Hebrews 7:15-17 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
It is even clearer that there is a greater priesthood that comes through Melchizedek because of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus did not become a priest because he was descended from Levi. He did not fit the legal requirement to be a priest according to the Old Testament law. Rather, he fits into a special category of priest that began with Melchizedek. One interesting thing to note about this is that no one else fits into this category. Jesus is unique. The connection again is that Melchizedek just appears in the Bible without any genealogy. His connection to Israel is that he blessed Abraham and received a tithe from him. No one else follows in this same pattern except Jesus who brings the blessing of God to Israel and receives worship back. What qualifies Jesus to be a high priest in this special one-of-a-kind priesthood is his “indestructible life,” which is a reference to his resurrection and exaltation. This is emphasized in verse 17 with the word “forever.” Jesus has become the perfect high priest forever because of his resurrection.
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