Meaning of Hebrews 7:19

The verse Hebrews 7:19 asserts that the Mosaic Law, while divinely given, possessed an inherent limitation: it could not bring about ultimate perfection in those who sought to adhere to it. This imperfection stemmed from the Law's nature as a system of commands and sacrifices that, while revealing sin and outlining God's standards, could not eradicate the inclination to sin or fully bridge the gap between humanity's fallen state and God's holiness. Consequently, the author of Hebrews introduces a "better hope" that transcends the Law's limitations. This new hope is not based on human effort to keep commandments, but on the finished work of Jesus Christ, who, as the superior High Priest, offered a perfect sacrifice that atones for sin definitively. This better hope, therefore, enables believers to approach God with confidence and assurance, a direct consequence of Christ's mediatorial work, unlike the mediated and often fearful approach necessitated by the Old Covenant.

Context and Background

This passage is situated within Hebrews chapter 7, which is dedicated to establishing the superiority of Jesus Christ's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood established by the Law of Moses. The author draws a detailed comparison between Melchizedek, an ancient king-priest mentioned in Genesis, and Christ. Melchizedek's priesthood is presented as pre-dating and being superior to the Levitical order, and importantly, it is an order into which Christ, according to Psalm 110:4, was appointed. The Law, in this context, refers to the Mosaic Covenant, which included the Levitical priesthood and its sacrificial system. The argument is that if the Law could have achieved perfection, there would have been no need for a new and superior priesthood.

Key Themes and Messages

• Imperfect Law: The central assertion is that the Law was not designed to achieve perfect righteousness but to highlight sin and God's requirements. It revealed the problem of human sinfulness without providing the ultimate solution.
• Better Hope: The introduction of a "better hope" signifies a new covenant and a new way of relating to God. This hope is grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ, not in adherence to legalistic requirements.
• Access to God: The ultimate outcome of this better hope is direct and unhindered access to God. Under the Old Covenant, access was restricted and mediated through the Levitical priests and the sacrificial system. Christ's sacrifice removes these barriers.
• Perfection: The concept of "perfection" here refers to the complete and final removal of sin and the attainment of full reconciliation with God, which the Law could not accomplish.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Hebrews 7:19 offers profound encouragement to believers. It assures us that our relationship with God is not based on our ability to perfectly keep rules, which is impossible. Instead, our access to God is secured by Christ's perfect sacrifice and His ongoing intercession as our High Priest. This understanding frees us from the burden of striving for a perfection that the Law could never provide and encourages a confident, relational approach to prayer and worship. It means we can approach God not with fear of our inadequacy, but with assurance of His grace, made available through Christ.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a crucial link in the New Testament's unfolding understanding of God's redemptive plan. It explains why Jesus' coming was necessary and how His ministry represents a fulfillment and supersession of the Old Covenant. The Law served as a temporary measure, a tutor leading to Christ (Galatians 3:24), and Hebrews 7:19 clarifies that its purpose was not ultimate perfection but to reveal the need for it. The "better hope" points forward to the New Covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God's law is written on hearts, and sins are forgiven.

Analogies

One analogy to understand the Law's imperfection is like a doctor prescribing a diet and exercise regimen to a patient with a severe, chronic illness. While the regimen is good and can manage symptoms, it cannot fundamentally cure the underlying disease. The Law, in this sense, highlighted the sickness of sin but could not provide the cure. Christ, however, is the ultimate physician who not only prescribes but also provides the cure through His sacrifice, leading to complete healing and restored fellowship with God. Another analogy is a detailed blueprint for a house. The blueprint outlines what a perfect house should be, but it cannot build the house. The Law was like the blueprint, showing God's perfect standard, but it couldn't empower humanity to build a perfect life. Christ is the builder who, through His life, death, and resurrection, has constructed the perfect way for us to be in relationship with God.

Relation to Other Verses

• Romans 3:20: "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." This verse echoes the sentiment that the Law's primary function was to reveal sin, not to achieve righteousness.
• Galatians 3:24: "So then the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." This verse explains the Law's role as a preparatory stage, leading to the "better hope" introduced in Hebrews.
• Hebrews 9:13-14: "For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are unclean, consecrate a spiritual purity, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God!" This passage directly contrasts the efficacy of Old Covenant sacrifices with the superior purifying power of Christ's sacrifice, aligning with the idea of a "better hope."
• Jeremiah 31:31-32: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them from the land of Egypt... but this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." This prophecy speaks of the New Covenant, which is the foundation of the "better hope" in Christ that enables drawing near to God.