Levitical priesthood (the special commandment just noticed) was a part or indeed the foundation (v. 11), brought nothing to perfection. In every application (
oujdevn
) it was provisional and preparatory (comp. 9:21 ff.; Lev. 16:16). This decisive parenthesis is explanatory of the weakness and unprofitableness of the commandment (
for the Law
...). Man must strive towards the perfection, the accomplishment, of his destiny on earth. The Law failed him in the effort. He outgrew it. The very scope of the Law indeed was to define the requirements of life, and to shew that man himself could not satisfy them. Comp. Gal. 2:15 f.; 3:19; Rom. 3:19 f.; 7:7 ff.
ejteleivwsen
] Heb. 7:11 note. The tense indicates the final view of the Law. Contrast 10:14
teteleivwken
.
ejpeisagwgh; de; kr. ejlp.
] There was on the one side the disannulling of a preparatory commandment, and there was on the other side the introduction of a new (
ejpiv
) and better hope to occupy the place which was held by the commandment before.
This hope is described as better than the commandment, and not simply as better than the hope conveyed by the commandment. The comparison is between the commandment characteristic of the Law and the hope characteristic of the Gospel; and not between the temporal hope of the Law and the spiritual hope of the Gospel. Though the Law had (cf. 8:6) a hope, the thought of it seems to be out of place here.
For
ejpeisagwghv
compare
ejpeisevrcomai
Luke 21:35; and for
ejlpiv"
Heb. 3:6; 6:19 notes.
dij h|" ejgg. tw'/ qew'/
]
through which
hope
we draw nigh to God
...Vulg.
per quam proximamus ad Deum.
The commandment was directed to the fulfilment of ordinances on earth: hope enters within the veil and carries believers with it (Heb. 6:19).
The phrase ejggivzein tw'/ qew'/ is used, though rarely, in LXX. of the
priests: Ex. 19:22 ( vg"n: , H5602); Lev. 10:3 ( br"q; , H7928); Ezek. 42:13;
43:19.
But also more widely; Is. 29:13: comp. Ex. 24:2; Hos. 12:6 (
ejgg. pro;" t.
q.
).
It occurs again in the N.T., James 4:8. All believers are, in virtue of their Christian faith, priests: 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Apoc. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6. That which was before (in a figure) the privilege of a class has become (in reality) the privilege of all; and thus man is enabled to gain through fellowship with God the attainment of his destiny ( teleivwsi" ). Comp. Heb. 10:19.
7:20-25. The Apostle goes on to shew the superiority of Christ's Priesthood over the Levitical priesthood from its essential characteristics. Christ's Priesthood is immutable in its foundation (7:20-22); and it is uninterrupted in its personal tenure (7:23-25).
7:20-22. The And corresponds to the And in vv. 15, 23, and introduces a new moment in the argument.
The additional solemnity of the oath gives an additional dignity to the covenant which is introduced by it (compare 6:13 ff.). And yet further, by this oath the purpose of God is declared absolutely. Man's weakness no longer enters as an element into the prospect of its fulfilment. The permanence of a covenant which rests upon an oath is assured.