Before we jump further into our text study, lemme say something important.
You may be thinking…
“Why do I need to know about ancient Israel’s tribes and politics?
That sounds boring and irrelevant!”
Well, my little grasshopper homie, I’ve got a Walter Cronkite news bite for you.
It is important.
Very important, actually.
Understanding Israel’s political history and tribal structure is essential to making sense of the remaining “Old” Testament books.
Here’s a good way to think about it.
Imagine trying to understand Japan without knowing anything about its history.
Sure, you may have heard of the samurai, the shoguns, or how Japan launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.
But if you don’t know how the Western countries forced Japan to open its doors in the 1800s…
Or how the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki changed the Japanese psyche towards war forever.
Or how Japan rebuilt itself into an economic powerhouse after the war…
You’ll get Japan totally wrong.
You won’t understand why honor and respect matter so deeply here.
You won’t be able to figure out why group harmony often wins over individual opinion.
Their national holidays will be a mystery to you.
You’ll be baffled by Japanese attitudes toward outsiders.
Why?
Because you’re missing the backstory.
That’s exactly what happens when people skip over the historical parts of the Bible.
That also explains why Gentiles radically misunderstand the Jewish mindset…both culturally and theologically.
I say that as a gentile myself.
So don’t get bent outta shape at that last sentence, homie.
Without the backstory, everything gets fuzzy and confusing.
So I’d just like to encourage you to stick with me as we go through some heavy detail!
This is knowledge your pastor probably has no idea about.
We’re gonna be digging into some lists of districts and tribal boundaries.
It’s gonna feel slow at first.
But push through it.
Because on the other side is a much clearer, much deeper understanding of God’s Word that will far surpass any Bible preacher or teacher walking on planet earth today.
That’s a guarantee.
And it’ll be absolutely worth it.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness.”
-2 Timothy 3:16
Hey Rich, thanks! My question was basically: how does your view of the Levitical Priesthood line up with Messiah in Matt. 5:17-19?
Do you think your view is a contradiction to what Messiah taught in Matt. 5:17-19? Perhaps (I am brainstorming here) The writer of Hebrews was referring to Messiah as a High Priest in the heavenly sphere as you previous stated in our conversation. Messiah said: “one yod or one horn shall by no means pass away from the Law”- and Levitical High Priest and Priesthood (as well as the related commands to them) are clearly part of the Law. Please tell me your view. Shalom
Brandon
If I may comment on this question, we first need to realize that it is more often misleadinng than helpful to take one passage and make an argument from it. We always need to understand every line and sentence within the context of the paragraph, the letter (or book) , who is writing what and to whom.
In that chapter of Matthew, Yeshua is teaching about being a light, and how he hasn’t come to change anything but to teach us the deeper, spiritual meaning of the Torah (what is called the “remes”).
Yes, with the destruction of the temple, not only the priesthood’s ability to serve as functionaries to the sacrificial system was stopped (notice I say stopped- not done away with), but there was no way to receive forgiveness of sin! God said no sacrifice would be accepted unless it was performed where he places his name, which was (of course) the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.
One thing that did change was not the Torah, but the sacrificial system had a major change, in that through Yeshua’s sacrifice we did not have to bring an animal to the temple, anymore. The need for innocent blood to be spilt in order to receive forgiveness still existed, but Yeshua, as the Messiah, provided a never-ending supply of that innocent blood for not just Jews, but everyone in the world, anytime, any where.
Ultimately, as Yeshua said, when all things have come to pass, meaning the Apocalypse, the 1,000 year thing-a-mah-jig, the Enemy being thrown into the pit forever, and the new earth setling down, etc., THEN he will be both king and Cohen HaGadol, as Melchilzedek was.
And I believe that the priesthood will return, as will sacrifices- not for sin or guilt, but the wholy burnt and Friendship sacrifices will still be done, and maybe the other sacrifices that do not involve sin or guilt.