DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ON THE OTHER HAND

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ON THE OTHER HAND

"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." (Hebrews 7:18-19)

"On the other hand" is a phrase of comparison. When we go to purchase something, we make a list of the positives and the negatives to determine which is best. "On the one hand" I like the color. On the other hand, I like the reliability. On the one hand, I like the price. On the other hand, I like the guarantee. Using these comparisons, we determine which is the better choice.

The writer to the Hebrews compares the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. On the one hand, the Old Covenant was weak and unprofitable (vs. 18) because nothing was made perfect under the Old Covenant (vs. 19). Sacrifices and offerings under the Old Covenant had to be made continually (vs.27). The Old Covenant priests were men who had their own weakness who had to offer sacrifices for their own sin (vs. 28), and they did not serve forever because they eventually died (vs. 23). As our focus verse says, "The law made nothing perfect."

On the other hand, we have a new covenant in the Lord Jesus. He has an unchangeable priest hood because He lives forever and He ever lives to make intercession for us (vs. 24-25). Unlike the weakness of the priests under the Old Covenant who were weak and sinful themselves, He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners (vs 26). He does not need daily to offer up sacrifices as did the Old Covenant priests because He offered Himself as the sacrifice once and for all (vs. 27). By His sacrifice, we are, by faith, made perfectly righteous before a righteous God.

This is not to say that the Old Covenant was bad. It was given by God for a certain time, and every gift of God is good. The value of the Old Covenant law is that it helps us understand the greatness of sin (Romans 7:7). As it is recorded in Galatians 3:24, "the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ." Without the knowledge of sin, we would not know we needed a Savior. But that is insufficient. Just knowing we are sinners is not enough. We need a Savior to take care of the sin question. "If the first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second" (Hebrews 8:7). I am so glad for the New Covenant because it provides a better hope through which we draw near to God.

Love, Dad