The old rule is set aside. It was weak and useless.

先前的条例，因软弱无益，所以废掉了，

一方面，先前的诫命因软弱无能而废掉了，

一方面，先前的诫命因软弱无能而废掉了，

以前的条例由于本身的弱点和无益被废除了，

一方面，从前的条例因为软弱，没有用处，就废弃了；

原来，一方面，先前的条例因着本身的软弱和无用，就被废弃了，

先前的條例，因軟弱無益，所以廢掉了，

一方面，先前的誡命因軟弱無能而廢掉了，

一方面，先前的誡命因軟弱無能而廢掉了，

以前的條例由於本身的弱點和無益被廢除了，

一方面，從前的條例因為軟弱，沒有用處，就廢棄了；

這一來，一方面因規條之劣弱和無益，先前的條例就被廢掉（

原來，一方面，先前的條例因著本身的軟弱和無用，就被廢棄了，

夫前誡因荏弱無益而廢、

夫舊法無益、罔有功效、則遂廢弛、

前之法度、輕弱無益、故廢之、

是則舊制由於荏弱無能、而遭廢棄、

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness

Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless.

So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable

For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless,

For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

The written law was made weak by the power of sin. But God did what the written law could not do. He made his Son to be like those who live under the power of sin. God sent him to be an offering for sin. Jesus suffered God’s judgment against our sin.

Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin. Moses’ law could not make you right in God’s eyes.

But now you know God. Even better, God knows you. So why are you turning back to those weak and worthless powers? Do you want to be slaves to them all over again?

The law that was given to the people called for the priestly system. That system began with Levi. Suppose the priestly system could have made people perfect. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn’t he from Aaron’s family line?A change of the priestly system requires a change of law.

The law didn’t make anything perfect. Now a better hope has been given to us. That hope brings us near to God.

Training the body has some value. But being godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now living and the life to come.

Suppose nothing had been wrong with that first covenant. Then no one would have looked for another covenant.But God found fault with the people. He said,“ The days are coming, announces the Lord. I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel. I will also make it with the people of Judah.It will not be like the covenant I made with their people of long ago. That was when I took them by the hand. I led them out of Egypt. My new covenant will be different because they didn’t remain faithful to my old covenant. So I turned away from them, announces the Lord.This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds. I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people.People will not teach their neighbor anymore. They will not say to one another,‘ Know the Lord.’ That’s because everyone will know me. From the least important to the most important, all of them will know me.I will forgive their evil ways. I will not remember their sins anymore.”( Jeremiah 31:31–34)God called this covenant“ new.” So he has done away with the first one. And what is out of date and has been done away with will soon disappear.

Here is what I mean. The law came 430 years after the promise. But the law does not get rid of God’s covenant and promise. The covenant had already been made by God. So the law does not do away with the promise.

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming. It is not the real things themselves. The same sacrifices have to be offered over and over again. They must be offered year after year. That’s why the law can never make perfect those who come near to worship.If the law could, wouldn’t the sacrifices have stopped being offered? The worshipers would have been made“ clean” once and for all time. They would not have felt guilty for their sins anymore.But those offerings remind people of their sins every year.It isn’t possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.So when Christ came into the world, he said,“ You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings. Instead, you prepared a body for me.You weren’t pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings.Then I said,‘ Here I am. It is written about me in the book. I have come to do what you want, my God.’ ”( Psalm 40:6–8)First Christ said,“ You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings. You didn’t want burnt offerings and sin offerings. You weren’t pleased with them.” He said this even though they were offered in keeping with the law.Then he said,“ Here I am. I have come to do what you want.” He did away with the shadow of the good things that were coming. He did it to put in place the good things themselves.

Does faith make the law useless? Not at all! We agree with the law.

Don’t let all kinds of strange teachings lead you astray. It is good that God’s grace makes our hearts strong. Don’t try to grow strong by eating foods that the law requires. They have no value for the people who eat them.

Brothers and sisters, let me give you an example from everyday life. No one can get rid of an official agreement between people. No one can add to it. It can’t be changed after it has been made. It is the same with God’s covenant agreement.

You who want to be under the authority of the law, tell me something. Don’t you know what the law says?

That’s an example for the present time. It shows us that the gifts and sacrifices people offered were not enough. They were not able to remove the worshiper’s feelings of guilt.They deal only with food and drink and different kinds of special washings. They are rules people had to obey only until the new covenant came.