The Law and the Priesthood
AS I HAVE BEEN SAYING IN THE LAST TWO BLOGS, OUR PASSAGE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEK’S STUDY FROM HEBREWS 7 WILL BE VERSES 11-19. THIS WEEK WE WILL EXAMINE VS. 13-14…
NAS Hebrews 7:11-19 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of Him, “Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
THE TEXT MAY BE RIGHTLY SUMMARIZED SEVERAL WAYS, ALL OF WHICH CONTINUE TO SPEAK OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF MELCHIZEDEK, WHO, YOU’LL REMEMBER, IS A GREAT TYPE (EXAMPLE, ILLUSTRATION, ANALOGY) OF THE LORD JESUS.
AS I BEGAN LAST WEEK’S STUDY, ANDREWS TITLES HEBREWS 7:11-19 “AN ENDLESS LIFE,” REFERRING OF COURSE, TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE MELCHIZEDEKIAN PRIEST. HE WRITES, INTRODUCING THIS PASSAGE, “The Writer begins to tighten his argument. In this important passage he shows that there is an indissoluble link between a priestly order and the law (or covenant) over which it presides. His main propositions are, firstly, that Jesus Christ has inaugurated a new priesthood; secondly, that a new priest necessitates a new law; and thirdly, that Christ’s high-priesthood can have nothing to do with the law of Moses (the old covenant) but must presage a new and better hope…
ESV Hebrews 8:6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
NAS Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
ANDREWS SUBTITLES OUR PASSAGE IN PART (7:13-17), “THE POWER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE”…
“THE WRITER OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS FEELS IT APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT A NEW PRIESTHOOD HAS, INDEED, BEEN INAUGURATED. He advances two arguments. Firstly, Christ was born of the tribe of Judah, not Levi, and could not, therefore, belong to the Levitical priesthood. Secondly, being appointed according to the order of Melchizedek, Christ’s priesthood derives its authority, not from an external law, but from His own glorious person.
“ON THE FIRST ISSUE, THE WRITER ASSERTS,
ESV Hebrews 7:13-14 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
“THE ‘THINGS SPOKEN’ REFERS TO BOTH PSALM 110:4 AND THE STORY OF MELCHIZEDEK IN GENESIS 14. The Writer is clear that these Old Testament passages speak explicitly of Christ. It is not that the ancient Scriptures just happen to illustrate the person and work of Jesus Christ. Rather, they were written expressly to testify to the coming Christ and the NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD…
NAS 1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
“ONCE AGAIN, WE SEE THAT THE WHOLE BURDEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IS TO REVEAL CHRIST, ALBEIT IN SHADOW AND TYPE. We need to apply this principle as we seek to read and expound the Old Testament Scriptures, for unless we find Christ in those Old Testament Scriptures, we shall err both in our understanding and use of them.
“JESUS’ MEMBERSHIP OF THE ROYAL TRIBE OF JUDAH REMINDS US AGAIN OF HIS KINGSHIP, PROMISED BY THE ANGEL GABRIEL…
NAS Luke 1:32-33 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”
“ALTHOUGH THE WRITER IS STILL PREOCCUPIED WITH CHRIST’S PRIESTHOOD, HE NEVER LOSES SIGHT OF HIS THRONE. As a compass needle returns unerringly to is pole, so the Writer’s thoughts continually to the priest upon his throne.
“AND, INDEED, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS AS THE WRITER TURNS TO HIS SECOND POINT, FOR HE CONTINUES…
NAS Hebrews 7:15-17 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of Him, “Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
“MELCHIZEDEK WAS NOT THE ONLY KING-PRIEST, BUT ALSO (EITHER LITERALLY OR TYPOLOGICALLY) ENJOYED ‘AN ENDLESS LIFE’ {ALL THE LEVITICAL PRIESTS – HUMAN PRIESTS – DIED – TAR.} He thus typifies the Son of God, whose throne is eternal and whose reign brings righteousness and peace to needy sinners like us. The ‘endless [indestructible] life’ of Christ is intrinsic to His priesthood, being the ‘power’ that underwrites the gift of eternal life bestowed upon His people.” – Andrews
“THE TWO CLAUSES OF V. 14 PROVIDE CONFIRMATION FOR THE TWO CLAUSES OF V. 13 AND IDENTIFY JESUS AS THE ONE WHOM THE ORACLE (PROPHECY, USUALLY OBSCURE OR ALLEGORICAL – TAR) WAS FORMULATED. The appeal to the tradition, ‘for it is perfectly clear,’ presupposes the historical verification of the factual statement in v, 13a: the priest acclaimed in Psalm 110:4 could not trace his descent to the priestly tribe. The prepositional phrase ‘from Judah, which denotes origin from the tribe of Judah, is placed first in the clause for emphasis. The allusion to the historical tradition that Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah (cf. Matt 1:2-3; 2:6; Luke 3:33; Acts 2:29-36; 12:23, Rom 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8; Rev 5:5; 22:16) reinforced the fact that He was not ‘from Levi.’ IT VERIFIED THAT THE PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS DOES NOT DEPEND ON PHYSICAL DESCENT BUT ON A RADICALLY NEW ARRANGEMENT.” – Lane
“RADICAL,” I THINK, IS THE PERFECT WORD TO DESCRIBE THE INFORMATION THE WRITER WAS EXPOUNDED TO HIS READERS, ESPECIALLY HIS JEWISH READERS. “Radical” means simply, something beyond the norm. I believe the word may well be the key to explaining the repetition that can be said to exist in the Writer’s lengthy and detailed discussion of Melchizedek. Almost certainly the Jewish believers and those Jews contemplating faith in Christ would have been more than surprised to read this; they would have been shocked to learn about a priest coming from outside the traditional religious mold of Scripture, especially one of incomparable worthiness.
IT IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE FOR MOST MODERN ENGLISH READERS TO FULLY COMPREHEND AND APPRECIATE JUST HOW RADICAL THE WRITER’S MESSAGE IN HEBREWS 7 THAT THE PROFOUNDLY HONORED AARONIC PRIESTHOOD AND THE REVERED LAW WERE BEING REPLACED. “The argument of verses 11-19 constitutes a bold, and even radical, declaration by the writer. The section asserts unequivocally that the death and resurrection of Jesus has introduced a new and permanent priesthood that brings the Levitical priesthood to an end and, with it, the demise of the law of Moses. It is important to note in verses 11-12 that THE LAW WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO SUPPORT THE PRIESTHOOD, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE TABERNACLE WITH ITS SACRIFICES WERE THE MEANS GOD EMPLOYED TO RENDER THE SINFUL PEOPLE ACCEPTABLE TO HIMSELF. They constituted the shadow of Jesus in the Old Testament. Then the law was given with its sharp demands to awaken the people to their true condition so they might avail themselves of the sacrifices. This agrees fully with Paul’s statement in Romans 5:20 and Galatians 3:19-23 that the law was a teacher to lead people to Christ (represented in Israel by the tabernacle and its priesthood)…
NAS Romans 5:20 And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
NAS Galatians 3:19-23 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
“TO SUGGEST THAT EITHER OF THESE VENERABLE INSTITUTIONS (THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE LAW) WERE INADEQUATE AND NEEDED CHAGE WAS TO ASSAULT JUDAISM IN ITS MOST SACRED PRECINCTS.” – Steadman
THE RADICAL EFFECT OF NEW COVENANT ON THE LAW AND THE PRIESTHOOD…
– Professor Thomas A. Rohm
