What Was the Law That Was Changed?

by Garry D. Pifer

I recently was given a tape recorded sermon presented by a long time minister in the Church of God.  It had been given in response to the “heretical” articles that have been appearing in “the JOURNAL” on the subject of tithing.  Since I was one of the “heretics” the individual giving me the tape felt I might want to listen to it, or a least a part of it.  There was much in this message that contradicts what I find in the Word of God, but I won’t try to address most of it here.  I do want to comment on what the speaker said right at the end of his nearly two hour discourse.  He was reading from the seventh chapter of the book of Hebrews.  I’d like to quote from the tape and then we will look at the comments this man made.

I’ll pick up the quote as he read Hebrews 7:12, For the priesthood being changed, “From Aaron to Melchisedec.”  there is made of necessity a change also OF THE LAW. (Emphasis his!)  “What law?  What was the law?  To give the tithe to the Levite, correct?  This is the law it’s talking about, to change that law.  That’s what he changed, that’s why the ministers today should receive tithes and offerings.”  He then reads verses 13, 14, 15 and 16.  “That’s referring to Christ.  So here he is giving the legal change as to who would receive the tithes.  All the ministers are under the Melchisedec priesthood.  They’re not Melchisedec priests.  They’re elders and teachers and evangelists and apostles and so forth.  They are the ones to receive it because God changed the law right here to give it to them.  Paul was designating it so.  That’s why they should be collected today.”

One of the cardinal rules of Bible study is to understand statements that are made by the context in which they are made.  This man states dogmatically, without giving any proof, that the law that was changed was about who was to receive the tithe.  THAT IS NOT WHAT THE CONTEXT SHOWS!  Let us look at the context.  We will begin by reading the same verses he read, 13-16.  Hebrews 7:13  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.  Hebrews 7:14  For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.   Hebrews 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,   Hebrews 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Paul is showing that Jesus Christ was of another tribe, not of Levi, the tribe that gave attendance at the altar.  He was of the tribe of Judah.  There is no scripture in the books of Moses that speaks of any other tribe to be included in the priesthood.  Yet we see that we do have another priest, like Melchisedec.  And, verse 16 emphasizes that it was “not after the law of a carnal commandment.”  Other translations make this exceedingly clear.  From the Jewish New Testament, a translation by David H. Stern, verses 15 and 16 of Hebrews 7.  “It becomes even clearer if a ‘different kind of cohen (priest),’ one like Malki-Tzedek, arises, one who became a cohen not by virtue of a rule in the Torah concerning physical descent, but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life.”  Verse 18 adds further clarification.  Again, from the Jewish New Testament, “Thus, on the one hand, the earlier rule is set aside because of its weakness and inefficacy...”  The “rule,” commandment in the KJV, or the “law” that of necessity had to be changed, verse 12, was the one stating that the priests must be of the tribe of Levi.  (See Ex. 40:12-15; Ex. 28:1, 41; Ex. 29:9)   Paul continues to speak of the physical Levitical priesthood and its weakness.  Notice verses 23 and 24. Hebrews 7:23  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:   Hebrews 7:24  But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.   In other words this Melchisedec priesthood doesn’t pass on to another of the tribe of Levi.  It is an unchangeable priesthood.  Notice the Jewish New Testament’s rendering of verse 24, “But because he lives forever, his position as cohen does not pass on to someone else.”  This was the law previously.  It would pass on to another of the tribe of Levi. 

Verse 28 puts the cap on what we have been talking about.   Hebrews 7:28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.    It is the “law” that was spoken of in verse 12, the law that made men high priests, that was changed.  As it says, it was done by “the word of the oath, which was since the law.”  The change WAS NOT about who was to receive the tithe.  The entire context is regarding Jesus Christ, who was not of the tribe of Levi, being made our high priest forever “after the order of Melchisedec.”

And if this still wasn’t totally clear Paul sums it all up for us in chapter 8 and verses 1 through 4.   Hebrews 8:1 ¶ Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;   Hebrews 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.   Hebrews 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.   Hebrews 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Verse 4 is quite plain.  IF Jesus Christ were on earth He SHOULD NOT be a priest (He was of the tribe of Judah, not Levi.)  Paul says “seeing that there are priests (the Levites.) that offer gifts according to the LAW.”  What law has he been talking about?  The law regarding the priesthood to be of the tribe of Levi.     

As I quoted above, the individual giving this message made a broad sweeping statement that has no support or substance here or anywhere else.  He said, and I quote again, “They (speaking of the ministers) are the ones to receive it because God changed the law right here to give it to them.”  This statement has absolutely no support from Hebrews 7 and 8 when we read the context and look to what it says, not what a man tells us it says.