What does "appointed by the Law" reveal about the limitations of human priests? Setting the Scene Hebrews 7:28: “For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, perfected forever.” The little phrase “appointed by the Law” opens a window on the very real limits of every Old-Covenant priest—and, by extension, of every merely human mediator. What “appointed by the Law” Tells Us • They were selected by a legal code, not by an eternal oath. • Their ministry belonged to a temporary, earthly system. • Their authority could never rise above the system that created it. Limitation #1 – Human Weakness • Hebrews 5:2-3: the high priest “is himself beset by weakness” and must “offer sacrifices for his own sins.” • Romans 8:3: “what the Law was powerless to do… God did by sending His own Son.” Result: The very men standing between God and the people needed a mediator themselves. Limitation #2 – Sinfulness Requiring Self-Sacrifice • Leviticus 16:6: Aaron first offers a bull “for himself and for his household.” • Hebrews 7:27: Jesus “does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins… He sacrificed for sin once for all.” Human priests were never morally qualified to bring a final remedy. Limitation #3 – Mortality and Constant Turnover • Hebrews 7:23: “there were many priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.” • Numbers 20:28: Aaron is stripped of his garments; the office passes to Eleazar. Death guaranteed interruption; each new priest restarted the learning curve. Limitation #4 – External Regulations and Rituals • Hebrews 9:9-10: gifts and sacrifices under the Law were “only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations.” The Law could touch the body but not transform the heart (Jeremiah 31:33). Limitation #5 – Temporary, Preparatory Purpose • Galatians 3:24: “the Law became our guardian to lead us to Christ.” • Hebrews 10:1: “the Law is only a shadow of the good things to come.” Old-Covenant priesthood was never meant to be permanent; it pointed forward. The Contrast: “Appointed… a Son, Perfected Forever” • Psalm 110:4: “The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever…’” • Hebrews 7:28: unlike the Law’s priests, Jesus is appointed by God’s oath, perfected and permanent. Key differences: – Sinless (Hebrews 4:15) – Eternal (Hebrews 7:25) – Single, sufficient sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12) Why This Matters Now • Our salvation rests on a flawless High Priest, not on fallible men. • Access to God no longer depends on ritual or genealogy but on faith in the Son (Hebrews 10:19-22). • Because Jesus lives forever, He “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25); my fellowship with God is as secure as Christ’s indestructible life. |
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