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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_7:11-22
11Now 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? 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is attested of Him,
"You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek."
18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 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. 20Inasmuch 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'");
22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Heb_7:11 "if" This is a second class conditional which is called contrary to fact. A false statement is made to make a point. The Levitical priesthood did not bring spiritual perfection or maturity.
▣ "perfection" The Greek family of terms based on telos basically means "to bring to the end," "to bring to completion," or "to bring to maturity." Here it refers to an adequate and effective representative or intercessor.
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▣ "through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law)" This apparently refers to (1) Moses being from the tribe of Levi and being God's messenger in giving the sacrificial system of Israel or (2) the Levites and priests teaching the law to the people.
Heb_7:12 "a change of law also" The purpose of the Mosaic law was never to produce righteousness, but to show the continuing results of the fall and mankind's inability to please God (cf. Gal_3:24-25). This is a major truth in trying to figure out God's purpose for the Mosaic Law.
This phrase in context must refer to the "new covenant."
Heb_7:13 "from which no one has officiated at the altar" This is a Perfect active indicative, which may imply that the sacrificial system was continuing. If so, Hebrews was written before Titus' destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70.
No one outside the tribe of Levi and family of Aaron served as a priest in the OT. This was not the case in the Roman period of the occupation of Palestine (i.e., Annas, Caiphas).
Heb_7:14 "our Lord was descended from Judah" This is another perfect active indicative. The verb "descend" means "sprang from" and is used for
1. the rising of the sun (cf. Mat_5:45)
2. the movement of the planets
3. plant shoots
4. metaphorically, for human descent (cf. Zec_6:12; Isa_11:1; Jer_23:5-6)
Here it refers to Jacob's prophecies about his sons in Genesis 49 (esp. Gen_49:10).
▣ "Judah" Jesus was from the Davidic royal line of Judah (cf. Gen_49:8-12; 2Sa_7:12-16; Isa_9:6-7). Convincing Jews that Jesus was high priest was so difficult because He was not of the priestly tribe of Levi like Moses and Aaron.
Heb_7:15 "if" This is a first class conditional sentence which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. Another priest has come and is from the line of Melchizedek.
Heb_7:16
NASB "not on the basis of a law of physical requirement"
NKJV "not according to the laws of a fleshly commandment"
NRSV "not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent"
TEV "not by human rules and regulations"
NJB "not in virtue of a law of physical descent"
Jesus' priestly authority does not rest in what tribe/family He descended from, but from His possession of eternal, indestructible life (i.e., Melchizedek's parents are not named in Genesis 14 and the word "forever" is used in Psa_104:4). Jesus has the endless life of God (as well as the oath and promise of God).
NASB, NRSV,
NJB "an indestructible life"
NKJV "an endless life"
TEV "a life that has no end"
This seems to be related to the rabbinical exegetical (Midrash) implication from Psa_110:4 b that Melchizedek had no parents and, therefore, was eternal (cf. Heb_7:6; Heb_7:8).
Heb_7:17 "For it is attested of Him" This is a quote from the Septuagint of Psa_110:4 (as is Heb_7:21).
Heb_7:18
NASB "there is a setting aside"
NKJV "there is an annulling"
NRSV "the abrogation"
TEV "is set aside"
NJB "is thus abolished"
This term has been found in the Egyptian papyri in the sense of (1)"to set aside"; (2) "to make null and void"; or (3) "to be paid in full."
This verse speaks of the setting aside of a commandment (probably the physical lineage of the high priest). It is rather shocking that an inspired OT passage (cf. Mat_5:17-19) can be "set aside," yet this is exactly Paul's point in Galatians 3, in respect to the redemptive purpose of the law being set aside. Paul, however, asserts that it was the weakness of fallen man (cf. Romans 7), not the OT. The author of Hebrews is showing the superiority of Jesus over Moses and calls the "Law" weak and useless (cf. Heb_8:13).
▣ "of a former commandment" This refers to the Levitical system or the Old Covenant characterized by the Mosaic legislation.
▣ "because of its weakness and uselessness" Romans 7 and Galatians 3 are helpful in interpreting this phrase. It was not the Law of God, but human fallen nature that was weak and the Law was unable to perform its restorative task!
Heb_7:19 "(for the Law made nothing perfect)" Read Galatians 3 and see Special Topic at Heb_7:11.
▣ "better" See full note at Heb_7:7.
▣ "through which we draw near to God" This is a key concept (cf. Heb_7:25; Heb_4:16; Heb_10:1). The author asserts that the Mosaic Law, with its Levitical priesthood and sacrifices, failed to bring humanity to God, but Jesus, our high priest, did not fail and will not fail (cf. Heb_10:22; Jas_4:7).
Notice that Jesus brings a better covenant, but it is still a covenant to which humans must respond as the priests did (believers are now new covenant priests in a corporate sense, cf. 2Pe_2:5; 2Pe_2:9; Rev_1:6).
Heb_7:20 "it was not without an oath" God's promises can be trusted because His character and power stand behind them (cf. Isa_46:10). This oath is a reference to Psa_110:4, which is discussed in Heb_6:13-17.
Heb_7:21 This is another quote from the Septuagint of Psa_110:4 (as is Heb_7:17).
Heb_7:22
NASB, NRSV,
TEV, NJB "the guarantee"
NKJV, ASV"the surety"
The Hebrew background is "a pledge put in the hand," which implies surety. It came to be used in Greek for collateral on a loan or a jail bond. Also, in Roman law it stood for that which was legally secured. Jesus is the Father's surety of the effectiveness of the new covenant.
▣ "a better covenant" Jer_31:31-34 speaks of this "new covenant" (cf. Eze_36:22-36) where the focus is an internal law motivated and produced by the Spirit, not an external code which relies on human performance.
For "better" see full note at Heb_7:7.