Is The Mosaic Law For Today? – part 2

The Mosaic Law Is Now Obsolete – No More Sacrifices

A little over a year ago, the citizens of the United States elected a new president, and four years before that, they elected a different president. Every four years the U.S. elects a president. Sometimes he is a new president, and sometimes he is reelected to a second term in office. Sometimes they are good, and sometimes they are bad. Richard Nixon was a president who opened up relations with China. Lyndon Johnson pushed for the Great Society. Jimmy Carter is known for having a twenty percent inflation rate. Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War and caused the Berlin Wall to be taken down. President Reagan is probably the most popular president we have ever had. Every new president, every new leader of a government, business or an institution brings change. He brings changes to laws, policies, and procedures. When Barack Obama was running for president of the United States, his mantra was “Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!” He was talking about change.

Our study this morning is about change. Our last study was about a question: Is the Mosaic Law for today? Our study today is the conclusion. It is the second part. We are going to see that the role of the Mosaic Law has changed. The Mosaic Law is not for today. In our last study, we continued learning about Melchizedek. Over the years, people have claimed that Melchizedek was Shem, the descendant of Noah. Others believe he was Ham. Some have said that Melchizedek was an angel or the Holy Spirit. Some have believed he was the Son of God pre-incarnate. That is, he was a physical form of Jesus before Jesus had been born as a baby. Some have believed that Melchizedek was the Messiah, Mizoram, or Canna. Still others have even believed that he was Enoch. These are all speculations. No one really knows who Melchizedek was because Scripture provides us with very little information about him.

Historical data indicates that he was a human. We discovered that in a previous study. The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, seems to consider Melchizedek to be a human.¹  Jerome, one of the early church fathers, refers to the ruins of Melchizedek’s palace as located near Jerusalem.² That implies Melchizedek was a real person. So, this gives support to the idea that Hebrews 7:3 refers to a real person. But it does not prove that he was a real person. We must seriously consider what Scripture teaches us. Here is verse 3.

Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. Hebrews 7:3 (NASB)

The purpose of verse 3 is to make the point that Melchizedek does not have a genealogy recorded in the pages of Scripture. Consequently, it is not possible for Melchizedek to have been a priest after the order of Levi. Melchizedek appears for the first time in Scripture in Genesis 14. The next time that Melchizedek appears in Scripture is in Psalms 110. The third time Melchizedek shows up in Scripture is in Hebrews 7, which is our study today. Think about it: Melchizedek appears in the first book of the Bible, the middle of the Bible, and then almost at the end of the Bible. These references are spaced by about one thousand years.

In our last study, the author used two lines of reasoning to make this point. He used a method that we do not always identify with in the Western culture. He used a typological argument. Then he used a factual-based argument. The first one made the point that Melchizedek has no traceable genealogy. Therefore, he is like the Son of God. We do not identify with that type of reasoning very well, but the Jews did. That was an acceptable line of reasoning for Jews in Jesus’ day.

The next point that he wanted us to understand is that Melchizedek is superior to Levi, even though Melchizedek did not have a genealogy that was traced to the tribe of Levi. In order for a man to be a priest, he had to be a descendant of Levi. So, if Melchizedek did not have a genealogy that was traceable to the tribe of Levi, he was not a priest after the order of Levi. Yet, we are told in black-and-white statements by God the Holy Spirit through the author of Genesis, that Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High. So he was a priest. The author wants us to understand that Melchizedek is superior to the Levites. Those are the primary points he wanted to make for us in verses 1-10. The logic he employed is very intricate, but it was important for the Jews.

Levitical Priesthood Was Imperfect

Our study starts in Hebrews 7:11. There are three major points for us to learn in this study. The first point is that the Levitical priesthood was imperfect. As a result, it has been replaced. The second point is that the Mosaic law is imperfect, and it has been replaced. The third point is that the priests are imperfect, and the priests have been replaced. So, Hebrews is about change, change, and change.
Verse 11 is where we will start,

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? Hebrews 7:11 (NASB)

The first point the author of Hebrews wants us to see is that the Levitical priesthood was imperfect. He says that if perfection is through the Levitical priesthood—and it was not is the implication—“what further need is there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek?” The point is the Levitical priesthood was not perfect.

In Greek there are two different words for “another.” One word is allos, and another one is heteros. When the word allos is used in the Greek, it refers to another of the same kind. When heteros is used, it refers to another of a different kind. So when the verse says, “what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek” the Holy Spirit used heteros. That is, if the Levitical priesthood had been perfect, there was no need for a priest of a different kind to appear. There would be no need for a different kind of priest after the order of Melchizedek. The order of this priesthood is different than that of the Levitical priesthood.

Verse 12 explains,

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. Hebrews 7:12 (NASB)

Notice the two English words “changed” and “change.” The one occurs near the beginning of the verse,

For when the priest is changed …

The other occurs at the end of the verse. It says,

… there takes place a change of law also.

Both words should be translated as “replaced by another. What we are really being told is “For when the priesthood is replaced by another.” Then we are told that the law is replaced too! When the priesthood is changed, the law must be replaced. You ask, “Why is that?” When we have a new president, he proposes changes to our laws. A new business leader, a new manager of a business, or a new owner changes things. He gets rid of old laws and he replaces them with something else. New leaders change things. They replace things. So when and since the priesthood changed, the laws changed. That is the point here.

Verse 13 continues with,

For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe . . . Hebrews 7:13a (NASB)

His point is that this “one” is not a Levite. Consequently, he could not be a Levitical priest.

. . . from which no one has officiated at the altar. Hebrews 7:13b (NASB)

That is, no one has ever officially performed the duties of a priest at the altar who has not been a Levite. Verse 14 adds,

For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Hebrews 7:14 (NASB)

Moses did not say that anyone from the tribe of Judah would become a priest. His point is that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. How do we know that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah? Verse 14 tells us that He was from the tribe of Judah. Also, Matthew 1:2 and Luke 3:33 say that Jesus was a descendant of Judah and that He was of the tribe of Judah. So Jesus is a descendant from Judah. He is not a descendant from the tribe of Levi. This is really important.

Verses 15-17 state that this new priest will be one who is forever a priest according to the order of Melchizedek,

And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of Him,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Hebrews 7:15-17 (NASB)

The word for “arises” in verse 15 is translated from an interesting Greek word. It has the idea of rising up, and it is reflexive. That means this new priest rises up on His own. One might wonder what that means. The answer is that Hebrews 10:5-10 tells us Jesus volunteered to humble Himself before God the Father and to become our Savior. He volunteered to humble Himself and become a human, then to die as the Savior for our sins and be resurrected from the dead (Philippians 2:6-8). An important passage that illustrates the point that the Father gave Jesus this authority is in John 10:18. In this passage, Jesus says that He had authority to lay down His life and authority to take it up again. Acts 2 states that God the Father predetermined the plan of salvation. Together, these passages give us amazing insight into how the plan of salvation occurred.

Then according to verse 16, we are told Jesus did not become a priest by any physical lineage. Instead, Jesus is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek because God appointed him to that position. Verse 17 quotes Psalms 110:4 which indicates that God had appointed Him to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. This is a high level overview of the plan for our salvation. It all occurred by the decree of the Father. Jesus is a priest but not due to Levitical lineage.

This gives us the first point that Jesus is a new priest according to God the Father’s decree. This new priesthood is better than the old priesthood for the old priesthood was imperfect; but the new one is not. That is the first important point.

Mosaic Law Was Imperfect

The second major point is given to us in verses 18-22. They describe what happened to the law. Verse 18 says,

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness. Hebrews 7:18 (NASB)

Now we are told in addition that a former commandment was set aside because it was weak, useless, or imperfect! Verse 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. Hebrews 7:19 (NASB)

This gives us a second major point. The ceremonial portion of the Mosaic law was set aside because it was weak and useless. It was replaced because there is a better hope. Then verse 20 gives us the conclusion,

And inasmuch as it was not without an oath . . . Hebrews 7:20 (NASB)

The law was replaced because it was not based upon a promise. It was not made with an oath. That is the message of verses 21-22 which say,

(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. Hebrews 7:21-22 (NASB)

Notice that we are told the Levitical priests “Became priests without an unchangeable oath.” Two points are made. The Levitical priests were not established with an oath, and the there was no unchangeable oath. But Jesus was made a priest with an unchangeable oath. Consequently, we have a better covenant because Jesus Christ is a priest forever.

Why is the covenant better because of Christ? In a recent men’s Bible study, we were talking about the attributes of God and the fact that God is eternal. God is self-existent and sustains Himself. So, God is eternally unchanging. We made the point that if God is eternal, then He is able to keep His promises for all eternity. If He was not eternal, then His promises would only be good as long as He lived.

So, it is encouraging and comforting to know that God is unchanging or immutable, because that means that we can trust Him not to change His promises. He also does not lie. We are told that in Hebrews 6:18. So if God makes a promise and it does not and will not change, that is great news. It is fabulous news! His promises never change! It would be really bad if we were near death and all of a sudden God said, “Oops! Wait a minute, I am changing the plan about salvation. I am sorry. You believed in Jesus. I am sorry, there is a new requirement.” What a horrible situation that would be! So, is it not wonderful to know that God is unchanging? Since He is eternal and does not lie, the plan of salvation stays in effect. God has a plan that if you believe in and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have a guarantee of a better covenant. Why? Jesus, is eternal, and unchanging. When He makes a promise, He sticks to His promise because we have been told, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” He did it with an oath.

We have discovered in our previous studies, that God the Father swore by Himself. What a great promise! It is an incredible promise! It is a better hope. It is a better covenant. Guess what! We have a new priesthood, and the old Mosaic law has been replaced! It is obsolete. Ii is gone. It is destroyed! It does not exist anymore! We do not have to be concerned about sacrifices and priests. We do not have to go to an earthly priest for forgiveness of sins. We are not dependent on a human priest. We have only one priest. He is—Jesus! He is the only priest we need.

Levitical Priests Were Imperfect

Verse 23 now introduces the author’s third argument, and that is the priests were imperfect. So the Levitical priesthood is imperfect and has been replaced. The ceremonial part of the Mosaic law is imperfect, and it has been replaced. Now we are going to be told that the Levitical priests, themselves, are imperfect, and they have been replaced. Verse 23 says,

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing. Hebrews 7:23 (NASB)

His basic point is very simple: There were many Levitical priests because they would live for a while, and then die. Then a new priest was born to take his place. That one would in time die, and another would take his place. It is like the presidents of the United States. We go from one, to another, and then to another. The cycle keeps repeating. Verse 24 tells us,

. . . but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Hebrews 7:24 (NASB)

The actual Greek word for permanently has the idea of unending. It just continues and continues. Jesus continues into the ages. That is the literal Greek meaning. He continues into the ages, into the eons in the future. His priesthood is never-ending. It just continues.

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. Hebrews 7:25 (NASB)

What good news are we given about Jesus since He lives forever? He is able to save believers forever. He never changes. Also, He is always able to make intercession. He is always there. Jesus is not like our earthly priests. A human priest or pastor might know who you are. They can pray on your behalf. They might be able to care for you. You may change pastors, but you never have to change your ultimate priest who is Jesus. You never have to change Him. He is always there. He knew you since the day you were conceived. He knew you when you were a little child. He knew you when you were a young person. He knows you now as an adult, as a middle aged person. He knows those who are elderly and in their golden years. He is always there. He will keep you saved and will make intercession for you.

That is wonderful news! We have a better hope. We have a better covenant because we have a better priest. Everything is better and then even better. The Jews who are reading this needed to hear that. We may not be terribly excited about this change in the Mosaic system and all the trappings that come with it, because we are not participating in it today. But for the Jews, this had to be awesome news. Now they had one priest, and He is eternal.

Our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ

Therefore, verse 26 adds,

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 7:26 (NASB)

The word for “fitting” has the meaning, “the one who has the authority to act on behalf of another.” The New American Standard does not translate this very well. The New Living Translation is much better. So, I will read the first part of this verse from the New Living Translation.

He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Hebrews 7:26 (NLT)

The word for “holy” refers to His character. He is holy. Jesus is without sin. He is whiter than the whitest white. He is absolutely spotless. When the NASB says He is innocent, that means He is without fault. I do not know about you, I try to live a righteous life, but I am not holy. I am not innocent. I have made some real blunders over the years. I am thankful that people have forgiven me. I am not a perfect individual. I have committed many sins. But Jesus has not made any blunders or committed any sins. Jesus is innocent. He is without any fault.

Then we are told that He is undefiled. We do not identify with this very well because this is a Jewish concept. The Jews believed in ritual purity. This is a statement that says Jesus has never been ritually defiled. Then we are told that He is separated from sinners. And He is because He is in Heaven. Notice that we are told, “And exalted above the heavens.” He is separated from sinners.

Next, we are told in verse 27 why Jesus, our great high priest, does not offer sacrifices for Himself or for believers.

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. Hebrews 7:27 (NASB)

This verse teaches us that Jesus Christ does not offer sacrifices. He does not offer sacrifices for Himself as the Levitical priests did. In addition, we are told that Jesus does not offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. Do you realize what this says about us? It reveals two things, First, we do not need to offer sacrifices because if Jesus does not have to perform sacrifices for Himself, then the system of sacrifices is obsolete. They are gone. No burnt offerings, no thank offerings, no votive offerings, no burnt offerings, so sin offerings, no offering of any kind of are necessary for the ceremonial portion of the whole Mosaic system is obsolete.

The second reason that there is no need for Jesus to offer sacrifices is that He offered Himself on the cross once for all. Today He lives and He is our perfect sacrifice. He is the sacrifice for our sins. He did it! All we have to do is believe that He will forgive us of our sins, be repentant, want to change, ask Him to do that, and He will take over our lives. He will forgive our sins, change us, and take us to Heaven. Verse 28 adds,

For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, . . . Hebrews 7:28a (NASB)

That is, the Mosaic Law can only appoint men to be priests for there is no other option. There men are weak because they are mortal or human.

. . . , but the word of the oath which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:28b (NASB)

The Mosaic Law was given in the book of Exodus. The word of the oath was recorded a thousand years later in Psalm 110. Hebrews 7:28b says the word of the oath appointed a Son, Christ, made perfect forever.

The oath appointed Him as priest. He was appointed as the eternal priest. When we have an eternal priest, you do not need a mortal Levitical priesthood where priests are born and eventually die in a never ending cycle. We do not need them when we have a new priest who lives forever, and who has instituted new laws, new procedures, and new requirements. Jesus replaced the Mosaic law. The Levitical priests have been replaced. The whole Levitical system was replaced. What was it replaced with? The answer will be given in the following study.

In summary, God has given us a great promise of an eternal, holy, high priest. He is the greatest high priest who has given us a better covenant, and a better law. We have a better hope because of Jesus. He lives forever. He is God. He does not lie. His promises do not change and He will always be with us.

References:

1. Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. Book 1, Chapter 10.
2. Melchizedek. McClintock and Strong. Cyclopedia of Biblical Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. 1887, vol. VI. p. 59.