Ask The Rabb-levis

Ask the Rabbi: If the Lewites still exist, why does Ivrim 7 speak of a “change” of priesthood? Rabbi Nydle’s 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 They believe Yahshua and His High Priesthood have superseded the Levitical. Hebrews (Ivrim) 7 is not dealing with the abrogation of the Levitical priesthood but with the transferring of the High Priesthood to Yahshua the Moshiach and the superiority of His priesthood. Yahshua is our Cohen HaGadol after the manner of Malkitzedek the “King of Shalom and Righteousness”. The author is comparing Yahshua with Malkitzedek from Tehillim 110:4, which speaks of Moshiach. Malkitzedek is an eternal Cohen, like Yahshua. Malkitzedek was great because he received a tithe from our father Avraham, from whose loins came Levi. He also blessed Avraham, which shows that he was greater than Avraham.So, we have an order to the greatness-Malkitzedek-Avraham-Levi-the Cohanim-then the rest of Yisrael. In verse 11 we read, “Truly, then, if the GOAL, it is 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 #3346METATITHEMI meaning to exchange, transport, or even change sides.

What was transferred? THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD! It was transferred from the tribe of Levi to Yahshua, who was from Yehudah (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 Levi 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 (Ivrim7: 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 Tehillim 110.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 YEHUDAH AND CAN ALSO HAVE AN ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD. The Levites and priests are seen ministering to the people and Yahweh in Yechezqel 40-48 in the Third Temple in Yerushalayim. 1

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 Zevachim 101b. 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 52b 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. •

Rab said: Our teacher Moses was a High Priest, and received a share of the holy sacrifices, as it is said, It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration.22 An objection is raised: ‘But was not Pinchas with them?’ Now if this is correct, let them argue, But was not our teacher Moses with them? Perhaps Moses was different, because he was engaged by the Shechinah,23 for a master said: Moses ascended early in the morning and descended early in the morning.24 Zevachim 101b

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And YHWH showed me four craftsmen.34 Who are these ‘four craftsmen’? — R. Hana b. Bizna citing R. Simeon Hasida replied: The Messiah the son of David, the Messiah the son of Joseph, Elijah and the Righteous Priest. Talmud Sukkah 52b

I hope this answers your question of why the Levites 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 written 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.

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