Hebrews Home Page | Heb Rules Page | Sound of Grace
The Hebrews Commentary Project
Contents:
Hebrews 7:20-24
Hebrews 7:20-24
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
[ Top of Page ]
1. Kostas Sarantidis
20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (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"'); 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. (NASB 1995 Update)
There are no significant textual matters in this section except that the critical text omits the repetition of "according to the order of Melchizedek" in verse 21, in deference to earliest manuscripts. This is the only time when the critical text deviates from the full quotation of Psalm 110:4.
In this passage, the writer begins an extended comparison between the old priesthood and Christ's priesthood, between the old covenant and Christ's covenant. This comparison will stretch into chapter 10 and will unfold the great glory of our Lord's unique and unrepeatable priesthood.
I want to share an experience I had at a clergy retreat in Chicago about 12 years ago, soon after my ordination in the Greek Orthodox Church. The speaker repeatedly made the point that "our priesthood" is eternal and we will be liturgical celebrants for all eternity around the heavenly "altar" (whatever that might be - I'm just repeating his terminology). Listening to this guy really inflamed me into my first expression of rebellion against official church theology. So I raised my hand and objected that according to Hebrews only Christ's priesthood is eternal! What entitles us to say *our* priesthood is eternal? I got no answer to my question, but I got a couple of denigrating comments and lots of accusatory and suspicious glances from all around the room.
I share this little incident only because church history seems to have reversed what Hebrews describes in this extended middle section. Jesus replaced all the priests of the old covenant with his own priesthood. The historical church has put the priesthood of Jesus in the background and has put its human priests in the foreground. In a total misunderstanding of the priesthood of Jesus, the Orthodox Church places an icon (a pictorial representation) of Christ as High Priest in the back of the bishop's throne in every church. In this icon, Jesus Christ as High Priest is made to appear in all the vestments and miter of a modern Bishop!! Talk about re-making God in our own image! There is no intention of blasphemy in this, but serious blasphemy is the end result.
The high priesthood of our Lord has nothing to do with human priesthoods and the pretensions of human priests. It is a priesthood by direct appointment of God the Father. What priest of the old covenant received his priesthood by the direct oath of God? So asks our writer in verses 20-21. None, of course. What priest of the church receives his priesthood by the oath of God? None - though the church has always lulled itself into believing that all its ordinations somehow are the work of the Holy Spirit. It's one of the great delusions of the historical, liturgical church.
I'm sharing this because it comes from my experience, and because reading the Epistle to the Hebrews several years ago was the first step in my questioning of so much in the church. I thank God for this magnificent letter. One contributor to this list accused us of focusing too much on Hebrews - perhaps not understanding that this is a long-term group expository project - and deriving NCT from it in isolation of the rest of Scripture. I don't think there is a single denomination that will not benefit immensely from taking some lengthy time to focus seriously on the teachings of this letter and submit its own teachings and traditions to the critical eye of the Hebrews' writer - whoever he was - and the Holy Spirit that spoke through this writer. And if NCT takes much of its inspiration from this letter, I couldn't think of a better starting point for this "new" theology - but we know it's not "new"!
Verse 22 clearly identifies the new covenant as a "better covenant." The same Greek word, kreittonos, is used as in verse 19: "(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better [kreittonos] hope, through which we draw near to God." What is this better hope, but the better covenant? And who is the guarantor of this better covenant, but Jesus our great high priest?
Note that in 4:16 we are told that we can now come boldly to the throne of grace, because our great high priest has passed through the heavens (4:14). Because he has gone through the one partition that keeps us separate from God we can now approach God directly and enter into his throne room!
What an extraordinary difference between our great high priest and human priests! Human priests guard their priesthood and their privileges, they want people to depend on them and their intercessory role. This is their greatest conceit, and the one they want to hang on to. The men I was with in Chicago were full of this conceit. "No, you need me. You can only come to God through me and the services which I perform. Even in eternity I'll be there around the throne of God, closer to the center of action than you!" I'm exaggerating, of course, but this is an essential attitude of all human priesthood.
Not so with our blessed Savior. He is the very Son of God, true God of true God. He learned the obedience of suffering in order to become a true high priest for his brothers and sisters (Heb 2:10-17). Yet, just as he emptied himself at the incarnation and did not cling to his equality with God (Phil 2:6-7), so also there is a certain self-emptying in his high priesthood. His body does not stand in our way, but instead is the means by which we enter into the very presence of God (Heb 10:20). He is our true mediator. He does not keep us outside but brings us into the very throne room of God. What did he say to the disciples in John 15:15? "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
Do you see why the new covenant is a better covenant? It doesn't keep us outside, dependent on human mediators who are here today and gone tomorrow (verse 23). It has Jesus as its guarantor. And he is a high priest forever. His priesthood is unchangeable and eternal (verse 24). We don't need to wonder each day or year who is our high priest. We have only one, and he is a glorious high priest whom we can know intimately and who ushers us into the presence of God the Father. This is the glory of the New Covenant! Anything that detracts from the fullness of this "better covenant" detracts from the fullness of our Lord's priesthood. Covenant and priesthood go together; a new priesthood implies a new law. That has been already established by the Hebrews writer (7:12).
Kostas Sarantidis
ksarant1@maine.rr.com
[ Top of Page ]
2. Tim Clifton
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
"and will not repent" God has no regrets about His Christ, or His choice to establish Him to an eternal priesthood by an oath. No mortal priest was or could ever be established in this manner by the oath of the One who inhabits eternity. And no mortal priest ever was established in such a way as was Christ, who is a priest forever by the oath of the unchangeable God. To think about this in it's fullest extension becomes almost unfathomable and humbling to this mortal mind, because God also has no regrets about you and me, and His choice to establish us as adopted heirs and beloved children of the Most High. And He will not repent!
"the order of Melchisedec" Verse 21 will be the last of 11 times the term Melchisedec is used in the Bible; 2 in the Old Testament, (Ge 14:18, Ps 110:4) and 9 in the New, all of which are in Hebrews. (5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1,10,11,15,17 & 21). Of these eleven usages, 3 are historical, but of more significance, 8 either infer or directly make reference to the "order of Melchisedec" that is first mentioned when God swore by an oath to Messiah in Psalms 110:4 that He would be a priest forever. And in these verses (20,21), and throughout chapter 7 of Hebrews it is this ideas of "forever" that separates the priesthood of Messiah from the priesthood that represented the Old Covenant of Moses and Aaron. Thus, the significance of Melchisedec to the book of Hebrews, to that audience, and to all the church of God, is that the priesthood under this order is as unchangeable as the God who made the oath, and as sure as the resurrection of His Holy One, whom He would not allow to see corruption. (Ps. 16:10). Or we could say it this way, 'As long as God is true, Christ will be a priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec!'
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (7:22)
"a better testament" It should be noted that the same word is used for 'testament' and 'covenant' in the Greek. It is translated covenant 20 times, and testament 13 times. When there is an inheritance inferred, such as in v.22 (surety), we can freely translate the Greek word, 'testament,' as we gain that inheritance by the death of the testator, Christ Jesus. The word is better translated 'covenant' when the context is more the 'agreement/compact the Father made with the Son who is then the representative of all the elect' (Gill). In this light, we are properly calling ourselves children of the New Covenant, as it was ordained by the Father, secured by the Son, and implemented by the Holy Ghost: God with God with God, or better yet 'all of God.'
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (7:23)
"But this man" So let's summarize up to this point. Jesus, the Anointed One of the Most High, i.e. the Messiah, has been clearly shown to be better by the oath of God, by a better testament, and by a continuance that was just not in sight or even in existence in the mortal priesthood of the Sons of Aaron. It can be said of Him that His priesthood is 'unchangeable,' and this allows Him to do things that were completely impossible for the priesthood, and the order instituted on Sinai, and its not able to truly save men from their sins and iniquities. No priest could ever stay alive long enough to keep interceding for us forever, but Jesus could, and did, and will 'forever and ever'! Amen.
In Christ, Tim Clifton
tclifton@hotmail.com[ Top of Page ]
3. Kevin Hartley
What makes the New Covenant a better covenant than the Old Covenant? The Old Covenant was an anticipatory covenant, while the New Covenant is a realized covenant. The Old Covenant bore resemblance to the New Covenant, but in and of itself was inferior and insufficient to accomplish lasting change in its people. The Old Covenant wrought external change of a temporal manner, while the New Covenant has accomplished lasting change through effectual change. What made the Old Covenant inefficient and inferior to the New Covenant was its temporal and fading glory. Thus Moses, the mediator of that covenant, could but veil his face from the people for fear that they might see the fading glory of that covenant.
Yet if we are to answer this question properly, it cannot be rightly answered apart from the true cause of its superiority. Jesus Christ is the reason the New Covenant is far superior to the Old Covenant, because He is a better mediator of a better covenant. Moses was an effective mediator. Aaron was a faithful priest. Still, these men all died and failed to sustain Israel in the course that enters into Godīs rest. Thus Aaron did perish in the wilderness with that generation, failing to function as High Priest for the people until they entered into Godīs rest. Moses as well, who was but a shadow of the true mediator, could not enter in, for he was but a man. But there is another who has arisen, a faithful and abiding High Priest, who will not and shall not and cannot fail to provide lasting rest for His people. This one is Christ Jesus our Lord.
If we are to ask what makes this covenant to differ from the old, simply put, Christ is the cause for the marked difference. Now some might argue that Christ was as much a part of the Old Covenant as He is the New, to which we would both agree and disagree. Surely He was the intended hope of the Old Covenant and its promises and was seen in all its portions. Yet His coming has made a remarkable difference, as much as if a man heard of a flood, knew of a plan of escape, and had waited long for the builder of that ark to arrive; he could not weather the storm without a vessel capable of the journey. He could faithfully know with absolute certainty that God was capable of sending a man who could build such a vessel, but until the man with the plan came and constructed the vessel, there would be only hope of escape. Like another man, he could in hope of a day of rest declare,
...I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 20:25-27)
So the covenant of old could not mediate one person into lasting rest and it never shall. Thus, as we are so oft found discarding antiquated tools that have been replaced by more effective, sure, and lasting equipage, so we are casting aside all further use of Moses in our living. The Old Covenant has become an antique store for the Christian to visit and reminisce. It should stir the soul and heart with burning affection and love for Christ, to see the day of old gone by, days of betrothal and anticipation, eclipsed in glory by His appearing. We read and know the book of old because it does bring us to love our Lord and this day so much the more. We give thanks that ours is not such an economy, in such mean estate, with such relics and ineffectual apparatus. We are brought to fervent joy and appreciation of this covenant, this day, and our Lord by viewing that day of old.
The Ark of the Old Covenant was a heavy bloodstained box; it would not keep one man from the floodwaters of Godīs wrath. But the Ark of our Covenant, the man Jesus Christ, whose own blood stained the mercy seat, propitiated the flood waters of Godīs indignation forever. Christ, having come, has constructed a seaworthy vessel, a covenant capable of producing perseverance and entrance into a lasting rest. His coming provides an unchangeable priesthood. Thus the author of our book in these four verses sets forth Christ as the surety of a better covenant. It is a better covenant for it does not simply provide images and types of an effectual mediator and His sacrifice; it is a better covenant because the mediator actively mediates to the lasting benefit of His people, something Moses and Aaron could never do as frail men.
How is Christ the surety of a better covenant? Verse 22 turns every darting eye from Moses and places our attention upon Christ alone. He is the subject and the surety of this better covenant. He is the guarantee of the covenant; upon Him is all our trust placed. Everything about our day excels its prominence over that old day. Our sacrifice is effectual in the remission of sins, in the propitiation of wrath, and in the lasting expiation of transgressions. Our High Priest is never to die but serves after the order of Melchizedek, without beginning and end, capable of serving as our High Priest forever. His blood is far more precious than that of a Lamb, for He is the Son of God and His blood, as that of righteous Abel, cries out to God on high. Chris, and Christ alone, insures that I shall never seek another mediator, for there is none other. Christ, and Christ alone, assures that my hope shall not fail, for he is an effectual mediator. Christ, and Christ alone, assures that my joy shall not cease, for He shall for love plead my cause. I have a surety which Israel of old never knew. Consider how troubling the day of Aaronīs death was in the camp of Israel. Consider how disheartening was the day of Mosesīs farewell to a people. Consider the hopelessness, the despair, the uncertainty, the doubt, and the fear of the next man. We shall never know such fear, for the Ancient of Days, when a thousand of years has passed, will still be seated in glory. His throne shall never falter; His rule shall never fail. His blood shall never dry from my sinīs tears. He is unlike any other. Surely the true Israel of God, His church, are a people of a better covenant. For we have Christ. Our mediator shall never veil His glorious face. For His covenant shall never fade, as sure as He is true.
Kevin Hartley
kevinhatley@erols.com
[ Top of Page ]
4. Michael T. Cruz
And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]: (7:20)
In the covenant with Israel, God did not make a special oath to declare them priests. Theirs was an ordination service of which we can see the details in Exodus 29, but there is no personal sending off by the hand of God. The ceremony does not constitute a binding promise of blessing and honor from God. Christ, on the other hand, was sent out by and with a personal oath from God.
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) (7:21)
God stood over Christ's ministry personally and said to Him the words of verse twenty- one, "the Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘you are a priest forever.'" God personally bound Him over to us as a priest. His ministry has been personally and specifically blessed by God almighty. It is interesting to point out that of all the priests from Aaron on down that God does not give them any special oaths of office. God gave them the form of an ordination service but did not show up and administer the oath of office. There is a very important distinction between the offices that men take, even though they are established by God, and the spiritual gifts bestowed upon men by God himself. The two do not necessarily coincide and in this example they do not.
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (7:22)
It is upon this very fact that we can take great comfort. All of the power and majesty of God is behind the sending of His son to make an effectual atonement for all of our sins. Because of this oath of effectualness put upon Christ, we have been set free from the bondage of sin and of the law. The full price has been paid; it is not an IOU as it would have been for believers before the cross (Romans 3:25), but we have a better covenant in more ways than just a debt paid in full though. We now have a more perfect law (7:12 above) than what was given at Mt. Sinai; we now have a complete picture of the moral law given in the person of Jesus Christ. So believer, keep your eyes fixed upon the author and finisher of our faith - the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the perfect fulfillment of the law!
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: (7:23)
The next three verses give us three parts of a central message which show us a major distinctive between the old and the new covenants. Verse twenty-three tells us something that is quite obvious but is important nonetheless. Since me are mortal we would only expect that they would die, and since the Levitical priesthood is made up of mortal men, it had to be replaced when they died for that was the end of their ministry. As a result there were many priests throughout the time that the priesthood was in place.
But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (7:24)
Now we get to the immortal man who was Christ. His life is eternal! And since His life will not end and since He is high priest, there is no end to his ministry. Therefore, the one sacrifice that He offered for our sin is eternal in its application.
Michael Cruz
a_la_cruz@technologist.com[ Top of Page ]
5. Maurice Bergeron
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest: (7:20)Oaths were taken very seriously by the Hebrews and they were very mindful of the importance of the oaths God made to father Abraham (Genesis 22:16-18) and to David when God swore that his seed should remain forever (Psalm 89:4).
For those priests.... (7:21a)
The sons of Aaron were then qualified to serve as priests. Not all the sons of Levi were qualified to serve.
...were made without an oath; (7:21b)
Although the others (Levites) were established as a priesthood without an oath being made, the Messiah was established as our High Priest with an oath sworn by God Himself. God means business, in no uncertain terms, when He applies His solemn oath to a thing. Don't mess with it!
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, "Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec" (7:21c)
...was Jesus made a surety (the pledge and firm assurance)...(7:22a)
Through this sure word of God given as a solemn oath, Jesus Christ is established as the co-signer or guarantor of a new and better agreement (covenant) between God and His people.
There was a time in the lives of these Hebrew brethren when they never prayed in their Lord's name. Imagine it! Prior to His reign and the establishment of His kingdom men and women under the Old Covenant never knew or understood what it meant to pray in the name of Jesus. Such is now the privilege of poor sinners taken from every tribe and tongue.
...of a better testament. (rather, "covenant") (7:22b)
Better than what may I ask? How can a better covenant (agreement) be the continuance of a previous agreement? Here is where great men have stumbled and fallen into a man-made ditch. To belittle this "better" work of God is to belittle the God who has established His new agreement. Would we bring His saints to both Hagar (Sinai) and Sarah (Zion)? Where His glory leads I will follow, and there will I enter His tent of meeting, and we shall all commune face-to-face.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6)
...they truly were many priests, (7:23)
These priests died because Adam's blood was their blood, and it was spoiled rotten by sin. Death working in them kept them from continually serving, and even the multitude of sin offerings which they themselves offered could never affect a change to meet their own need, never mind the needs of those they represented. Here in their own frailty (a priesthood populated by Adam's rebellious children) is demonstrated the greatest weakness of the previous agreement (covenant).
But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (7:24)
Christ, by virtue of His victory over both sin and death and through His total faithfulness to His Father, possesses a priesthood which cannot be hindered or halted. Is it any wonder why this new and better agreement (covenant) is so much superior to the previous agreement engraved upon stone?
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. (2 Cor. 3:7-11)
Be careful that you do not trample upon such wonderful revelation concerning the rule and priesthood of Jesus Christ by dredging up the old agreement which can never be re-established.
In the name of Jesus,
Maurice Bergeron
ic@mdc.net[ Top of Page ]
Go to Chapter Seven Verses 25 through 29
Hebrews Home Page | Heb Rules Page | Sound of Grace
A Friends of John Bunyan Internet Project
Copyright 1998 Sound of Grace
Hebrews Online Project