Hebrews 7:15-16
"And it is far more evident; for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal (an external, materialism or a fleshly) commandment, but after the power of (what kind?) an endless life."
He’s eternal. He comes out of eternity past and He’ll go on into eternity future. Without end, and without beginning. He's Eternal an every one who follows Him through the cross, He imparts this Eternal Life too. For they gain knowledge of being led by the Spirit and every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Hebrews 7:17a
"For he testifieth, (God spoke it, coming out of Psalms now 110) Thou art a priest for ever…"
That’s never going to end. Now goodness sakes, I don’t have to tell you. How long did the priesthood last of the priests of Israel? Until they died! That ended it. Death ends everything, and it’s the same way with the priesthood. When the priest died, his priesthood went with him. It ended. But you see, with this priest it will never end. He ever lives and intercedes for us. And those who become the willing ones acquire His Priesthood in the same power as they become as He is, even while in the world or on this earth. Alright, verse 18.
Hebrews 7:18
"For there is verily a disannulling (or a canceling out) of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."
Are we getting the point? Oh, the commandment which became a law and the the Levitical Law had its purpose. It was perfect from God’s vantage point, but it was weak and fleshly so far as men were concerned and so it fades off. It failed miserably. My, if you doubt that, have you read your Old Testament lately? Just go back and read Judges. Go back and read the prophets. How much effect did the Levitical Law have on the behavior of the Israelites? Well it didn’t have much. Because most of them were the pits. Now that may fly in the face of some of my Jewish friends and I know I’ve got quite a few. But all you have to do is read the account and the most visible one or the most understandable one is when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal up there on Mt. Carmel. And after he had run from the threats of Jezebel, you remember, he goes all the way down to the Negev and sits down under a juniper tree and Elijah said, "Lord take my life. Because I’m the only one left, they’ve all followed Baal."
Now listen, who was the promoter of Baal worship at that time in Israel? What woman? Jezebel. So what does that tell you? They were living in rank immorality, and Elijah thought he was the only one that wasn’t. That tells us enough, but God, was merciful enough to say, "Now Elijah, you’re not quite the only one left that is true to me. I’ve still got seven thousand."
Now seven thousand out of an average population of seven million over Israel’s history, I’ve said this over and over. What percentage is that? One tenth of one percent, that had remained true to Yhovah. The rest had all followed in the worship of Baal. I know Jewish people will probably try to tell me, well, they’re still all going to be saved because they were under the covenant promises, but I don’t think so. Lawlessness is what? Sin.
But that just goes to show you that the Law, the Mosaic system, didn’t work. But now come up to Christ’s earthly ministry. How many of the Hebrews at Christ’s time were true exemplary believers? Very few. Oh they were religious. They kept Temple worship. They kept the feast days. But very few were true believers. So the Law of Moses just didn’t affect the nation that much. Well, then of course, we come into our own day and time, it hasn’t changed has it? Even the Gospel of Grace has not made that much difference in the world’s behavior. Why? Because the devil corrupted it and changed it through deception in to what we see and hear now in our time, just more lawlessness, which is unbelief. Verse 19.
Hebrews 7:19
"(just like we read in Romans a moment ago) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better (there’s that word better) hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
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