Hearken to Your High Priest Today -- Believe!

"And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel." (Deuteronomy 17: 12)

Under law, the Israelites were required to listen to the priests who ministered on their behalf, or they would die.

Under grace, today, we have a Great High Priest, Jesus:

"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." (Hebrews 4: 14)

Jesus our High Priest Forever does not curse, but blesses, since He is of a different order:

"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." (Hebrews 7: 12)

and thus

"For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7: 17)

About Melchizedek:

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14: 18-20)

 

The priesthood of Melchizedek celebrates the Finished Work of Jesus Christ (the bread and wine), and this priesthood does not curse, but only blesses.

 

Why? Because Jesus our forerunner became the curse for us!

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" (Galatians 3:13)

 

Today, we are to hearken to our Great High Priest Jesus, not out of fear of punishment:

 

"For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." (Isaiah 54: 9)

 

and then

 

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8: 1, NIV)

 

and finally

 

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5)

 

Today, let us hearken to Jesus, and His new command:

 

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29)

 

and

 

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13: 34)