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Ask the Rabbi: If the Lewites still exist, why does Ivrim 7 speak of a “change” of priesthood?Rabbi Nydle’s ANSWER
:
Hebrews chapter 7 is always misinterpreted by many to mean there is no longer a Levitical priesthood to serve Yisraelhere upon the earth. They believe Yahshua and His High Priesthood have superseded the Levitical. Hebrews (Ivrim) 7is not dealing with the abrogation of the Levitical priesthood but with the transferring of the High Priesthood toYahshua the Moshiach and the superiority of His priesthood. Yahshua is our
Cohen
HaGadol
after the manner of Malkitzedek the “King of Shalom and Righteousness”. The author is comparing Yahshua with Malkitzedek from
Tehillim 110:4
, which speaks of Moshiach. Malkitzedek is an eternal Cohen, like Yahshua. Malkitzedek was great because he received a tithe from our father Avraham, from whose loins came Levi. He also blessed Avraham, whichshows that he was greater than Avraham.So, we have an order to the greatness-Malkitzedek-Avraham-Levi-theCohanim-then the rest of Yisrael.In verse 11 we read, “Truly, then, if the
GOAL,
it is not “perfection” as translated. The word is
TELEIOSIS
, whichmeans reaching the goal of gaining complete and eternal atonement with Yahweh, so that the worshipper may become perfect! Neither Torah nor the Levitical priesthood could bring them to that goal of perfection. The goal of Torah isYahshua, Who then CAN bring them to be reconciled to Yahweh through His blood and priesthood.Verse 12 then is the KEY to understanding this chapter of Hebrews.It reads:
•
“For the priesthood being “
changed
”, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.” The word we needto see is “changed”. It is
NOMOU
METATHESIS
– which is #3331 in the Strong’s.
METATHESIS
means –atransformation, or transfer not a removing or change as some interpret it to mean. It comes from #3346-
METATITHEMI
meaning to exchange, transport, or even change sides.What was transferred? THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD! It was transferred from the tribe of Levi to Yahshua, who wasfrom Yehudah (verse 14). He LIKE MALKITZEDEK WAS NOT OF THE TRIBE OF LEVI TO WHOM THETORAH GAVE THE RIGHTS TO THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD.The verse then SHOULD read:
•
“For when there is a
TRANSFER
of the priestly office, out of necessity there is also a
transformation
of theTorah of the High Priesthood.” Now, we can understand this chapter more clearly and from a Hebraic/Scriptural perspective.Jewish tradition speaks of a change of the Torah when Moshiach arrives. We know that the institution of the Festivalof Purim was added to the Torah in the book of Haddassah (Esther). The Scriptural basis of the transfer is found in
Tehillim 110:4,
“Yahweh has sworn and does not relent, You are a Cohen forever according to the order of Malkitzedek.” Yahweh swore an oath to the Moshiach that He would be after the order of Malkitzedek-or an eternal
Cohen
HaGadol
. Therefore the context of the transfer or transformation of the torah of the priesthood makes it VERYCLEAR that NO OTHER CHANGE-TRANSFORMATION of the TORAH is spoken of or even hinted at in this passage. This term “
METATHESIS
” implies a total retention of all the basic structure and laws of the Torah, with someelements concerning the priesthood rearranged or transformed. IT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY IMPLY A TOTALABROGATION OF EITHER THE TORAH AS A WHOLE OR THE, MITZVOT CONNECTED TO IT (SEE MATT5: 17).Another reason for the transformation of Torah was the law of physical descent from Levi and Aharon. Pinchas wasgiven an eternal covenant of priesthood in
Bemidbar 25:13
. Yahshua HaMoshiach was given an everlasting priesthood (the order of Malkitzedek) after the power of an endless life (
Ivrim7: 16
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