17 For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
This is true. Moses gave the "OLD" Priesthood with Sacrificial "works of the Law" for "atonement of sins" (Grace) and administration of God's Laws. (Truth)
But Jesus created the "NEW" Priesthood in which He sacrificed Himself for atonement of sins (Grace) and wrote God's Commandments directly on our hearts, for the administration of God's Laws. (Truth)
Yes, the Levitical Priesthood was ended by the Christ, replaced with a New "Ministry" built on better promises. (No more Levite Priests, no more animal sacrificial "works of the Law" for remission of sins.
6 But now hath he obtained a more
excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first
covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding
fault with them, (Levite Priests which had corrupted God's Word) )he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of
Judah:
True, the Priesthood was truly changed.
)
Yes, the perfect Priest to #1. Atone for our sins, #2. Administer God's Truth.
Well, technically it was Moses, Aaron and his sons who made up the Priesthood who were in charge of administering God's Laws to the people. The Prophets were sent when the Levites started corrupting God's Laws.
Heb. 7:
11 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 Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
But now we no longer "receive the Law" through the filter of carnal man, but by the Spirit of the Holy Christ, who will write these same Laws on the hearts of the truly repentant.
Yes, the Old Priesthood required the Blood of the best bull or goat of the heard, the New Priesthood required the Blood of a perfect man. Jesus qualified as this perfect man.
That is what the Jews thought, only because they rejected much of God's Word. But in truth, the Old Priesthood was for anyone who turned to God in repentance, as it is written.
Ex. 12:
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee,
and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it;
and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto
the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Duet. 10:
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
17 For the LORD your God
is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow,
and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
I agree, the Jews continued in the "OLD" Priesthood with their sacrificial, ceremonial "Works of the Law" for remission of sins throughout the entire New Testament. Paul and his apostles fought with the purveyors of the Mainstream version of this "Old Priesthood" every day. Had these "Jews" read and followed God's instructions, they would have know what was coming as did Zechariahs, Simion, Anna, and the Wise men. But they were teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and not God as it is written.
These "Pharisees" were false preachers.
Today, many who come in Christ's Name actually preach that Jesus didn't come to change the manner in which sins are forgiven, or how God's instructions are administered as He said in Jer. 31.
They preach that Jesus came to destroy the entire Law and Prophets, and make God's Laws obsolete, and the examples He had written for our admonition obsolete.
They too, reject much of God's word and replace them with religious tradition. Thankfully Jesus knew these religious men would do this so He cleared it all up for those interested in serving Him and not religious tradition.
Matt. 5:
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled.
Well even a child can know not all that has been written about the Messiah has been fulfilled.
Heb. 10:
16 This
is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these
is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
A New Priesthood, praise the Lord.