike the record of Aaron, and the lesson he teaches is that our Lord and Master became a priest by the word of his Father’s oath subsequent to the abolishment of the law as Melchisedec was, having no predecessor in office, and he will certainly have no successor. Where is our high priest? Hear the apostle again: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb 9:12)." Our high priest has gone up on high, He is in the presence of God, having entered there by His own blood. Allow me to present to you a number of passages on this subject. What kind of a priest is He? First of all He is not a sinner. He is not infirm and weak like we are and yet is the first-born of many brethren, your brother and mine. All power and authority rests upon His shoulders. Our Lord and Master knows our weakness, knows our foibles, knows our failings. He is gone on high to appear in the presence of God for us. He is not gone into temples made with hands, not into falling, crumbling buildings erected by man’s hand, but He has gone beyond the limits of mortal vision into the presence of God that God may come down to earth, that earth may be lifted up to God. Allow me to read: "Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren,"—He knows every weakness and temptation—"that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted (Heb 2:17-18)." He was made like unto us, and He walked through the vale of tears. He knows the thorny path, He knows the self-denial and therefore, having experienced all these things in the flesh, He knows how to help us in hours of need, of temptation, of care, of sorrow, of darkness, of death. Again: "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Jesus Christ (Heb 3:1)." Consider Him as the Emmanuel—God with us. Consider Him as Saviour, only Saviour, consider Him as the Light and Life of men, consider Him of the Good Shepherd of the sheep, consider Him as our Teacher, our Example, our Sacrifice, our Life, our King, our Master, our Judge, our Lord. Again: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:14-16)." Study this passage. Where is He? He hath passed into the heavens. He can still be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Let us come, not like worms of the dust, but come before Him with boldness that we may obtain mercy and find favor in time of need. Again: "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour for himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou are a priest for ever after the order of Medchisedec (Heb 5:1-6)." The high priest under the law was himself infirm. While he might have had compassion on the ignorant and those that are out of the way, he himself was ignorant, he himself was out of the way. God called Aaron and Aaron performed his duty, passed to dust and was succeeded by his son who filled his mission and passed to the great majority, and the infirm priesthood continued until Jesus died. Again: "For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec; by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament (Heb 7:21-22)." Again: "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building (Heb 9:11)." Again: "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb 9:24-26)." Again: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised (Heb 10:19-23)." What is our High Priest doing now? Preparing a place for us: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:1-3)." What is our High Priest doing now? Standing as a Mediator between God and men: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1Ti 2:5-6)." What is our High Priest doing now? Interceding for us according to the will of God: "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb 7:25)." What is our High Priest doing now? Advocating our cause in the presence of God and the angels: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1Jn 2:1-2)." How long will Jesus be in His present position as Priest, Mediator, Intercessor and Advocate in the presence of God? I answer that question by saying that there He shall be until the work of redemption is done. Aaron in garments of spotless white entered into the tabernacle by the blood of animals once every year into the very presence of God and there effected, according to the law, an atonement for the children of Israel and when he came out he lifted his hands and blessed them. It was a glorious blessing, a beautiful blessing, a blessing indicative of the fact that God once more was reconciled and that though their sins had been piled mountain high God had rolled them away and that over the head of the goat they had been confessed and driven into the wilderness for another year. And so the priest raised his hands and blessed them with these words: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace (Num 6:24-26)." How long did Aaron stay in the holy of holies on the day of the atonement? I answer until the work whereunto he was called and appointed for that day, was done. And when he came out he blessed the people and the work of that day was done, done according to the dictates of God. How long will our Lord and Master stay where He is? I answer until the work of redemption is done. Here I want to drive the thought home that if the theory of the pre-millennial coming of Christ is true the time will come when humanity will not have a Priest, Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate in the presence of God. God forbid that I, poor sinner as I recognize myself to be, shall ever be in the condition that I can not say: "Father bless me through my great High Priest, Jesus Christ Thy Son!" When He comes He is to bless His children. Paul said He is to be admired of all the saints. On the Mediatorial Throne this night He pleads your cause and mine, pleads with an earnestness, with an eloquence, with a grandeur, with a persistence never known to mortal man. When that work is done the sign of the Son of the Man shall appear in the heavens, heaven and earth shall pass away with a great noise, myriads shall gather before Him not for salvation but for judgment. He who entered heaven by His own blood, He who prays in the presence of God for us, He who through our mortal flesh upon the throne of God sanctified, honored, ennobled, glorified, reigns in heaven and reigns in earth, shall judge me when He comes! There He shall reign until the last enemy shall be conquered. There He shall reign until every knee shall bow and every tongue confess unto God and there He shall plead until the last sinner who will be ransomed, shall be ransomed. May God help us to realize that we are no longer under the Patriarchal, under the Levitical Priesthood, but that when our Lord and Master died on the cross He nailed to it that priesthood, that law, that covenant, and all that pertained to them. He took them forever out of the way and there was I may say an interregnum between the cross and the ascension that no mortal man can explain by the word of God. But Jesus went about for forty days explaining the principles of His kingdom to His disciples, doing what He could to prepare them for His departure. Now He is entered on His work, and all glory and power and majesty be unto the name of Him who has entered into His priestly function. We never had a priest before Him there; He has no assistant now. He will never have a successor in that office and when he leaves it—mark my words, weigh them well!—the work of redemption will be eternally done! May God help us to realize this while life and strength and reason and opportunity remain! And may we at His coming hear His blessing ring through earth and sky: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these least of my disciples, ye did it unto me;" enter into the joys that are eternal, that are perennial, in My presence and come out no more, suffer no more, fear no more, die no more! He has made us kings—He has made us priests unto God. We work with Him, suffer with Him—all glory to His name, we shall reign with Him forever!