Hebrews 7:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What does “made nothing perfect” mean? It means, he says, that the Law perfected no one, since they did not obey it.

Even if they had obeyed it, it still would not have made anyone perfect and virtuous. Yet the Apostle does not say this here. He says that it had no power, and rightly so.

For its letters commanded: do this, and do not do that. They only set forth commandments, but did not impart power. Our hope is not such.

What does “annulment” mean? It means cancellation and rejection. He explains precisely of what by adding, “of the former commandment.” So he calls the Law, because it has already been annulled because of its weakness.

Here is another difference between the new Priest and the ancient priests, and between one covenant and the other. For Christ's priesthood was promised not simply, but with an oath, so that God's word might be believed fully. Above also, for greater assurance, he said that God swore to Abraham (Heb 6:13).

In the tribe of Levi, since priests were appointed without an oath, they also did not remain forever. But He, Christ, remains Priest unto the ages of ages, since it was impossible for the oath to prove false. Of it was said: "The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are the Presbyter of presbyters forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

The law, says the Apostle, ceases, and the hope of better things is introduced. Yet the law ceases not because it is evil, as heretics assert in their derangement of mind, but because it is weak and cannot bring perfect benefit. It must be observed, however, that the Apostle calls weak and unprofitable what is superfluous in the law: circumcision, the Sabbath, and the like. But such commandments as "You shall not kill," "You shall not commit adultery," and similar ones, the New Testament commands us to keep with still greater strictness (Mt 5:21-32). Therefore, in place of what is abolished, we have received the hope of future good things. It makes us God's own. The oath confirms God's promise to us.

“For the Law made nothing perfect.” It taught nothing perfect and produced no perfection in the Hebrews. Everything in it was only shadow and type, such as circumcision, sacrifices, Sabbath observance, and the like.

It brought nothing to perfection, not by its own essence, but because of the weakness and dullness of those who received it. True, it communicated God’s will to men.

Nevertheless, it was powerless for the perfect fulfillment of what was prescribed, and in this sense it brought no benefit.

By “change” he means its cessation. For its shadowy indications and types ceased when the time came for the truth itself, which they had foretold.

Third, by the time of the Messiah’s coming, the weakness and uselessness of the former law had become evident in fact. For it brought nothing to perfection.

Therefore human hope of drawing near to God required both a new foundation and a stronger assurance from the Lord God.

This foundation was revealed in the new and better covenant of God with men, of which Jesus became the surety. The assurance was revealed in the oath by which the Lord established this covenant with men and ordered the new and better priesthood.

All this again happened according to the words of Scripture concerning Melchizedek, the Old Testament type of Christ: “The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

In defining the dignity of this new hope, or, as the Apostle later says, covenant, he directs attention to the Minister of this covenant or union.

The Old Testament priests were appointed to their ministry without receiving oath-bound assurance that the priesthood would remain forever in their lineage. But concerning the New Testament High Priest, God swore that He would be High Priest forever.

Therefore Jesus serves a better covenant (cf. 7:19), a more reliable union, and even becomes its surety. That is, He guarantees that the conditions of the covenant will be kept holy by both sides.

Moses and the Old Testament priests could not say this. Jesus guarantees it by the very fact that in Him we already see the conditions of the union fulfilled, both on God’s side and on man’s.