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Hebrews 7.11-19
Jesus Compared to Melchizedek
11 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? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 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.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
The other day I was watching a live sporting event on television which meant that I had to endure the occasional commercial break interspersed between the action. Most of the commercials were easily ignored but one caught my attention when it started out with the phrase, “Are you tired of doing…” and then went on to show a particular task that was arduous and difficult. The commercial then promoted a much better way of doing that work by using their new product. What struck me wasn’t that the old way was bad, but that there was a much better way to go.
What’s interesting about Hebrews, that we find here in our passage in verse 19, is that the Greek word for “better” occurs more times in Hebrews than in the rest of the New Testament combined. The writer of Hebrews is constantly contrasting not something good with something bad, but rather something good with something better.
In this case, Hebrews is contrasting the old system with the Temple and the priests and the sacrificial system with the priesthood of Jesus.
The old system was good, but it was limited and only pointed to a better future perfection that is realized in Jesus the Messiah, who, having died, was raised to life and is alive forever, defeating death itself.
The point of it all is that for those who entrust their lives to Jesus, we have a promised hope for a perfect future, one where we can draw near to God because of all that Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. Our hope is not tied to our work of keeping a set of rules and regulations (which we can’t do perfectly—verse 11), no, our hope is tied to Jesus, through whom we can draw near to God.
All this raises a great question for us, “What holds your hope?” Think about that for a bit and let it roll around in your thoughts. It might be something good such as family, friendship, technological advancement, or an institution that is doing good as it works for a better future. There are good things out there that do give us hope, but we must acknowledge that they are all finite and limited. But I want you to know that there is something so much better than anything else in the world, the One through whom all of God’s promises are perfectly fulfilled, Jesus.
God bless you, and know that I am praying for you constantly.
Scott
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