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but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. What, then,
was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until
t he
Se ed t o whom t he pr omi s e r e f e r r ed had c ome .
The law was put into effect
through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just
one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of
God? Absolutely not! For
i f a l aw had be en g i v en t ha t c ou l d impar t l i f e ,
t hen r i gh t e ousne s s wou l d c e r t a i n l y hav e c ome by t he l aw
.
But the
Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was
promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those
who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law,
locked up until faith should be revealed. So
t he l aw was pu t i n char g e t o
l ead us t o Chr i s t t ha t we mi gh t be j us t i f i ed by f a i t h .
Now that faith has
come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
(Gal 3:16-23)
Prophecy concerning Jesse’s root or branch from which the staff comes is
articulated to reveal God’s purpose for the son to whom the promise is
extended. Can anyone in good conscience say that the promise from God
was for God? Was the promise extended from God veiled for a reason?
Now, consider and contemplate carefully: was Jesus called to a priestly
vocation? If Jesus was to fulfill that vocation, He had the attention of the
teachers of the law to do exactly that. However, He rejected the worldly
vocation, and told us He was the Father; in essence, His words revealed His
Divinity. By their very nature, Jesus’ words clarify both prophecy and
fulfillment for future generations. Perfection existed within His person; so
much so, that those in mere proximity could have acquired perfection. Yet,
their belief and the law held them bound.
Articulated by Paul to clarify this issue he wrote, “If perfection could have
been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law
was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to
come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For
when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the
law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no
one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord
descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about
priests. And what we have said is even clearer if another priest like
Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a
regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an
indestructible life. For it is declared: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order
of Melchizedek.’”