“Hebrews 7:14 – The Law of Silence”

“Hebrews 7:14 – The Law of Silence”

 

     Is the silence of the Scriptures

prohibitive? By that we mean, may one improvise in acts of religious devotion

in the absence of a specific “you must not …”? If the New Testament is silent

about a specific matter (e.g., the baptizing of infants, the burning of

incense, the use of mechanical instruments in worship), may a person pursue

that practice? Some allege that this is the case. They contend that asking

folks to respect the silence of the Scriptures is a human regulation that has

no support in the Bible. They are wrong. Hebrew 7:14 contains the very

principle that is the focus of this discussion. In this context, the sacred

writer has noted that there has been a change in the priesthood. The Aaronic

priesthood of the Old Testament regime has given way to the better priestly

system of the New Testament economy. It is then suggested that Christ could not

serve as a priest “after the order of Aaron” (cf. 8:4). Why not? Because Jesus

was descended from the tribe of Judah, and, as to that tribe, Moses spake

nothing (i.e., the law was silent; there was no authority) concerning the

priesthood. The silence of the law was prohibitive! If God does not authorize a

religious practice, it is forbidden. This principle absolutely must be

respected. Underline, therefore, the terms “spake nothing” in Hebrews 7:14, and

marginally observe: Silence is prohibitive .