Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 2 December 2018

Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. Hebrews 7:23

The author now provides another case for the supremacy of Christ’s priesthood over that of the Levitical priesthood. He first says, “Also there were many priests.” The Greek more literally reads, “Also, there have been made priests many.” There was a long succession of priests, each being consecrated to the priesthood in order to meet the needs of the requirements specified by the law. There was any given number of priests at any given time, and there was also a high priest among them. In this, they continued on for a duration and then they were replaced. The basic fact that there were many priests throughout the years shows the weakness of the Levitical priesthood, but the reason that there were many is “because they were prevented by death from continuing.” This shows an even greater weakness in the law and its priesthood.

Death prevented them from continuing on in the priesthood. However, Christ is “a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” This is because of “the power of an endless life” (verse 7:16). The supremacy of Christ’s priesthood is clearly established in this.

The first high priest of Israel was Aaron who descended from Levi through his grandfather Kohath and then through his father Amram. From Aaron came others sons and through his sons the line continued for about 1500 years. There were strict regulations for these men including who they could and couldn’t marry. In addition to this, there were other requirements. Some of these requirements were so precise that if they deviated from them, they would die for not properly performing them –

“Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. ² So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” Leviticus 10:1, 2

These were two of the four recorded sons of Aaron at the establishment of the tabernacle in the wilderness. Nadab was the eldest but never attained to the office of high priest because of his unauthorized action. Instead, his younger brother Eleazer became the high priest at the time of Aaron’s death. Other high priests came and went, some being considered failures in their appointed office. But even the successful ones couldn’t continue forever. Being sons of Adam, they inherited his sin and also added their own sins in life. Such sin, then as now, results in death. Here in this verse, as in other verses, the author is demonstrating the insufficiency of the Levitical priesthood. No high priest of Israel attained the perfection necessary to carry on the office, but rather died and left his duties unfinished.

1) The wages of sin is death, 2) these priests died and their time in the priesthood ended, therefore, 3) their time in the priesthood failed to resolve the sin problem in their lives. If this is so, then those on whose behalf they ministered also failed to have the sin problem resolved in their lives as well. In this, the entire system is shown to be a failure. However, Christ, being a “priest forever,” is shown to have no sin. As this is so, then His ministry is able to resolve the sin problem for those He ministers to. The system is shown to be a success.

Life application: Time and again it is shown that the Law of Moses failed to accomplish what it was intended to do, which is to restore man to God. This doesn’t mean that the law itself was defective, but that sin in man rendered it ineffective. Christ, who was born without sin and who lived without sin, fulfilled the law for us. Why would we ever want to go back and live out the precepts of a law which could never save anyone? The author is not wasting words through useless repetition, but he is rather showing – again and again – the supremacy of what Christ has done for us. It is the strongest appeal possible to his readers – “Come to Christ and be saved from what the law could never save you from.”

Lord God, no matter how many times we hear the good news, it is always fresh and new to our souls. The law stood against us and condemned us. Jesus took that burden from us and delivered us from the penalty of sin. In Him, we have the surety of eternal life, because He is the fount of that same eternal life. Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saturday, 1 December 2018

…by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:22

The words here reflect a sentiment similar to Hebrews 1:4 –

“having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

The author is slowly and meticulously showing the superiority of the various aspects and ministries of Christ in comparison to those of other entities. Here, he says, “by so much more Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant.” This is based on the words which show He was made a priest by oath. Thus His priesthood is vastly superior to that of Aaron. He has also now further defined the “better hope” of verse 4:19, calling it a “better covenant.”

There was a hope in the Old Covenant which was found in Leviticus 18:5, which said concerning its precepts, “if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” That hope was indeed found in the Mosaic covenant, but it was one which was unattainable by fallen man. The only actual hope that it displayed was in Christ to come. Only He could “do” the things of the law. In the doing of them, He fulfilled it. This is the better hope which is found now in the “better covenant.”

The word “covenant” is the Greek word diathéké. It is introduced now, and it will be used 9 times in chapters 8 and 9. It signifies, “a set-agreement having complete terms determined by the initiating party, which also are fully affirmed by the one entering the agreement” (HELPS Word Studies). The author has, as he has repeatedly done in Hebrews, introduced a word or concept which he will then expand on as he continues with his instruction.

The word translated as “surety” is an adjective found only here in the Bible, egguos. It signifies “under good security,” and thus it is a guarantee. Jesus is that guarantee. Meyer’s NT Commentary states of this, “For Christ, the Son of God, had become man in order to proclaim this covenant upon earth, had sealed it by His sufferings and death, and had been mightily accredited by His resurrection from the dead as a Founder of the Covenant who had been sent by God.” This is correct, and it is expanded on with the thoughts of Albert Barnes. He states, “He is the pledge that we shall be saved. He becomes responsible, so to speak, to law and justice, that no injury shall be done by our salvation, though we are sinners.”

The word says that Jesus Himself is our surety. It is an absolute statement of the doctrine of eternal salvation (once saved always saved). If we put our trust in Christ as stated in Romans 10:9, 10, we are – at that moment – sealed with the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 1:13, 14. That is an eternal guarantee. But it is based on what Jesus has accomplished. Our faith in Him is that of a surety because the Holy Spirit has sealed us. It is not based on what we have done, but it is only by faith in what He has done. If our salvation is to fail, it means that Jesus, not us, has failed. Such is an impossibility.

As a point of doctrine, and of surety of what is stated here, it should be noted that over the past two verses the author has shown that the priesthood of the New Covenant was made with an oath. This was something which was lacking under the Old Covenant. This oath was actually recorded in the times of the Old Covenant in the Psalms – through the hand of David. In ways such as this, the Bible confirms itself and all of its contents.

Historically, the Bible is a reliable reference for what has occurred. Archaeologically, no evidence has ever been found to refute a claim made in its pages. Rather, archaeology – again and again – supports the biblical record. Philosophically, what can be determined about the nature of God from the created order is fully supported by what the Bible records. Internally, it reaches back and forth, confirming itself in various ways. Nothing is left unanswered when properly researched.

Because of these and so many other assurances, when we see in Jeremiah that a New Covenant is promised and that it will be an eternal one, we don’t need to second guess what is being alluded to. Instead, we simply need to see what the Bible declares about it. This is the purpose of the epistles, including Hebrews. And Hebrews, again and again, demonstrates several truths: 1) Jesus is “greater than” each point or person to whom He is compared in the Old Covenant; 2) Jesus is the focal point of both adoration and worship, to the glory of God the Father; and 3) what is proclaimed in the New Covenant sets aside the Old Covenant in its entirety.

Life application: If you are bound in a legalistic environment which attempts to mingle the unattainable requirements of the Old Covenant with the New, or if you are in a sect or group which exalts any name above “Jesus” as Lord, or if you believe that you can lose your salvation after being saved by Jesus, then you have failed to receive the simplicity and grace of Jesus Christ – the “surety of a better covenant.” Come to Christ, rest in Christ, and do not be led astray by false doctrines which would steal your joy in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord Jesus, we bow to you in adoration. You are majestic in splendor and beautiful in holiness. To You we give thanks, praise, and exaltation! Fill us with Your Spirit and lead us in paths of righteousness as we grow in Christian maturity. In Your perfect name we pray! Amen.

Friday, 30 November 2018

…(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

“The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’”), Hebrews 7:21

This verse is a parenthetical thought between verses 20 and 22, but all three are one complete sentence. The author, in the previous verse, just said that Christ was made a priest with an oath. This verse now explains that by using the same quote from Psalm 110 which has been cited several times already. First, he begins the parenthetical thought by saying, “for they have become priests without an oath.” This is speaking of those of the Levitical priesthood. As noted in the previous commentary, including the verses from Scripture which supported this thought, Aaron was selected by God and told that this would be his position (Exodus 28:1-3). Further, the Levites then were selected by God in place of the firstborn of Israel to minister under Aaron and his sons (Numbers 3:11-13).

The Lord made the decision, and He appointed the men to fill the positions. There was no oath involved in the process. However, the author continues with, “but He with an oath.” This is speaking of Christ Jesus. His priesthood wasn’t a mere appointment at a certain moment in time, but rather it was promised by God and in advance. And more, it was promised with an oath. When did this happen? It was promised “by Him who said to Him.” This is speaking of the Lord (YHVH) in his discussion with the Lord (Adonai – meaning Yehovah, who is Jesus) who are named in Psalm 110:1. Later in verse 4 of the psalm, the Lord (YHVH) is spoken of again. This is what the author now cites –

“The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’”),

It is this verse which comprises the oath. It was recorded by David in the Psalms many hundreds of years in advance of the coming of Christ. “The Lord has sworn” is the oath. “And will not relent” is given as an absolute surety of the oath. The Lord will never change His mind concerning this matter. “You are a priest forever” is the substance of the oath. “According to the order of Melchizedek” explains the nature of the priesthood. No such oath was promised to Aaron. Therefore, the oath is another sure proof of the supremacy of the priesthood of Christ over that of Aaron.

In this then, the author reminds us that it was with an oath that Jesus was made “a priest forever.” As God simply is, then anything He says must be. There can be no untruthfulness or change in God or in God’s word. The oath then is for our benefit – so that in our moments of weakness or doubt we can turn to God’s word and be absolutely reassured of His guarantee. The Levitical priests, meaning the line of Aaron, didn’t receive an oath from God. Rather they were given a directive to conduct their work faithfully. Should they fail in their duties, there were consequences for their failure, such as is recorded in Leviticus –

“And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die.” Leviticus 16:13

This Levitical system then, by its very nature, had to be temporary. In Jeremiah 31:31, God promised a New Covenant to the people and with the covenant came the oath of a new priesthood. This priesthood, by its very nature, cannot ever end.

Life application: Jesus Christ has become the eternal Mediator of an eternal covenant. Because this is so, then the salvation of those for whom He mediates must also be eternal. Can you see these logical connections? If so, then you should have no fear when you fail as a Christian. No sin is too overwhelming for God to withhold His forgiveness, and there is nothing in all of creation that can separate you from the love of God which is found in Christ Jesus. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a past sin, cast that burden on Jesus – your “priest forever.” Allow Him to reassure you of the great and unlimited grace of God.

Lord God, thank You for opening the truths of Your word to us. It follows a logical and orderly sequence, and it leads us to the assurance of Your great love, grace, and mercy. And it shows us of the supremacy of the New Covenant over the Old. What we have in Jesus is eternal, and it is based on an oath from You that it will never change. Glory to You through Jesus… our Priest forever! Amen.

Thursday, 29 November 2018

And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath… Hebrews 7:20

Although it is getting ahead in thought, to understand what the author is saying in this verse, it must be understood what the thought is being contrasted to. That will be revealed in the next verse, but in order to properly identify what that is, a history lesson concerning the Levitical priesthood is necessary.

In Israel, Aaron was appointed as high priest apart from any oath. He was selected by God and told that this would be his position. This is recorded in Exodus 28 –

“Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ² And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. ³ So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.” Exodus 28:1-3 

Later, the Levites were selected by God in place of the firstborn of Israel to minister under Aaron and his sons. This is recorded in Numbers 3 –

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ¹²‘Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, ¹³ because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.’” Numbers 3:11-13

This appointment of Levi was the Lord’s will. He simply decided this was how it was to be, and He made the appointment. On the other hand, Jesus’ priesthood came about in a different way. The author states as much by saying, “And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath.” In other words, He was given an oath assuring His priesthood would be established. Both of these thoughts will be further explained in the coming verse.

Life application: Having an understanding of the Old Testament helps us to more fully understand what is being relayed in the New Testament. If one only reads the New, they will have the information they need, but they may not have the answer as to “why” things are the way they are. We might be told by a mechanic that the motor is now fixed and ready to be used again. If we are content with that, we will get in the car and drive away satisfied. However, if we want to know why the thing stopped working, we will want to review what the underlying cause of the breakdown was, through an explanation of how the motor works, what keeps it running properly, and how to avoid future breakdowns. In understanding the results which are revealed in the New, but without knowing all of the mechanics of the Old, we can have future breakdowns in our theology when someone comes along and gives bad information on what the results “really” mean. Without the foundation, we can be led astray by cheating car mechanics (if such people actually exist!). The same is true with theology and with those who would misdirect our understanding of a matter, by incorrectly explaining how we got to the result which is revealed in the New. In other words, it is the wise and prudent Christian who will be studied in both the Old and the New Testaments.

Great are Your ways O Lord and greatly are You to be praised! We lift our hands to You in praise for the glorious work of Jesus which was accomplished on our behalf. Instead of death, we receive life. Instead of fear, we can worship with joy! How precious You are O God! Thank You for what You have done through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

Wednesday, 28 November 2018

…for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:19

The word “for” once again builds on the continuing thought. The previous verse said, “the former commandment” was annulled “because of its weakness and unprofitableness.” That was a clear and precise statement. The law was ineffectual in accomplishing what it was purposed to do, and thus the law was annulled through the coming of Christ who alone could fulfill it. The reason for the ineffectual nature of the law was the inherent defect of sin in man. As the author now states, “for the law made nothing perfect.”

Fallen man (all men born from Adam are fallen) is imperfect. The law was given to restore man to a right relationship with God. However, that never came about. If it did, man would have stopped dying. As it says in Leviticus 18:5 –

“You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”

Those under the law were promised that they would live if they did the things of the law. None under the law lived… until the coming of Christ. Why did Christ live? Because He was and is perfect. The law did not perfect Him; He fulfilled the law. This is why the author next says, “on the other hand.” This is in contrast to the words of the previous verse. Lining the two up side by side shows this –

7:18 – “…on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment.”

7:19 – “…on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope.”

That “better hope” is “the change of the law” referred to in verse 7:12 which comes with another priest according to the order of Melchizedek as stated in 7:15, 16. It is through this “better hope” that “we draw near to God.” This better hope is founded on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He died in fulfillment of the law. In His death and burial, He carried away the sins of the people. And in His resurrection, He offers eternal life to all who believe in Him and what He has done.

Stated again, the entire thought is that the law was set aside because it lacked the power necessary to make a man righteous before God. The imperfection of the temple worshipers remained after each and every visit to the temple. But perfection and holiness is what God demands of us –

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.’” Leviticus 19:2

Because the law could not produce this in fallen man, by fallen man, he could not draw near to God. Nothing unholy can enter into the presence of the holy God. In this, it is seen that the law could never make man righteous, but instead could only show him how utterly sinful he is in the presence of God. Something more was needed to bring us near to Him… something perfect in and of itself. This is the purpose of the incarnation.

In and by His perfection Jesus prevailed over the law. Now, through faith in Him alone we stand righteous and holy in God’s presence. This isn’t because the righteousness is inherent in ourselves, but because Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us. Paul explains this transaction in Galatians 3:10-14 –

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.’ ¹² Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’

¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Life application: Take time to ponder the wonderful love of God towards us in Christ Jesus! When we were powerless to help ourselves, Christ stepped in and carried our burdens and failings. He became a curse for us so that we could be redeemed from the curse of the law. Now think again on that. If the law brings a curse, why would anyone want to be back under that law? What perverse attitude would say to God, “Thanks for trying, but I will do it on my own?” Only condemnation awaits such a perverse soul.

O God! Surely we have a “better hope” than the ancient worshipers. Their hope looked forward to the Messiah and they only saw darkly what was coming – through shadows and figures. But our hope looks back on His glorious work, accomplished on our behalf and forward to the day we are glorified in Him. How marvelous are your wondrous ways O God! Amen.