Hebrews 7:11-22 Bible Study

My Translation: Hebrews 7:11-22.

Verses 11-12

11 Εἰ μὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευιτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν, ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς νενομοθέτηται, τίς ἔτι χρεία κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι; 12 μετατιθεμένης γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης ἐξ ἀνάγκης καὶ νόμου μετάθεσις γίνεται.

Therefore, if indeed the fulfillment of God’s promise were through the Levitical priesthood (for under that priesthood the people have received the Law), what further need was there for a priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek and not to be spoken of according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is transferred from Aaron to Melchizedek, inevitably the Law also must experience a transformation.

Philo uses the word τελείωσις to describe the transformation from infancy to adulthood - reaching perfection or maturity; so it has the sense of accomplishing or reaching an intended goal or purpose; fulfilling a goal or purpose or promise, as in Luke 1:45, its only other use in the NT. Biblically, God’s purpose begins to be revealed in Genesis 3:15, where God begins to make known His plan to restore humanity to Himself, to restore people to a right relationship with Himself, so that they can live in His presence and approach Him. This is the superior hope introduced through Christ, through which we can approach God (v. 19).

This fulfillment/completion/accomplishment of God’s purpose to restore humanity was not possible under the Levitical priesthood. Otherwise He would not have spoken of another priesthood from another tribe. God never intended the Levitical priesthood to be the goal or an end in itself, but a picture or shadow of the reality to come.

Rise up/be raised up - OT connection with the priest God promised to raise up in 1 Samuel 2:35; also regarding the coming King of Israel in Numbers 24:17, it contains the verbs translated “rise up” (11, 15), “has descended from” (14), and “approach” (19). God also promises David in 2 Samuel 7:12 that He will “raise up” David’s son after him to be King. Isaiah 11:10 says that the Root of Jesse will “stand” (“rise up” in Greek) as a banner for the peoples; in Jeremiah 23:5 the LORD says that He will “raise up” for David a Righteous Branch who will reign wisely as King; and Zechariah 6:12-13 indicates that the priest of 1 Sam 2:35 and the King of 2 Sam 7:12 and Jer 23:5 are the same person, by connecting those two offices with one person called the Branch who will bring together the offices of King and Priest - just like Melchizedek.

A transferred priesthood and a transformed Law

God had hinted to Eli in 1 Samuel 2:27-35 that the Aaronic priesthood would not last forever and that there was a priest coming who would be faithful, unlike Aaron’s line. He explicitly says that He “will cut off… the strength of your father’s house” (referring to Aaron’s house/priesthood). Then He will raise up a faithful priest and build Him an enduring house (echoing the words spoken to David in 2 Sam 7.)

Our ultimate goal/God’s ultimate purpose for us is that we would draw near to Him, and this is a major thrust of the book of Hebrews. But this goal/purpose was not achievable through the Aaronic priesthood, which is why Jesus had to come through a different kind of priesthood.

He also implies here that the OT Law, the Mosaic Law, the Sinai Covenant, is no longer in force - it has changed.

Hebrews Bridge

The OT is still authoritative Scripture, but the OT should be read in light of the new covenant and the new priesthood, which have arrived in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews Bridge

Eschatological perfection (forgiveness of sins and the arrival of the new creation) come only through Jesus Christ. Hence the readers should not turn back to the Levitical priesthood when it cannot bring such perfection.

Hebrews 9.9, 10.2, 14, 22-23.

Verses 13-14

13 ἐφʼ ὃν γὰρ λέγεται ταῦτα φυλῆς ἑτέρας μετέσχηκεν, ἀφʼ ἧς οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκεν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ· 14 πρόδηλον γὰρ ὅτι ἐξ Ἰούδα ἀνατέταλκεν ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν, εἰς ἣν φυλὴν περὶ ἱερέων οὐδὲν Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησεν.

For the One about whom these things are said has shared in another tribe, from which no one has devoted himself to the altar. For it is obvious that our Lord has descended from Judah, to which tribe Moses spoke nothing regarding priests.

Hebrews Exegesis

The reference to Judah brings to mind the kingly nature of Jesus’ priesthood. He is a Davidic priest-king, a Messianic priest-king.

Verses 15-17

15 Καὶ περισσότερον ἔτι κατάδηλόν ἐστιν, εἰ κατὰ τὴν ὁμοιότητα Μελχισέδεκ ἀνίσταται ἱερεὺς ἕτερος, 16 ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκίνης γέγονεν ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου, 17 μαρτυρεῖται γὰρ ὅτι Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ.

And furthermore, it is exceedingly clear, if in the likeness of Melchizedek another priest rises up, Who has become a priest, not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life, For it is testified of Him, “You are a priest for all eternity according to the nature of Melchizedek.”

The basis of Christ’s priesthood was not a law of physical requirement, but the power of an indestructible life. Under the Old Covenant Law, men became priests simply on the basis of their physical descent from Aaron, without any regard to character or other qualification. Thus there were often evil and unqualified men serving as priests simply because they were in the order of Aaron. Christ’s priesthood, however, is based not on His physical descent, but on His perfection and His powerful indestructible life, meaning

He is God and so is eternal and has life in Himself - John 1:4; 5:26.

He is perfectly sinless and has not earned death by sin (John 8:29; Rom 6:23)

He conquered death by His own death and resurrection (hence He is the priest who has been “raised up” - Rom 6:9; 1 Cor 15:54-57)

God Himself witnesses to His indestructible life in the prophecy of Psalm 110:4.

Hebrews Exegesis

Jesus’ resurrection vindicated his priesthood, and upon his resurrection his priesthood was established in all its fullness.

Hebrews Exegesis

All Levitical priests die, but Jesus is a priest who has triumphed over death forever. His life will never be brought to an end. Surely such a priesthood is superior to one where death leads to an endless succession of priests.

Hebrews Bridge

The readers must hold fast to their confession, for they belong to a priest who has conquered death. They would not be pursuing life if they attached themselves to a priesthood (the Levitical one) where priests die.

Verses 18-19

18 ἀθέτησις μὲν γὰρ γίνεται προαγούσης ἐντολῆς διὰ τὸ αὐτῆς ἀσθενὲς καὶ ἀνωφελές, 19 οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐτελείωσεν ὁ νόμος, ἐπεισαγωγὴ δὲ κρείττονος ἐλπίδος, διʼ ἧς ἐγγίζομεν τῷ θεῷ.

For on the one hand there is a setting aside of the preceding requirement because it is ineffective and disadvantageous, (For the Law brought nothing to its final fulfillment,) but on the other hand there is an introduction of a superior hope, through which we approach God.

Again, the OT Law is no longer in force - it was not the end-game but a means to an end; the removal of the Aaronic priesthood and the introduction of the Melchizedekian priesthood indicate that God has set aside the Old Covenant in order to establish the New (The New Covenant is actually New in some sense - not just a repeat of the Old).

God’s goal that people approach His presence was not accomplished through the Levitical priesthood, but it does happen under Christ’s.

There was some hope under the Old Covenant, but Christ brings a better hope - superior to the Old Covenant. Through Him we can enter the very presence of God (Heb 10:22-23).

Verses 20-22

20 Καὶ καθʼ ὅσον οὐ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας (οἱ μὲν γὰρ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας εἰσὶν ἱερεῖς γεγονότες, 21 ὁ δὲ μετὰ ὁρκωμοσίας διὰ τοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτόν· Ὤμοσεν κύριος, καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται, Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα), 22 κατὰ τοσοῦτο κρείττονος διαθήκης γέγονεν ἔγγυος Ἰησοῦς.

And because it was not without the taking of an oath (for indeed they were made priests without the taking of an oath, But He was made priest with the taking of an oath by the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn an oath, and He will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest for all eternity…’”), Accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a superior covenant.

One sentence here, stated negatively: Jesus’s priesthood was not established without an oath, so He has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Old Covenant priests didn’t need God to swear an oath for them to enter office.

In the case of Jesus, God did swear an oath, and so this oath shows the superiority of Jesus’s priesthood and of the New Covenant He mediates which is founded on better promises (Heb 8:6)

Hebrews Exegesis

By way of contrast, no oath accompanied the Levitical priesthood, showing that the Levitical order was restricted to a certain period in salvation history. The author is not suggesting that the Levitical priesthood was contrary to God’s will or intention; he is simply emphasizing that it had a built-in obsolescence.

Hebrews Exegesis

Rather he emphasizes that Jesus guarantees God’s fidelity and faithfulness, indicating that God will certainly fulfill his promise of forgiving the sins of his people.

Hebrews Bridge

The oath certifies that the Melchizedekian priesthood will never cease. In contrast to the Levitical order, it will endure forever. Hence, Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant, one in which sins are truly and finally forgiven. How can the readers and how can we turn away from such a full and final cleansing?