Some Troubling Verses in Hebrews 7 Explained

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Hebrews 7:12, Priesthood being changed…a change also of the law [Torah]. The Greek words for being changed and a change are respectively metatithemi (a verb) and metathesis (a noun). The the verb means “to transpose, to transfer, to go or pass over, to fall away or desert from one person or thing to another.” Many people interpret this verse to mean that YHVH’s Torah-law was changed (i.e., invalidated or annulled) by the new covenant, but is this what the author is saying here?

Before going further in our discussion, let’s lay out some basic truths of the Scriptures.

YHVH doesn’t change (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17). The word torah [in English, translated as law] means “instructions, principles, teachings” and came directly from YHVH to his people. The Torah teaches men how to love YHVH and love one’s fellow man. It is YHVH’s instructions in righteousness and reflects his very character and nature. Who YHVH is doesn’t change.

It is a sin (a violation of the Torah) to change the Torah (Deut 4:2; 12:32).

So in this light, what is this verse really saying? It declares that the priesthood was changed. The Levitical priesthood that was temporarily and parenthetically inserted into the Melchizedek priesthood (both priesthoods are revealed in the Torah, see Exod 19:2, 4 cp. 28:1; 32:29). In the former priesthood, a father acted as the priest over his family interceding for them before Elohim via sacrifices and offerings (Gen 8:20; 12:7,8; 13:18; 22:9; 26:25; 33:20; 35:1, 3, 7; Exod 17:15; Job 1:5). In the latter priesthood, YHVH designated the descendants of Aaron as priests over Israel replacing the heads of each home as the priest of each family (Exod 30:31).

The writer of Hebrews reveals to us that with the coming of Yeshua, the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood was replaced by the original order of Melchizedek with Yeshua as its High Priest. This makes sense when we realize that Yeshua is not only the builder of his spiritual house, the church (Heb 3:3), but also the head of it, for he is the High Priest over the spiritual house of Elohim (Heb 10:21), which is comprised of the saints who are living stones and are apart of that house (1 Pet 2:5) and temple (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21–22) with Yeshua as the chief corner stone and the apostles and prophets the foundation (Eph 2:20). The saints are currently a part of this original Melchizedek priesthood, which has attained to the higher spiritual level through Yeshua, regardless of their tribal lineage (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).

This verse is also telling us that since the Levitical priesthood reverted to the original priestly order, certain temporary regulations within the Torah pertaining to the Levitical priesthood had to revert back to the original Torah priesthood. The Epistle to the Hebrews makes it clear what this change or transfer involves. The Levitcal priesthood—an expansion of the Melchizedek priesthood—was also a prophetic shadow-picture of the new priesthood to come. The temporary Levitical priesthood in all of its aspects pointed to Yeshua’s sinless life, his death, burial, resurrection, and then his role as our Great Heavenly High Priest. The Levitical priesthood was a spiritual road sign that pointed to Torah’s greater fulfillment in the Person of Yeshua. So what was changed or transferred? The writer of Hebrews clearly answers this question throughout this book. Yeshua once and for all permanently replaced all the repeated sacrifices and the temple ceremonies associated with them, as well as the priesthood that administered these rites and rituals. That’s all that was “changed” or transferred. YHVH’s sabbaths, feasts, dietary laws, and his other instructions in righteousness have never been annulled. In fact, Yeshua upholds the Torah in every way (see Matt 5:17–19), and even tells us that we are not only to follow its letter, but also its spirit (Matt 5:21–48). Paul calls the Torah holy, just and good (Rom 7:12), and tells us in the strongest terms that the grace of YHVH doesn’t annul, but rather establishes the Torah (Rom 3:31). His adherence to the Torah to the end of his life is validated by the biblical record (Acts 21:24), and by the testimony of his own lips in two courts of law (Acts 24:14; 25:8).

During the Millennium, it appears that the two priesthoods will be operating simultaneously. Assuming Ezekiel’s temple is a prophetic description of a millennial temple (not all Bible experts believe this), the Levitical sons of Zadok will be officiating at the temple in Jerusalem (Ezek 44:125), while the Melchizedek priesthood of all believers (Peter calls them the royal priesthood, 1 Pet 2:9) will be ruling and reigning over the earth with Yeshua during the Millennium. In other words, these priest are the saints that John mentions three times in the Book of Revelation who will be priests during the Millennium (Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Presumably their role will be to teach the Torah and the Testimony of the Yeshua to the peoples of the earth and to act as judges, since this was the historic role of the ancient Levite priests. Meanwhile the sons of Zadok will be officiating at the temple in Jerusalem. Interestingly, Isaiah talked about a millennial era priesthood that would be comprised of both Levites and redeemed Gentiles (Isa 66:18–21).

Hebrews 7:19, The law made nothing perfect. In the Greek, perfect is teleioo meaning “complete, carry through, accomplish, bring to an end, add what is yet wanting inn order to render a thing full.” In the Aramaic this verse reads, “For we maintain that the Torah is not able to complete us which are otherwise without the coming of a greater hope through which we approach Elohim” (HRV). This verse is not saying that the Torah was abolished, but only that it doesn’t have the capacity to bring us to spiritual completion or maturity and into intimate relationship with Elohim. Something more is needed. The Torah points us to the one who will lead us to the Father (it was the “tutor” [NAS] or “child-conductor” [YLT] that led us to Yeshua, Gal 3:24 )—that greater hope. Through Yeshua’s sacrifice, our sins are forgiven once and for all. Through Yeshua’s life one earth, we have an example to follow of how to live the Torah. Through Yeshua’s Spirit living in us, we have the internal strength to die to the flesh and live out YHVH’s Torah. Through Yeshua’s intercession as our Great Heavenly High Priest, we have an advocate in heaven to plead our case before the heavenly court of justice. Through Yeshua, our righteousness is made complete despite our failed efforts to love him by following his commands perfectly.

 

2 thoughts on “Some Troubling Verses in Hebrews 7 Explained

  1. Thanks for bringing up this issue. It’s somewhat more clarifying and confirming. I’m quite surprised, though, that none of your other regular readers have had anything to say here about this. No agreement. No disagreement. Not even any questions. That’s interesting to me! Maybe it’s partly because many still don’t believe there is any significance and/or relevance of the issue pertaining to their personal lives, either presently, and/or as the end of times draws near and the kingdom of the anti-Messiah increases in it’s deception, scope, and power, and/or during the Millennial reign of Messiah. I don’t know.

    If so, however, why would that be? Maybe because it’s still confusing or at least unclear as to what the “Priesthood being changed…a change also of the law [Torah]” means. After all, if I understand it correctly, it does say that more than the priesthood was changed. It says, “also of the law [Torah]”. It does seem to imply that there was a change in the law/Torah instructions of how we are to live our lives under the High Priesthood of Messiah Yeshua according to the order of Melchizedek, as compared to the Levitical Torah instructions under order of the Aaronic High Priesthood.

    I suppose most of the other regular readers may agree with your statement, as I do, that “Yeshua once and for all PERMANENTLY REPLACED all THE REPEATED SACRIFICES and THE TEMPLE CEREMONIES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, as well as THE PRIESTHOOD THAT ADMINISTERED THESE RITES AND RITUALS.”

    However, here’s a couple of my questions I still have:
    1) You say here, “That’s all that was ‘changed’ or transferred. YHVH’s sabbaths, feasts, dietary laws, and his other instructions in righteousness have never been annulled.” Do you mean that every other Torah law/instruction of the Levitical priestly order, as given by Moshe when imposing the Levitical laws, after the breaking of the covenant by the golden calf incident, are still to be followed (as they specifically pertain to each individual, again, besides the instructions involving blood sacrifices and the temple ceremonies associated with them) or is it only the the Torah instructions given prior to the establishing of the Levitical priesthood and in keeping with the original priestly order of Melchizedek that we are now to follow?

    2) You also say here, “It is a sin (a violation of the Torah) to change the Torah.” Nevertheless, it was, in fact, changed, even as you have said, and not just the High priest and priesthood, even if only the sacrificial laws and the associated priestly ceremonial functions. Did Moshe mean not to add or subtract from the task master/tutor Book of the LAW Torah instruction according to the Levitical priestly order, that were “too burdensome”? Because I thought someone, I think Joshua, added to the Torah at some point. Did he not? Or did Moshe mean not to add to or subtract from the Book of the COVENANT Torah instructions in keeping with the order of Melchizedek, which Yeshua came to restore back, and I would think along with what seems to be the “Royal Torah” instructions, “the perfect law of liberty”, which is “not too burdensome”, and in keeping with the New Covenant? Is it only the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh, having the Torah written on our hearts, and the once and for all sacrifice for and the forgiveness of sin that makes keeping all the rest of the Torah not too difficult, or is it that there are other laws/instructions that were in accordance to the Levitical order that are no longer part of the restored Covenant Torah of the Melchizedek priestly order?

    3) How will it be that two priesthoods will be operating simultaneously when Yeshua is the Hight Priest according to the order of Melchizedek and the Levitical priesthood was temporary and has been permanently replaced? Is He the High Priest of two priesthoods? It seems that the Zadokite priests would not be a different priesthood but of the same priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, the same as the rest of the royal priesthood of all believers.

    4) Is there to be now or will there be an earthly temple, altar, blood sacrifices, and, if so, who is to perform those sacrificial duties and why?

    Thanks very much for any help you can give to clarify these things, if so inclined.

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