Hebrews 7:15-19

Summary retelling of Hebrews 7:15-19

Again we have another distinction between the priesthood of Melchizedek and the priesthood of the Law.  The priesthood of Melchizedek is based on indestructible life, not on the authority of the Law.  We know that the Law has made absolutely nothing perfect, and therefore with respect to salvation it is weak and useless.  This is why we turn to our hope in Jesus Christ, because of what God has displayed that He can do through Him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this passage we hear that the law is weak and useless.  It is important to hear this passage in the way that it is meant to be heard.  Since the Law has made nothing perfect, salvation cannot come through it.  Since salvation cannot come through it, it is pointless to base our hope in salvation in our ability to keep the Law.  Nobody will ever be able to be saved because of their ability to keep the Law.  In this respect (and this respect alone) the Law is weak and useless.

If we know that we cannot be saved through our obedience to the Law, why do we still live as though we could be saved if we could just be obedient to the Law?  Why is so much of our way of living associated with our attempts at trying to be perfect?

Second Thought:

We also hear that the priesthood of Melchizedek is based on indestructible life.  Of course, we know that Melchizedek died, but we also know that we are never told of an end to his lineage of priests.  We do know that Jesus, who is said to be in the order of Melchizedek, was absolutely able to conquer death.  Death tried to conquer Jesus, but God was more powerful than it.  We can say with confidence that the order of Melchizedek is based on an indestructible power that even death cannot touch.

Why is it important that Jesus was able to conquer death?  What does it say about God and His power if even something like death cannot stop His ability to give life?

Third Thought:

We are told that our hope in Jesus is a better hope.  Rather than having our hope rest on something that has never been able to do what people believed it could do – that is, make a person righteous – our hope is based on what God died through Jesus Christ – that is, conquer death.  We know we will never be righteous.  We know that we cannot be absolutely obedient to God.  We know that no matter how hard we try, we will get things wrong even if we know the Law backwards and forwards.  However, if we believe that God is at work in us through Jesus Christ, then we can have the hope that what God did in Christ God can also do in us.  We may not be able to make ourselves righteous, but God do what we cannot.  God can make us righteous if we just turn to Christ.

Can you explain why Jesus is a better hope than the Law in your own words?  How does our belief in Jesus Christ “take the pressure off of us?”  Does that mean that we have the freedom to slack off?  How should we respond to God’s grace?

Passage for Tomorrow: Hebrews 7:20-25