Look To Jesus

 DEVOTION

TO HEBREWS

LOOK TO JESUS

Heb 7:11-28

11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come — one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."   18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'"   22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

NIV

This is a huge chunk of scripture, but it is impossible to divide it because it completes the argument of the supremacy of Jesus over the law or the difference between the imperfect method of attaining righteousness and the perfect way. Although God established the law for the people of Israel and gave them a priesthood that was always from the descendent of Aaron, from the tribe of Levi, the Lion from Judah was the last priest who brought about the end of sacrifices, for He became the perfect sacrifice forever and all sins forever. The author clarifies that the law is set aside because it was and still is weak and useless, for it cannot ever make us perfect. The question that plagues us is something about this imperfect, weak, and useless law. Are the Ten Commandments part of this useless and weak law? Are they the basis for the whole of the law? We know Jesus reiterated many points of the Ten Commandments making them seen in another sense, such as hatred equal to murder, so we should not hate. Jesus did make a point about honoring our parents but also made a point that anyone who loves his father and mother more than Him, is not worthy of Him. Surely, we would not worship any other God, but what do we treasure, or value? Do we not put value on or worth or trust in our financial status for our future? Are we not paying attention to things of the Old Covenant, which is imperfect, rather than living totally under the New Covenant Jesus established, a perfect covenant of love based on faith. So why then do we still want to quote or base our lives on those old weak and useless commandments, when all we need to base our lives on is Jesus? It is a question that causes us to ponder deeply. Which or who do we put our trust in. We know our salvation and our resurrection into eternal life depend solely on faith in Jesus. No works whatsoever have any bearing on our eternal life. So then why do we want to put trust in the Old Testament law, including the Ten Commandments for our righteousness, or right style of living? Is that what makes us a better Christian, or defines us as being a Christian? It seems right we would want to obey those Commandments. But then can we do that perfectly? If we fail, then what? So then why would we not want to put all our trust in Jesus, and live by faith and faith alone, trusting completely in the grace of God? This is our life, He is the one who gives us life and brings us eternal life. There is no law, no commandment that can give us life, or give us eternal life. It seems this might be the answer to that question that plagues us. Let us look to Jesus. He is all we need.