The Priesthood of Jesus

Mormonism teaches that there are two Priesthoods: the Aaronic Priesthood, and the Melchizedek priesthood. The LDS Church claims these priesthoods were restored to the earth through Joseph Smith, and are necessary in the life of the Church.

Every worthy Mormon man is expected to hold both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.

But is this what the Bible teaches? Did Jesus hold both of these Priesthoods?

Jesus did not have the Aaronic Priesthood.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is our High priest (Hebrews 4:14-5:6). However, under the Law of Moses, the only people allowed to be priests were descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Levi. (Numbers 16:40). Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 7 says

“For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.” (Hebrews 7:13-14).

Jesus wasn’t a Levite, he was from the Tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:1-16)! And no one from the tribe of Judah has ever held the Aaronic Priesthood, including Christ!

In other words: Jesus did not have the Aaronic Priesthood. So then, how could Jesus be our High Priest? The author of Hebrews continues to explain that:

Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

On the way home from rescuing his nephew Lot, Abraham met Melchizedek: king of Salem (Genesis 14:17-20). This king was called a “Priest of the Most High God”, demonstrating that priests existed in the Old Testament outside the Law of Moses!

Not only this, but Hebrews explains that Melchizedek’s priesthood was superior to the priesthood of Aaron (Hebrews 7:4-11)! Jesus’ Priesthood was kind of like Melchizedek’s Priesthood: It’s not under the Law of Moses, and is better than the Levitical priesthood!

Jesus is the only one who has the Melchizedek Priesthood

“[Jesus] has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” (Hebrews 7:16).

Jesus became a High priest after the order of Melchizedek not because he is a descendant of Aaron and Levi, but because he lived a sinless life and is the only human who can be a perfect mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).

But more than this, only Jesus has been appointed by God to be our High Priest forever! Hebrews 7 says,

“And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but [Jesus] was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.”’” (Hebrews 7:20-21).

Hebrews continues by explaining that,

“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.” (Hebrews 7:23-24).

None of us could ever be perfect priests, because:

• A) We’re sinners
• B) We will one day die.

But Jesus was sinless, rose from the dead, and will never die again. Why is Aaron not the High Priest today? Because Aaron was a sinner, and died as a result of his sins! And the same is true of each of his descendants!

All the High Priests have sinned and died! But Jesus is our perfect, immortal High Priest.

“For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:28).

Jesus’ priesthood replaces the Aaronic Priesthood.

The author of Hebrews calls the Aaronic Priesthood “weak and useless” (Hebrews 7:18-19), and explains that it “vanished away” like the rest of the Old Covenant. Hebrews says

“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:11).

We shouldn’t expect anyone to hold the Aaronic Priesthood anymore, because Jesus has a new and better Priesthood.

The LDS Church’s teaching about two different priesthoods being restored by Joseph Smith is not Biblical. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus Himself never had the Aaronic Priesthood, and that He is the only one who is made a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4).