Hebrews 7:20 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Hebrews 7:20

Comments

The writer has already drawn our attention to the oath which accompanied God’s promise to Abraham (Hebrews 6:17), but here is a second oath in connection with the priesthood of Christ according to the order of Melchisedec. Jesus Christ was appointed high priest of the new covenant by the prophetic word spoken by David in Psalm 110:4 which is quoted here. He has already reminded us that no man takes the office of high priest upon himself, but he that is called by God (Hebrews 5:4). Even the Lord Jesus Christ had to be called to this office, but in his case this calling came before his incarnation through the prophet David, and because of the importance of this appointment, God again confirmed it with an oath. God, the supreme God, the mighty God condescends to make an oath as though his words were not reliable without it. Why would God do that? To reinforce in our minds that this promise is absolute. There was even a further confirmation added to the oath which seems redundant, but was added to increase our confidence: ‘and will not repent’. Is it necessary to say that God will not repent? Does this not go without saying? Nevertheless the Lord wishes us to know that he has bound himself in multiple ways never to change what is pronounced here. Addressing the incarnate Son of God, he says, ‘Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.’ On this priesthood is built the hope of our eternal salvation. It is a statement so solemn that God, as it were, underscored it ten times, and for the sake of our human understanding bound himself by an oath. This is an unbreakable promise.The writer seems to be saying to Jewish people, ‘You are so attached to the Levitical priesthood. You think that it is going to last forever, but don't you know that when God established the Levitical priesthood, it was never instituted with a promise, let alone with an oath. God never said to Moses, ‘Now when Aaron is made high priest or later on when the sons of Levi became priests these will be your priests forever, and they will actually accomplish salvation.’ There was never any such promise made in connection with the appointment of Aaron and his successors in the Levitical priesthood. There was no promise and there was certainly no oath. But with the coming Christ, his priesthood was established with God’s inviolable promise and oath. So how superior his priesthood is in every way to that of the Levitical order!

Application

Where do we go for the highest degree of certainty we can obtain? Is there anything in this world which can be guaranteed not to change? The word of man is not worth a great deal. Men deceive each other on a daily basis, and have to be solemnised by an oath in a court of law, and even then they often perjure themselves. Knowing ourselves, we are aware that where men make a promise, even in the case of the most honest it is a matter of best endeavours; so many things are outside our control. Even the mountains and the seas which appear to remain unchanged over many lifetimes are not to be considered immoveable (Psalm 46:2). Going all the way to the most enduring of objects that we can conceive, Christ says, ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but’, he adds, ‘my words shall not pass away’ (Matthew 24:35). Here alone we find stability and certainty, for God watches over his word with infinite care to ensure that it never fails. That is true of his bare word in every case, but even more so when he attaches a promise and an oath.

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Hebrews 7:20 Commentary and Bible Study