Hebrews 7:11 now turns our attention to comparing Jesus with the Levitical priesthood who officiated the Mosaic covenant with verse 22 saying “by so much more Jesus has become a surety (pledge or guarantee) of a better covenant.” We are specifically speaking of the sacrifices, offerings, ceremonies and ritual celebrations added under the Mosaic covenant that was only intended to be in effect “because of transgressions till the seed should come” Galatians 3:19, verse 16 already having assured us that the seed who would bring the Abrahamic covenant into fruition “is Christ”. The Levitical priests who were the administrators of the old (Mosaic) covenant were from the tribe of Levi, but Christ the administrator of the new covenant is from the tribe of Judah, and so “…the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law…” Hebrews 11:11-19. 2 Corinthians 3:13 and Ephesians 2:15 both use the same Greek word connected to the law that means to render it entirely idol or useless, KJV says abolished! According to Galatians 3:24-25 the law served its purpose being our tutor to bring us to Christ, to whom it points, and then continues “…But after faith has come we are no longer under a tutor”; now Christ has become “the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” Romans 10:4, (not the end of righteousness, but for righteousness) He is the “Mediator of a better covenant” Hebrews 8:6, “He takes away the first that He may establish the second” Hebrews 10:9! Indeed Jesus Himself is the better covenant as God said in Isaiah 42:6 “I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people” (historically Cyrus, prophetically Jesus). The old could not take away sin” Hebrews 10:4; but Jesus “takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29. The old could not give life, Galatians 3:21, but Jesus said “I have come that they may have life…” John 10:10. The old did not give us admission into the presence of God, only the High Priest could enter annually with the blood of atonement, but now that Jesus “with His own blood…obtained eternal redemption” Hebrews 9:12 we are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace…” Hebrews 4:16. Now we “have access…to the Father” Ephesians 2:18. A better covenant, absolutely!
A better way
By Rose Hill
What a privilege it is to come near,
And approach God’s throne without any fear.
This better covenant the Lord did give,
So in His presence we can live.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.