Two major points are made in this part of our text. First, the Levitical priesthood could not bring perfection. The thought is introduced here, and more is said later. Consider, the high priest himself was a sinful man, and the sin offerings were inadequate (cf. Hebrews 10:4). So, the more perfect priest, Jesus, was important. With a new priest and priesthood, it is necessary to change the law under which they serve.
The second point enlarges upon this truth. It would be a violation for Jesus, as a member of the tribe of Judah, to serve as a priest under the law of Moses. We know this because God specified the Levitical tribe to produce priests. As the Hebrew writer notes, there was no precedence for one from Judah to serve.
The principle of silence is established here. In verse 14 we read, “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” When God has not spoken it is presumptuous for any to speak for Him. “…Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11b). In effect, to speak where God has not is to violate God’s law, which is sin!
