From: Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Understanding the Levitical and Melchizedek Priesthood

UNDERSTANDING THE LEVITICAL AND MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD

Ask the Rabbi: If the Lewites still exist, why does Ivrim 7 speak of a
"change" of priesthood?

ANSWER: Hebrews chapter 7 is always misinterpreted by many to mean
there is no longer a Levitical priesthood to serve Yisrael here upon
the earth. They believe Yahshua and His High Priesthood have
superseded it. Hebrews 7 is not dealing with the abrogation
of the Levitical priesthood but with the transferring of the High
Priesthood to Yahshua the Moshiach. Yahshua is our Cohen HaGadol
after the manner of Malkitzedek the "King of Shalom and
Righteousness". The author (whoever it was) is comparing Yahshua with
Malkitzedek from Tehillim 110:4, which speaks of Moshiach. Malkitzedek
is a Cohen for all time, like Yahshua.Malkitzedek was great because
he received a tithe from our father Avraham, from whose loins came
Lewi.He also blessed Avraham, which shows that he was greater than
Avraham.So, we have an order to the
greatness-Malkitzedek-Avraham-Lewi-the Cohanim-then the rest of
Yisrael.

Now in verse 11 we read, "Truly, then, if the GOAL not perfection as
translated. The word is TELEIOSIS, which means reaching the goal of
gaining complete and eternal atonement with Yahweh, so that the
worshipper may become perfect! Neither Torah nor the Levitical
priesthood could bring them to that goal of perfection. The goal of
Torah is Yahshua, Who then CAN bring them to be reconciled to Yahweh
through His blood and priesthood.

Verse 12 then is the KEY to understanding this chapter of Hebrews.It
reads, "For the priesthood being "changed", of necessity there takes
place a change of law also." The word we need to see is "changed".
It is NOMOU = METATHESIS = which is #3331 in the Strong's.
METATHESIS means 'a transformation, or transfer not a removing or
change as some interpret it to mean. It comes from #3346-METATITHEMI
meaning to exchange, transport, or even change sides.

What was transferred? THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD! It was transferred from the
tribe of Lewi to Yahshua, who was from Yahudah (verse 14). He LIKE
MALKITZEDEK WAS NOT OF THE TRIBE OF LEVI TO WHOM THE TORAH GAVE THE
RIGHTS TO THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD.

The verse then SHOULD read, "For when there is a TRANSFER of the
priestly office, out of necessity there is also a transformation of
the Torah of the High Priesthood." Now, we can understand this
chapter more clearly and from a Hebraic/Scriptural perspective.

Jewish tradition speaks of a change of the Torah when Moshiach
arrives. We know that the institution of the Festival of Purim was
added to the Torah in the book of Haddassah (Esther). The Scriptural
basis of the transfer is found in Tehillim 110:4, "Yahweh has sworn
and does not relent, You are a Cohen forever according to the order
of Malkitzedek." Yahweh swore an oath to the Moshiach that He would
be after the order of Malkitzedek-or an eternal Cohen HaGadol.
Therefore the context of the transfer or transformation of the torah
of the priesthood makes it VERY CLEAR that NO OTHER
CHANGE-TRANSFORMATION of the TORAH is spoken of or even hinted at in
this passage. This term "METATHESIS" implies a total retention of all
the basic structure and laws of the Torah, with some elements
concerning the priesthood rearranged or transformed. IT DOES NOT IN
ANY WAY IMPLY A TOTAL ABROGATION OF EITHER THE TORAH AS A WHOLE OR
THE, MITZVOT CONNECTED TO IT (SEE MATT 5: 17).

Another reason for the transformation of Torah was the law of physical
descent from Lewi and Aharon.Pinchas was given an eternal covenant of
priesthood in Bemidbar 25:13. Yahshua HaMoshiach was given an
everlasting priesthood (the order of Malkitzedek) after the power of
an endless life (Hebrews 7: 16). Therefore there is no more necessity
of passing His office down from generation to generation. There is
NO CONFLICT between the Levitical priesthood established by the Torah
at Mt.Sinai and that of Yahshua as prophesied in Tehillim110. NOR DOES
YAHSHUA'S PRIESTHOOD SUPERSEDE THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD. NOTE THAT
THE EARTHLY COHANIM WERE TO BE AFTER THE LINEAGE OF AHARON THROUGH
PINCHAS.BUT YAHSHUA SERVES IN THE HEAVENLY TABERNACLE, THEREFORE HE
CAN BE OF THE TRIBE OF YAHUDAH AND CAN ALSO HAVE AN ETERNAL
PRIESTHOOD. The Lewites and priests are seen ministering to the people
and Yahweh in Yechezqel 40-48 in the Third Temple in Yahrushalayim.

Mosheh acted as a High Priest after the order of Malkitzedek as the
priesthood was not yet given. He functioned as a mediator for the
nation of Yisrael before Yahweh. Even the Talmud states that "Mosheh
was a High Priest" in Zebahim 101a. According to the Torah and the
rabbis the Moshiach was to be like unto Mosheh. It is written in the
Midrash (Midrash Numbers Rabbah 11:3) that: "As it was with the
first Redeemer so will it be with the Last Redeemer, the First
Redeemer was Moses.." Also, we are told in Sukkah 52a there are 4
Messianic Personages of one which is the Righteous Priest.We are
told that the Righteous Priest is Malkitzedek! We also take note that
the Dead Sea Sect looked forward to a time when the role of the
Anointed King and Priest would be fulfilled in the Moshiach after
the order of Malkitzedek.

I hope this answers your question of why the Lewites still function
and have an eternal covenant with Yahweh concerning their
priesthood. It does not conflict with the order of Malkitzedek, of
which Yahshua is a Kohen HaGadol. It was transferred to Him by a
transformation of the Torah concerning the High Priesthood. All the
Torah still stands as wrote by the hand of Mosheh from the mouth of
Yahweh. Yahshua NOW sits as the Heavenly High Priest after the order
of Malkitzedek in the heavenly Dwelling Place to be our mediator as
Yisrael.

Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky

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