No Perfection Under the Law

(Hebrews 7:11-12 – No Perfection under the Law)

These few verses hold a mystery that is often overlooked and not understood by many in the church today. This is clear from the things that are most often taught, especially with respect to the keeping of the law.

The point is this, there is no perfection under the law. The law is good because within the law we see the wisdom of God. But the law will not make anyone perfect in His eyes.

As Christians we need to understand this reality. The law teaches us right from wrong, so we keep the law because we want to do right and reject what is wrong. But there is no perfection under the law. It will tell us what is good, but it will not MAKE us good. And apart from that, the law is no longer in force for those who come to Christ, as this verse also tells us. So, let us examine these things to gain insight into why there is no perfection under the law.

There is no perfection under the law

Before going any further, let us look at these scriptures.

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levit’ical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchiz’edek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. (Hebrews 7:11-12)

We are told explicitly that under the priesthood of Aaron, that is the Levitical priesthood, that perfection was not attainable. It was under that priesthood that the laws of Moses were administered.

To be perfect a person must think and act as God or Jesus would do ALL of the time. They would not ever sin and even the idea of sinning would be impossible to consider.

I should add here that perfection is not about a person’s physical or mental capabilities. There are many people today who are seeking perfection in body and mind. But that is not perfection in God’s eyes.

The perfection God seeks is to be perfect in spirit. It is to be aligned with Him in all we think, say, and do.

Why there is no perfection under the law?

The challenge and the reason why there is no perfection under the law is because the law is focused on the flesh. But perfection is about the spirit. We see this in the following scriptures.

According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:9-10)

When we read into this verse it talks about the service in the temple carried out by the Levitical priests. These things are done as directed by the law for the atonement of sins.

As you note in this verse, it speaks about the things of the flesh. It deals with what the people ate, drank, cleanliness, and bodily regulations. But the verse opens saying that none of these things will perfect the conscience. The conscience of a person is the spirit, and while the law can teach a person in the spirit between right and wrong, it will not change the heart, mind, conscience, or spirit of anyone.

This is why there is no perfection under the law. The law does not change anyone unless they want to change. And we see the same things in the world. Governments enact laws for the good of the people in most cases, to try and overcome evil. But unless people choose to change, nothing changes.

The law only seeks compliance. But the truth seeks commitment. The law looks at the flesh. But the truth works on the spirit and creates change in the way a person thinks and acts.

You must be perfect as God is perfect

One of the most interesting scriptures in the Bible is the one telling us we MUST be perfect. It doesn’t say something like, “It would be great if you could be perfect.” No, it says you MUST be perfect.

You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

While Christians continue to think that they must live under the law, this perfection cannot be achieved. There is no perfection under the law, so the law has to be removed. And this is what God did in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He took away our sins, AND He took away the law too. The reason He did this is so that we could become perfect as He is perfect.

Think about this for a moment, does God need the law? He is perfect, so does He need the law to tell Him what is right and what is wrong? Of course not.

The problem with the law is that it does not take away sin. Instead, it reminds us that we are sinners every time we break the law. Note these next words.

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. 4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4)

We see here that the law, and the sacrifices for sin carried out under the law, could not perfect the consciences of the people. These sacrifices cannot make a person perfect, which is why there is no perfection under the law.

The state of perfection we see in God is that when perfection is attained we will have no consciousness of sin. But in the sacrifices under the law, there is the constant reminder of sin.

A change in the law

If we go back to the verse in Hebrews 7:12, we see that God has overcome the issue of the law. We see in those words that when Jesus came, He did not come as a priest of Levi. If He had been a Levite priest, then He would have been a servant under the law and be required to administer the law.

But knowing that there is no perfection under the law, Jesus came as a priest of the order of Melchizedek. This is a completely different order of priests and it operates under a different set of rules. We see this in that verse as it says, “…when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.”

Under the priesthood of Christ, who is a priest of the order of Melchizedek, the law changes. We are no longer under the Mosaic law but rather have had that law removed so that we can learn to worship in the Spirit rather than under the law. And we must learn to worship in Spirit and truth.

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Again we see the imperative. If we are to follow and worship God, we MUST worship Him in spirit and truth. We do not worship Him under the law as the law brings a reminder of sin. But when we come to Him in Jesus Christ, we are set free from sin and the law is taken away so that we can learn to worship God in Spirit and truth.

There is no perfection under the law. The only way we can become perfect, as we must, is through learning to worship in Spirit and truth. And the only way we can do that is to receive the Holy Spirit and study the words of Jesus Christ.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit in us that will perfect us in Christ. And the point of this process of perfection is so that we can live forever with Jesus Christ and God the Father.

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