Dear Eddie,

Please help me.. I just read your 4 articles on "adding and
subtracting from the Torah.."

I am learining so much... and desire to know and
understand.. I want you to know ..these are many
of the words that cause us "Christians" to believe that Yeshua has
made a change in things... not that he added to or subtracted
from... but that He fulfilled. It may have looked like subtraction..but it is
not... just coming from a different priesthood!

KJV Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical
priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further
need was there that another priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

KJV Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of
necessity a change also of the law.

KJV Hebrews 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to
another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

KJV Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda;
of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

KJV Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the
similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

KJV Hebrews 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal
commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

KJV Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec.

Please help me..in these things..my heart is open ..

There is so much we are learning..even to understand what scriptures
really meant in Hebrew and to understand ...

Please be patient and when you can. ...perhaps none of it means
what we think... Thank you for teaching and loving and being patient
with all of us..

Your sister in Yeshua,

Terri

RESPONSE FROM EDDIE:

HEBREWS 7: A CHANGE OF PRIESTHOOD

by
Eddie Chumney

Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l

Terri,

Thank you for your question and open heart to learn.

One of the greatest reasons why Christianity reads the above
verses in Hebrews 7 and concludes that the New Covenant SUBTRACTS
(takes away / eliminates) what was given at Mount Sinai is
that we DON'T attempt to interpret the NT using the Torah and the
prophets.

However we are told:

KJV Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Messiah stated that the reason why He is the Messiah is because of
the TESTIMONY of the TORAH and the PROPHETS.

KJV Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he
expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
himself.

KJV Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Therefore, in order to understand the NT, we MUST have a knowledge of
the TORAH and PROPHETS as our FOUNDATION.

The NT builds upon the foundation laid by the Torah and Prophets.

The Torah and the Prophets is the foundation of the house. The NT
completes the house.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OT AND NT

When we read the book of Hebrews, we ASSUME that the Old
Testament was strictly ruled by the Leviticual Priesthood and the New
Testament by the Melchisedec priesthood.

We ASSUME:

Old Testament = Levitical priesthood
New Testament = Melchisedec priesthood

BUT we are told regarding the Messiah:

KJV Hebrews 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but
this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will
not repent, Thou art a PRIEST for ever after the ORDER of
MELCHISEDEC:)

Messiah is of the order of Melchesedec.

THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD IS IN THE TORAH

What MANY people DON'T realize is that the
MELCHIZEDEC priesthood is in the TORAH.

KJV Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the
most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the
kings, and blessed him;

Was referring to Genesis 14:18

KJV Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread
and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

LITERALLY (Peshat), the person in Genesis 14:18 was Shem.

FIGURATIVELY (Sod), it represented the Messiah.

Notice that the Melchizedek priesthood is in the TORAH.

The TORAH has a Melchizedek priesthood.
The TORAH has a Levitical priesthood.

In Numbers 1:48-50, we are told about the Levitical priesthood.

KJV Numbers 1:48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,

KJV Numbers 1:49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither
take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

KJV Numbers 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the LEVITES over the
tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over
all things that belong to it: they shall BEAR the TABERNACLE, and all
the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp
round about the tabernacle.

THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD PREDEECDED THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD

In the TORAH, the Melchizedek priesthood PRECEEDED the Levitical
priesthood.

The FIRST Melchizedek priest was Adam.

A Melchizedek priest is BOTH KING AND PRIEST.

When YHVH created Adam in the Garden of Eden, He was given the
position of being the King and Priest of YHVH in the earth.

KJV Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

In order to RULE over the ENTIRE EARTH (have dominion over it),
you MUST be KING AND PRIEST.

KJV Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God KINGS and
PRIESTS: and we shall REIGN on the earth.

Adam was King / Priest until he died. At the time of his death,
the oldest firstborn living on the earth inherited the role of being
King / Priest in the earth.

KJV Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the
most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the
kings, and blessed him;

KJV Hebrews 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first
being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also
King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Melchizedek comes from two Hebrew words: Melech and Tzaddik

Melchizedek = Melech and Tzaddik

Melech in Hebrew means: King
Tzaddik in Hebrew means: Righteousness

So, Melchizedek means: King of Righteousness

While Adam was the FIRST King / Priest, it ultimately went to Shem as
we see from Genesis 14:18.

In time, it was passed to Noah.

KJV 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the
EIGHTH [person], a PREACHER of RIGHTEOUSNESS, bringing in the flood upon
the world of the ungodly;

In II Peter 2:5, the word, "person" is in italics. This means
that it is NOT in the original Greek text.

We are told that Noah was the EIGHTH who was a "preacher of
righteousness". This is referring to the role of being king / priest.

A "preacher of righteousness" = Preacher of Torah = Priest

Actually, Noah was the TENTH generation but he was the EIGHTH
Melchizedek (King / Priest) in the earth from Adam.

In time, Jacob had the function of King / Priest. The King /
Priest also had the birthright blessing. Judah was blessed with the Kingly
office. Joseph was given the birthright blessing (material blessing)
through Ephraim and Manasseh. The Levites were given the priesthood
following the incident of the golden calf.

PLAN A: ALL TWELVE TRIBES A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS

YHVH desired that the ENTIRE NATION of ISRAEL (All 12 tribes) be
a KINGDOM of PRIESTS. However, this was dependent upon COVENANT
FAITHFULNESS.

KJV Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will OBEY my VOICE indeed, and
KEEP my COVENANT, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above
all people: for all the earth is mine:

KJV Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a KINGDOM of PRIESTS, and an
holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the
children of Israel.

However, ALL 12 tribes were NEVER a Kingdom of Priests because
they disqualified themselves by worshipping the golden calf.

Upon worshipping the golden calf, YHVH asked who was on His side
(would teach and seek to keep the Torah). The Levities responded to
this call.

KJV Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said,
Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of
Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Therefore, the Levitical priesthood governed the Torah given to
the house of Jacob at Mount Sinai.

However, YHVH the Father made an oath to YHVH the son that He
would be an ETERNAL MELCHIZEDEK PRIEST.

KJV Psalm 110:1 {A Psalm of David.} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit
thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

KJV Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

KJV Hebrews 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but
this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will
not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec:)

Therefore:

Adam was a Melchezedek priest (but he failed in the office).

After the golden calf, the Levites did the services of the
Tabernacle. This was known as the Levitical priesthood.

This Levitical priesthood was a "tutor" to lead us to Messiah.

KJV Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added
because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the
promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a
mediator.

The "law" being referred to in this verse is the Levitical
priesthood. The Levitical priesthood was added because of
transgressions (the GOLDEN CALF). The Levitical priesthood was to
function until the TRUE MELCHIZEDEK PRIEST (the Messiah) came as a
high priest of the New Covenant.

KJV Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God
forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life,
verily righteousness should have been by the law.

This should be understood as:

"Is the Levitical priesthood against the promises of God?. God
forbid"

The Levitical priesthood purpose was to point us to the Messiah.

KJV Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that
believe.

The "promise by faith" given to them that believe is the
REDEMPTION of the MESSIAH through His SHED BLOOD on the tree.

KJV Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law,
shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

This should be understood to mean:

"Before the redemption of the Messiah through the New Covenant and
His Melchizedek priesthood of the New Covanent ... we were governed
by the Levitical priesthood given at Mount Sinai following the
incident of the golden calf ... until the revealing of the New
Covenant Melchizedek priesthood of the Messiah".

KJV Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

This should be understood to mean:

"The ordinances and services of the Levitical priesthood was our
tutor that points us to our need of the Messiah"

KJV Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end <5056> of the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth.

<5056> = elos {tel'-os} from a primary tello (to set
out for a definite point or goal);

Messiah is the goal / target of the Levitical priesthood.

KJV Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer
under a schoolmaster.

This should be understood to mean:

"After Messiah brought to us the redemption of the New Covenant and
became priest of the Melchezedek priesthood ... the Levitical
priesthood served its purpose to show us that we need the redemptive
work of the Messiah".

KJV Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of
necessity a change also of the law.

In these verses, the PRIESTHOOD is synonymous with the TORAH
because the Priests were overseers and teachers of the Torah.

This should be understood to say:

"When Messiah established the new covenant, there was a change in
priesthood"

Priesthood = Synonymous with the Torah

WAS THERE A CHANGE OF LAW?

With the New Covenant, was there a change of law (the law was done away with) or was
there a change in priesthood?

First of all, the Torah is the Word of YHVH.

The Word of YHVH lives and abides FOREVER. It CANNOT CHANGE.

KJV Psalm 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and
ever.

KJV Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word
of our God shall stand for ever.

So, the Torah or the Word of YHVH did NOT change.

There was a change of PRIESTHOOD.

DID YHVH DO AWAY WITH THE TORAH WITH THE NEW COVENANT?

The Torah and the prophets tell us that YHVH will CHANGE the
HEARTS of the people to OBEY His Torah.

KJV Deuteronomy 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things
are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set
before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations,
whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

KJV Deuteronomy 30:2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt
OBEY his VOICE according to all that I command thee this day, thou and
thy children, with ALL thine HEART, and with ALL thy SOUL;

KJV Leviticus 26:40 If they shall CONFESS their INIQUITY, and the
iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed
against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;

KJV Leviticus 26:41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them,
and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their
UNCIRCUMCISED HEARTS be humbled, and they then accept of the
punishment of their iniquity:

Here we are told that the HEARTS of His people are going to
CHANGE.

The prophets give greater clarity of how this would happen.

KJV Ezekiel 36:26 A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT
will I put WITHIN YOU: and I will TAKE AWAY the STONY HEART out of
your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

KJV Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, and cause you
to WALK in my STATUTES, and ye shall KEEP my judgments, and DO them.

Now given the information from the Torah and the prophets, we are
told that YHVH is going to CHANGE the HEARTS of His people.

He is going to give them the INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT to help them to
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

A NEW HEART AND A NEW COVENANT

KJV Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of
Judah:

This new heart would be given through a new covenant where
the people of YHVH would be given the Holy Spirit to help them to
KEEP His Torah commandments.

KJV Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with
their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them
out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was
an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

The "original covenant" at Mount Sinai was WRITTEN on
HEARTS of STONE.

The "new covenant" was NOT to be a covenant written on
hearts of stone but on hearts of flesh (circumcised hearts).

KJV Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put
MY LAW in their INWARD PARTS, and write it in their hearts; and will
be their God, and they shall be my people.

So, we have the following:

#1) Adam was a king / priest in the garden of Eden and played the role of
a Melchizedek priest. Adam failed in this role. Shem had this
function in Genesis 14:18. Shem personified the Messiah being
King / Priest under the New Covenant.

#2) YHVH desired for the entire nation of Israel be a kingdom of
priests. The nation of Israel failed by worshipping the golden
calf. The Levites were given the role of priests over the
nation of Israel through the Tabernacel / Temple services.

#3) The Levitical priesthood serves as a tutor to lead us to Messiah

#4) The problem with the Levitical priesthood was the HEARTS of the
people of YHVH who would NOT obey His Torah. Therefore, YHVH
found fault with the HEARTS of His people and wanted to CHANGE the
HEARTS of His people.

#5) YHVH would change the HEARTS of His people through the New
Covenant of the Messiah by giving the indwelling Holy Spirit to
help us to observe the Torah in spirit and in truth.

#6) A New Covenant meant a change in priesthood.

#7) Messiah is the eternal Melchezedek priest of the New Covenant by
an oath made by YHVH the Father to the YHVH the son.

KJV Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of
necessity a change also of the law.

With the New Covenant, the priesthood changed. Messiah is the
High priest of the New Covenant after the order of Melchizedek not
after the order of Aaron (the Levitical priesthood).

Change of law = Change of priesthood

With the New Covenant, the HEARTS of the people are YHVH are
CHANGED (from a stony heart to a heart of flesh). The Torah / Word of
YHVH does NOT change.

THE NEW COVENANT IS A BETTER COVENANT

The TORAH tells us about a Levitical priesthood and a
Melchezedek priesthood. But, which is better?

The TORAH has a Melchizedek priesthood.
The TORAH has a Levitical priesthood.

KJV Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament.

The Melchizedek priesthood is a BETTER priesthood than the
Levitical priesthood.

The New Covenant has a BETTER PRIESTHOOD than the Covenant at
Mount Sinai.

The TORAH / WORD OF YHVH has NOT CHANGED.

Our HEARTS in the New Covenant are to be CHANGED to OBEY the
Torah through the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

SAY WHAT?

From reading the book of Hebrews, traditional Christianity
says:

#1) Messiah died on the tree to do away with following the Torah

(Change in priesthood meant a change of law (do away with
following it)

#2) Messiah is our High Priest

KJV Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
profession.

It is TRUE that Messiah is our HIGH PRIEST.

However the EXISTENCE of a HIGH PRIEST means that we follow
Torah.

It is the duty of a HIGH PRIEST to TEACH TORAH.

We CAN'T say that Messiah is our HIGH PRIEST (whose duty is to
teach Torah) and that He died to do away with following the Torah.

If Messiah died on the tree to do away with following the Torah
then there is NO NEED for a HIGH PRIEST.

THE DUTY OF A PRIEST IS TO TEACH TORAH

One of the main duties of a priest is to TEACH TORAH to the
people of YHVH.

KJV Nehemiah 8:2 And Ezra the PRIEST brought the LAW before the
congregation both of men and women, and all that could HEAR with
understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

KJV Jeremiah 18:18 Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices
against Jeremiah; for the LAW shall NOT perish from the PRIEST ...

KJV Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned
mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and
profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and
the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned
among them.

OUR HIGH PRIEST FORGIVES US OF OUR SINS

KJV Mark 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on
earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

KJV 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If Messiah is our High Priest to forgive us of our sins, what
do we do when we sin?

KJV 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.

SINNING = NOT FOLLOWING TORAH

Messiah is our High Priest of the New Covenant to forgive us
when we don't follow Torah. However, forgiveness for not following
Torah is based upon us REPENTING of our SIN. REPENTING means we make
an oath or pledge in our hearts and minds to NOT SIN (which means
that we pledge to FOLLOW TORAH when we REPENT).

MESSIAH OUR HIGH PRIEST AND TORAH TEACHER

Messiah is not only the High Priest of the New Covenant after
the order of Melchezedek to forgive us of our sins but He will teach
the Torah to ALL NATIONS during the Messianic Era.

KJV Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for
out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.

NEW COVENANT = CHANGE IN PRIESTHOOD / KEEP THE TORAH

In this article, we have been trying to understand the verse:

KJV Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of
necessity a change also of the law.

based upon our understanding of what is written in the Torah and
the Prophets.

We have concluded that when Messiah ushered in the New Covenant
that He is our High Priest of the New Covenant after the order of
Melchizedek.

With the New Covenant, Messiah didn't die on the tree to do away
with His following the Torah but rather the New Covenant is the Torah
written upon our hearts.

The prophets tell us that with the New Covenant that Messiah
would change the HEARTS of His people. He wouldn't do away with the
Torah because the New Covenant is the Torah written upon our hearts
through the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Prior to the New Covenant, we were under the tutorship of the
Levitical priesthood until Messiah came and gave us the New Covenant.
With the New Covenant, the PRIESTHOOD changed. YHVH still desires for
His people to follow the Torah through the help and inspiration of
the Holy Spirit.

During the Messianic Age when the Temple is rebuilt, the Levites
will perform their Levitical services in the Temple under the New
Covenant under the authority of the Melchezidek priesthood of the
Messiah.

I pray that this teaching has been a rich blessing to your
studies and helps you to understand the book of Hebrews better.

May YHVH continue to bless you in your studies.

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l