In the next few verses of Paul’s epistle (Hebrews 716-19), he begins to explain the greater power of the Priesthood of Christ. Its power is seen in Jesus’ resurrection and in the fact that, through its ministry, the kingdoms of this world would be destroyed, not their identities but their autocratic power over their subjects. This is understood in the fact that they would have to, in essence, submit to the authority of the Messiah, by taking his power over the people into consideration as they exercised their own authority.
Speaking of Jesus being made our High Priest, Paul says that he was: “…made, not after the law of a carnal commandment…” (Hebrews 7:16). That is, the validity of the Levitical priesthood was founded upon the Law, and each new high priest, or any other priest for that matter, was the son of another. In other words the authority of the Levitical priesthood was hereditary or by the law of inheritance and, thus, based entirely upon the flesh.
What does Paul mean “…after the power of an endless life” (Hebrews 7:16)? In Psalm 2:7 the Lord declares to David, who received the declaration in the name of his greater Son, that on a particular day he, David’s Son, the Messiah, would become God’s begotten Son. That is, the Messiah would be openly recognized as the Lord’s own Son on a particular day, and Paul claims that particular day was the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 1:4). Thus, through the resurrection the Messiah has an endless life (Hebrews 7:16).
How the Scriptures connects the dots showing Jesus’ resurrection is related to his Priesthood is highly significant (Hebrews 7:17). Notice that Psalms 2:1-3, is attributed to the crucifixion by Jesus’ disciples after Peter and John had been taken into custody by the Jerusalem authorities and then released (Acts 4:23-28). Later Paul attributes Psalms 2:7 to the day of Jesus’ resurrection (Romans 1:4). Psalms 2:8 implies that the begotten Son of God is presently before the Lord, and that was fulfilled on the day of Jesus Ascension (Acts 1:9; cf. Daniel 7:13-14), at which time he received his Kingdom (cf. Luke 19:12). Psalms 2:9 alludes to the Gospel going out into the world and destroying the despotic power of the kingdoms of the world, because the people give their primary allegiance, not to the rulers of this world, but to **the** King, Jesus (cf. Daniel 2:44).
Psalms 110:1 is quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost to show that Jesus has ascended into the heavens to sit at the right hand of God, thus becoming the Messiah and ruling over the world (Acts 2:34-36) in the same sense that it was done by Pharaoh for Joseph (Genesis 41:40-44). Psalms 110:2 alludes to Psalms 2:8-9, which we have already seen alludes to Jesus’ disciples preaching the Gospel, by which the power of the kingdoms of this world are destroyed (Daniel 2:44). Psalms 110:3 points to Jesus disciples, to whom he promised to give power (Acts 1:8). Peter claimed that power was given on Pentecost (Acts 2:33), which was also received through prayer to Jesus, their High Priest and Intercessor (Acts 4:30-35; cf. Psalms 110:4). So, the Lord, sitting at the right hand of God (Psalms 110:1) is both Messiah and High Priest (Psalms 110:5-7; cf. Isaiah 53:11-12). Therefore, being made the begotten Son of God on the day of his resurrection (Psalms 2:7; Romans 1:4) means, not only that Jesus was made Messiah when he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9; Daniel 7:13-14), but he was also made High Priest (Isaiah 53:11-12; Psalms 110:4).
Paul concludes his argument by declaring that the Law, which was given on Mount Sinai, made nothing perfect (G5048 – teleioo; Hebrews 7:19; Romans 8:3; cf. Hebrews 7:11; 10:6). That is, it couldn’t make any man complete or mature, fulfilling his full potential. Therefore, according to Hebrews 7:18, ‘the commandment,’ that is, both the Levitical system and the Law that produced it, was set aside (G115). In other words, the Old Covenant began to fade away with the appearance of the New Covenant with its Messiah and High Priest (Hebrews 7:19; cf. Hebrews 3:6; 10:1, 22). Nevertheless, it wasn’t until 70 AD when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed that the Old Covenant was taken out of the way entirely and the New Covenant established in its ruins.
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