Hebrews 7:18
“For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.”
Context:The book of Hebrews is a letter written to Jewish Christians, emphasizing the superiority of Jesus Christ and the new covenant established through Him. The author compares the priesthood of Jesus to the Levitical priesthood and demonstrates how Jesus is the ultimate High Priest.
Disannulling of the Commandment:In this verse, the author of Hebrews speaks of a disannulling or setting aside of the commandment that came before. This refers to the Mosaic Law, including the Levitical priesthood and the regulations associated with it. The Law, while holy and given by God, was limited and unable to bring true salvation or perfect the worshiper (Hebrews 7:11).
Weakness and Unprofitableness:The author describes the commandment as weak and unprofitable. The Law could not provide salvation because it depended on the imperfect sacrifices offered by human priests and couldn’t cleanse people from sin completely (Hebrews 10:1-4). The Law pointed toward a need for a better and more perfect system.
Jesus as the Ultimate High Priest:Hebrews presents Jesus as the superior High Priest who offers a perfect sacrifice once and for all (Hebrews 7:26-27). The Levitical priests were limited by their mortality and the need for constant sacrifices. However, Jesus, who is sinless and eternally alive, offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, providing complete forgiveness of sins and access to God (Hebrews 7:23-25).
The New Covenant:Hebrews highlights that Jesus’ priesthood is based on a new and better covenant (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6). This new covenant is founded on God’s grace and promises a personal relationship with Him. It is superior to the old covenant because it is established on better promises (Hebrews 8:7-13).
Practical Application:Understanding the disannulling of the old commandment and the establishment of a new covenant through Jesus has significant implications for believers today. It reminds us that our salvation is not dependent on our own efforts or the keeping of the Law but on the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are called to place our trust in Jesus as our High Priest and the only source of salvation.
