Heb.7:18,19 – For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
The changing of the law and the priesthood was shocking to the Jewish people, but it was God’s offer of a better hope. In the Old Testament, man could not come into the presence of God or experience the anointing on their lives. Only God’s special oracles could be anointed with the Holy Spirit. All of mankind was separated from God pictured by the veil in the temple. Jesus came to change all of that through His death on the cross. He gave us a better hope than the Old Testament ever could. Here is how Chrysostom described this:
“Was the law then of no use? It was indeed of use and of great use, but to make humans perfect it was of no use. For in this respect he says, “the law made nothing perfect.” All were figures, all shadows: circumcision, sacrifice, sabbath. Therefore, they could not reach through the soul, and thus they pass away and gradually withdraw. But “a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews describes the Old Testament law as weak and unprofitable. What could possibly be meant by this? It was weak because it had no power to change us. It was unprofitable because it did not bring us into God’s presence. Jesus was able to accomplish both. He makes us new by filling us with His Spirit and giving us a new nature. He is profitable because He ushers us into a brand new life, a life lived in the presence of God. Here is how the Believer’s Bible Commentary describes all of this:
“The law which set up the Aaronic priesthood has been annulled because of its weakness and unprofitableness. It has been canceled by the advent of Christ. In what sense was the law weak and unprofitable? Was it not given by God Himself? Could God give anything that was impotent and useless? The answer is that God never intended this to be the ultimate law of priesthood. It was preparatory to the coming of God’s ideal priesthood. It was a partial and temporary picture of that which would be perfect and final. It was also weak and useless in the sense that it made nothing perfect. The people were never able to go into the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. This enforced distance between God and man was a constant reminder that the sin question was not settled once for all.”
So now we are blessed with an eternal High Priest, who lives forever to intercede for us. He has opened the way into the holy presence of God, not just one time, but as a new way to live our lives. He is our Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate, and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Jesus has introduced us to a brand new hope through which we now live in the presence of God.