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“The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the
law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we
draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests
without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to
him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest
forever.’” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better
covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death
prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever,
he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely
those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede
for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless,
pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other
high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his
own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins
once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests
men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the
Son, who has been made perfect forever
.”
(Hebrews 7:11-28)
The teachers of the law constantly tried to reprove Jesus, assuming they had
authority over a mere man. Jesus was not the mere man, and He addressed
the issue to put it to rest, only to be confronted again and again: “Do not
think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come
to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and
earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by
any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches
others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but
whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter
the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5: 17-20)
Righteousness must surpass that of
the teachers of the law. It does not come by obeying the law, for the law
may distract or keep you focused on human precepts; the precepts are
outside of the loving commandments, so they will not work in your favor.
In other words, there is profit in confusion, but not for God—what profit
is there in the law for God?
As the prophetic words are reviewed, how will you embrace them?
Remember, they must be fulfilled; ask if the prophecies pertain to Jesus in
this time period, or must another fulfill what is yet left undone?
