11 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?
12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 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 attested of Him,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
19 (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.
20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath
21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever’ ”);
22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,
24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
“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?” The preacher now brings up Aaron because it was through Aaron’s sons that the high priest would come. With Aaron came a narrowing of the priest. But why does God call for another priest to arise if the priesthood of the Law was sufficient? There should not long be any need of another priesthood. “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.” This shows that there was a weakness in the first priesthood.
“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.” The preacher is clear on where he is going. He is not trying to hide his message until the end and then bring everything out. We know that He has been talking about Jesus this whole time and he is making an argument for why He can be a priest even though He is not of the tribe of Levi or Aaron, for He is of the kingly tribe of
“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.” Thus, God, by chosen plan, has set aside the former commandment in order to establish the new. What we must be very careful in doing here is not misunderstanding the plan and nature of God. God is completely perfect and so is His will. All the weaknesses of the old were there from the beginning and made that way for a reason. The Law made nothing perfect because it was never designed to. Instead of the Law was given as a sign, a type of something greater to come. And because of the Law and no being able to better see the new commandment through it we have a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
“And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”); so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.” So just as the former priest received their position of honor by a oath, so has Jesus. He has not taken this position, but it has been given to Him by the Lord God. The Lord God made the oath, “You are a priest forever”, and the Lord God will not change His mind. The Lord God never changes His mind. Everything is worked out according to a great and mighty plan and because of that Jesus who has received an eternal promise has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
“The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” In the old priesthood, there were numerous priests because they kept dying. But Jesus has been made a priest according to an indestructible power. Thus, He is our priest now and forever, holding His position permanently. And because He is our priest forever, we do not need to look for another, because if we draw near to God through Him, He will save us forever because He always lives and is always able to intercede for us.
“For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.” For it was fitting, it was good for us, it is better for us to have a high priest who is not like normal men, but holy and separate from and greater than us, innocent in that He has no need to suffer, undefiled by the sin of this world, and separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens because He does not need to act like the priest of old who offered up sacrifices day in and day out for His own sin and then for the sins of the people, because He is righteous in that He has no sin and He offered up the perfect and only sacrifice able to save a sinner from the wrath of God—Him Self. The Law appoints men of weakness, but the oath appoints a Son who has been made our perfect sacrifice forever.
How great is this God who gave us the Law and let hundreds of years pass by under it, knowing that it has no possible way of saving anyone, only to use it as an example of what was to come in His Son who would suffer the full wrath of God for us if we draw hear to God through Him. And God did this for our good, so that by it we can better understand the death of our Lord and thus have a greater confidence in Him who made it, that He is for us, interceding before the Father. All praise be to the Father for the Law which gives knowledge and for His Son which gives life.
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