Yes — because the Aaronic/Levitical priesthood was limited to Israel and to the tribe of Levi, but Jesus came from Judah and the whole Gentile world needed a high priest who could represent them before God.
Les Feldick teaches from Hebrews that Melchizedek appeared as a Gentile priest of the Most High God before Israel existed, covering the whole spectrum of the human race. The law's priesthood could only serve Israel and only through the tribe of Levi, so the Lord — being from Judah — could not serve under Aaron's order. That is why the priesthood had to change, and Jesus became a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:20 — Declares that Jesus is made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek — the scriptural anchor of the whole question.
Hebrews 7:11 — Asks the very question being answered: why did another priest need to rise after Melchizedek's order rather than Aaron's?
Hebrews 7:14 — Shows the Lord sprang out of Judah, a tribe Moses never connected to the priesthood.
Genesis 14:18 — Introduces Melchizedek as priest of the Most High God long before Israel became a nation.
The book of Hebrews presents Melchizedek as king of Salem and priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:1). Hebrews 6:20 declares that Jesus has entered as our forerunner, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. The chapter then asks why another priest had to arise after Melchizedek's order and not after Aaron's (Hebrews 7:11). The Scripture also states that our Lord sprang out of Juda, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood (Hebrews 7:14). With the priesthood changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law, and Jesus was made a priest not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life (Hebrews 7:12, 16). Hebrews 9:11-12 describes Christ as an high priest of good things to come who entered into the holy place by His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for us.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus had to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek for two intertwined reasons. First, the law's priesthood was confined to the tribe of Levi, and the Lord came from the tribe of Judah, making Him ineligible under Aaron's order (Clip 1, Clip 4). Second — and central to Les's teaching — the Levitical priesthood was for Israel alone, and "we Gentiles couldn't approach God through a Jewish high priest" (Clip 4). A high priest was needed for the whole Gentile world as well as the Jew (Clip 0). Melchizedek, Les explains, was that kind of priest. He met Abraham long before Israel became a nation, and as a Gentile priest of the Most High God he represented the whole spectrum of the human race (Clip 3, Clip 6). When Hebrews calls Jesus a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, it means Christ is not just the high priest of Israel but the high priest of every human being (Clip 2, Clip 5). This priesthood is made not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life (Clip 1), and its completion came when Christ entered the very throne room of heaven with His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for us (Clip 7).
The Mosaic system limited priesthood to the tribe of Levi, but Jesus came from the tribe of Judah (Clip 1). Hebrews 7:14 confirms that our Lord sprang out of Juda, a tribe about which Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood (Clip 4). Since no one could serve as a priest in Israel's system unless he was from Levi, Jesus could not be a priest after Aaron's order — which is why the priesthood itself had to change (Clip 4).
Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High God who met Abraham after the battle of the kings, long before Israel was a nation (Clip 3). As a Gentile priest, he represented the whole human race rather than a single people (Clip 6). Because the Levitical system could only serve Israel, a high priest after Melchizedek's order was necessary so that Gentiles could also approach God — and Christ now fills that role as high priest of every human being (Clip 0, Clip 2).
Hebrews describes the Melchizedek-order priest as made not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life (Clip 1). Les emphasizes this means Christ's priesthood is eternal, not tied to the temporary law system — so a change in the priesthood required a change in the law (Clip 4). As high priest, Christ entered the very presence of God with His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for us (Clip 7).
A Priest for Jew and Gentile
Les explains from Hebrews 6:20 that Christ is made a high priest after Melchizedek, not Aaron, because a high priest was needed not just for the Jew but for the whole Gentile world as well.
Judah and the Power of an Endless Life
Les shows Jesus could not be an Aaronic priest since He came from Judah, and the Melchizedek-order priest is made not by a carnal commandment but by the power of an endless life.
High Priest of Every Human Being
Melchizedek was not a priest of Israel but a high priest of all, appearing before Israel became a nation — so Christ as his successor is the high priest of every human being.
Melchizedek Met Abraham Before Israel
Les recounts Abraham's confrontation with Melchizedek to show he was a high priest forever who covered the whole spectrum of the human race.
Why the Levitical Priesthood Could Not Stand
Les directly answers Hebrews 7:11 — the Levitical priesthood could not bring Gentiles to God, so another priest after Melchizedek was needed, especially since Jesus came from Judah.
Christ, High Priest for All
Les reiterates that Christ is not just the high priest of the Jew but of everyone, serving in a greater and more perfect tabernacle.
The Gentile Priest of the Most High God
Melchizedek was a Gentile priest representing the Most High God before Israel existed, and Jesus is made a high priest forever after his order.
Entering the Throne Room With His Own Blood
Christ fulfilled the high priestly role by entering the very throne room of heaven with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption and becoming high priest of all — Jew and Gentile.
Genesis 14:18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Introduces Melchizedek as priest of the Most High God — the order after which Christ is named.
Hebrews 6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Explicitly names Jesus as high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 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?
The Scripture itself raises the question of why another priestly order was necessary.
Hebrews 7:14: For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Shows Jesus, from the tribe of Judah, was not eligible under the Levitical priesthood.
Hebrews 7:15-16: And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Highlights that the Melchizedek priesthood rests on endless life, not a fleshly commandment.
Hebrews 9:11-12: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Shows Christ's high priestly work — entering God's presence with His own blood for eternal redemption.
The Aaronic priesthood was strictly limited to the tribe of Levi. Since Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, He could not qualify under the Mosaic system, as Les Feldick explains from Hebrews 7:14. That is why the priesthood — and the law connected with it — had to change.
Melchizedek appeared before Israel existed, serving as a Gentile priest of the Most High God who represented the whole human race. Because the Levitical system was for Israel only, a high priest was needed for the Gentile world. By making Jesus a priest after Melchizedek's order, Christ became high priest of every human being — Jew and Gentile alike.
Hebrews contrasts the law of a carnal commandment with the power of an endless life. The Levitical priests served under a temporary, fleshly system, but Christ's Melchizedek priesthood is eternal. This is why He can live forever as high priest and enter God's presence with His own blood to obtain eternal redemption.
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