Hebrews 7:12
Because of previous revelation (Ezekiel 40-48 and Jeremiah 33:17-22) I do not believe the author of Hebrews is saying that the law has been abolished.
The prophet Jeremiah states that the Levite Priests, and the covenant with David, will not be abolished. Ezekiel’s prophecy shows Levites ministering in a temple during the first stage of the future Kingdom of Yahweh.
Hebrews 7:12’s mentioning of a change in the law can be rightly translated as a transference in the law. The point the author is making is that the Melchizedek Priesthood is superior to the Priesthood of Levi, which of course is not contrary to Torah, for Melchizedek’s Priesthood was active before the Levites were ever born (Genesis 14:17-20). The Levite Priesthood is good, but the Priesthood of the Messiah is better.
Furthermore, the transference the author speaks of is not a transference which has already taken place. It is a mistake to view the New Covenant as being completely fulfilled in the current heavens and earth. While the New Covenant has begun, being inaugurated by the Master (Matthew 26:28), there are several aspects of the New Covenant that have yet to be fulfilled. The finality of the New Covenant will be realized at the descending of the new heavens and new earth, spoken of in Revelation 21, when the first heavens and first earth pass away.
When the New Covenant has its complete fulfillment, believers will have the complete law written upon our hearts and minds, and no longer teach one another to know Yahweh (Jeremiah 31:34). There will be a total restoration of the city of Yahweh that will never be uprooted or demolished again (Jeremiah 31:38-40).
In reading Hebrews, one must keep in mind that there are two tabernacles or realms spoken of: the earthly and heavenly. Yeshua officiates in the heavenly tabernacle (as a Priest after the order of Melchizedek), while the sons of Aaron officiate in the earthly tabernacle. Hebrews 8:4 makes the point that if the Messiah were on earth (at the time the author of Hebrews was writing) he would not be a Priest, because according to the Torah, the earthly tabernacle is ministered in by men who are descendants from Levi. Yeshua is instead from Judah (Hebrews 7:14).
Think about this. Hebrews 9:13-14 states, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Messiah... cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living Almighty?"
The author is making an argument from the lesser to the greater. He is arguing: if this is true then how much more is that true? If the animal sacrifices purify the flesh, how much more does the sacrifice of Yeshua purify the conscience? The argument would not hold weight unless the first thing was actually true, i.e. animal sacrifices offered by the Levite Priests, in the earthly Temple, really do purify the flesh.
I’ve heard people speak of the Levite priests and animals sacrifices as though they are abominations. They neglect that it was Yahweh who established both, and nothing Yahweh does is garbage. There is good, and there is better with Yahweh, and there are reasons for it all. The Levitical Priesthood did what Yeshua could not do, and Yeshua did what the Levites could not do.
The prophet Jeremiah states that the Levite Priests, and the covenant with David, will not be abolished. Ezekiel’s prophecy shows Levites ministering in a temple during the first stage of the future Kingdom of Yahweh.
Hebrews 7:12’s mentioning of a change in the law can be rightly translated as a transference in the law. The point the author is making is that the Melchizedek Priesthood is superior to the Priesthood of Levi, which of course is not contrary to Torah, for Melchizedek’s Priesthood was active before the Levites were ever born (Genesis 14:17-20). The Levite Priesthood is good, but the Priesthood of the Messiah is better.
Furthermore, the transference the author speaks of is not a transference which has already taken place. It is a mistake to view the New Covenant as being completely fulfilled in the current heavens and earth. While the New Covenant has begun, being inaugurated by the Master (Matthew 26:28), there are several aspects of the New Covenant that have yet to be fulfilled. The finality of the New Covenant will be realized at the descending of the new heavens and new earth, spoken of in Revelation 21, when the first heavens and first earth pass away.
When the New Covenant has its complete fulfillment, believers will have the complete law written upon our hearts and minds, and no longer teach one another to know Yahweh (Jeremiah 31:34). There will be a total restoration of the city of Yahweh that will never be uprooted or demolished again (Jeremiah 31:38-40).
In reading Hebrews, one must keep in mind that there are two tabernacles or realms spoken of: the earthly and heavenly. Yeshua officiates in the heavenly tabernacle (as a Priest after the order of Melchizedek), while the sons of Aaron officiate in the earthly tabernacle. Hebrews 8:4 makes the point that if the Messiah were on earth (at the time the author of Hebrews was writing) he would not be a Priest, because according to the Torah, the earthly tabernacle is ministered in by men who are descendants from Levi. Yeshua is instead from Judah (Hebrews 7:14).
Think about this. Hebrews 9:13-14 states, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Messiah... cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living Almighty?"
The author is making an argument from the lesser to the greater. He is arguing: if this is true then how much more is that true? If the animal sacrifices purify the flesh, how much more does the sacrifice of Yeshua purify the conscience? The argument would not hold weight unless the first thing was actually true, i.e. animal sacrifices offered by the Levite Priests, in the earthly Temple, really do purify the flesh.
I’ve heard people speak of the Levite priests and animals sacrifices as though they are abominations. They neglect that it was Yahweh who established both, and nothing Yahweh does is garbage. There is good, and there is better with Yahweh, and there are reasons for it all. The Levitical Priesthood did what Yeshua could not do, and Yeshua did what the Levites could not do.