Is the Bible Weak and Useless (the answer may surprise you)

The author of Hebrews leverages Melchizedek to pose another deep challenge for us: Melchizedek was not made a priest according to the Levitical commands laid out so clearly in scripture, and neither was Jesus… so what good is the Law in the first place? That’s a real challenge to how we think about scripture. Things start to get real tricky when the Bible calls into question the authority of the Bible! So here’s that passage:

Another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life…

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. - Hebrews 7:15-19

Today if you get a chance, tell a true believer that the Law was ‘weak and useless’ and see how that goes over. In fact, check your own heart right now - how are you feeling about the Bible saying that about the Bible?

The purpose of this devotional is not to undermine our trust in the Scriptures, but rather to increase it. If the Bible can be so self-aware about it’s own limits, doesn’t that make it easier to trust? Of course, it’s inconvenient that we can’t just go to the Bible as the Answer Book in order to solve our problems… but at least we can now look at it honestly and hopefully.

Spend a few moments reflecting on these words of Jesus. He’s speaking to true believers and challenging them - and us - to put the Bible in proper perspective. Invite the Spirit to help you into that new orientation as you reflect on these words:

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. - John 5:39-40