By the title, I’m not calling you stupid. I’m referring to myself. You’ll understand why as you read on…
Isn’t it interesting that today’s Christianity has decided that the LAW of YHWH has been done away with, and in its place is some unwritten standard that only scattered pockets of Christians agree upon? Many of these pockets (Denominational groups) believe that JESUS “fulfilled” or in their way of thinking, “completely did away with” The Law of YHWH, and then HE instituted an entirely new standard for how we are to serve and obey God in “The New Covenant!” Among other Scriptures taken out of context, they site Hebrews 8-10 as their “proof” in the matter. I know. I was guilty of that for years! Then one day, as we were studying these Scriptures, I realized the statement that I entitled this article with. “It’s the priesthood that has changed! Not the entire Law of the Covenant!” Could it be that simple? Well, lets take a stroll through some of these verses and see!
Beginning in Hebrews 8:1-2, Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.” Please notice what gives us as “the main point” of the previous and following chapters really is! (Hint) The Priesthood! Also, please consider that the context of this portion of Scripture is the author making a comparison between the Levitical priesthood, with it’s earthly, man-made sanctuary/temple, as compared to that part of the covenant that pertains to the ministry of JESUS as the High Priest, IN heaven, IN the sanctuary of the true tabernacle, erected by HIM, not made by human hands!
Hebrews 8:3-5 “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle.” Consider what the author is saying here:
First, he reinforces that it is written in the Torah that the “high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices.”
Then, based on that, he says it is “necessary that this ONE (YESHUA) also have something to offer.” In other words, just as the earthly priesthood would minister according to what was written in the Torah, so too would YESHUA’S ministry be governed by the same Torah.
He goes on to explain to us that YESHUA would not serve as a priest on earth, because “according to the law” there is an earthly priesthood as seen in Levi who serve in the “copy and shadow of the heavenly things”, and that YESHUA is not of the priestly tribe of Levi.
Hebrews 8:6 “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
Continuing in the comparison between the Levitical priesthood and the Priesthood of JESUS,; What is meant by the “more excellent ministry…better covenant?” Since the context is the priesthood, the “more excellent ministry” must pertain to the difference between an inferior finite, temporal Levitical priesthood as compared to the superior infinite, eternal priesthood of JESUS, who by the way existed before the tribe of Levi – See Hebrews 5:5-6
“So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him; “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
As He also says in another place:“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek” (Psa. 110:4)
This is exactly what the context of Chapter 7 had already established!
Hebrews 7:11 “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
14For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
Hebrews 7:22-25 “by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Verses 26-28 “For such a High Priest (speaking of JESUS) was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Concerning the “oath, which came after the law”, please consider the following, which was given after the law at Sinai in Deuteronomy 29:14-19 (lest you be tempted to suggest that this oath is in reference to what JESUS supposedly instituted in the New Covenant) “I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, 15but with him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today (who might that be? You maybe?) 16(for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by, 17and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them—wood and stone and silver and gold); 18so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 19and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.”
Any suggestion that JESUS did away with THE Commandments of YWHW and established HIS own, is hauntingly close to Dt. 29:19 above…
So, instead of suggesting that Hebrews 7-9 is proof for a presupposition that JESUS did away with the LAW of YHWH, it might be prudent to see that the context of this part of Hebrews is in regards to “the priesthood.” This is where the Law had changed; regarding a non-Levite (YESHUA, who existed and served in the Priesthood long before Levi) serving as a priest! That is why true followers of YESHUA are referred to as “priests” as well in:
Rev 1:6 “To HIM who loved us and washed us from our sins in HIS own blood, and made us kings and priests to HIS GOD and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Rev 5:10 ““You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals; For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our GOD; and we shall reign on the earth”
Rev 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
So, how do I reconcile Hebrews 8:13 which says “In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”???
Simple: It’s the Priesthood, stupid! The Levitical priesthood with its sacrifices and offerings that prophesied of YESHUA’S Priesthood and HIS Atoning sacrifice have made the Levitical priesthood obsolete… Not the entire Torah of YHWH! :>)
