The following is a Bible passage that’s unlikely to be anyone’s favorite; it’s unlikely that anyone even slows down here to see what it’s saying. But let’s slow down in the conviction that God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55):
Hebrews 7:14-19: For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchiz’edek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchiz’edek.” On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
This text is comparing Jesus with the mysterious “Melchizedek” of Genesis and contrasting them with the Levitical priesthood of Exodus and following. The Levitical priesthood, all according to the law, never helped anyone live; rather, as is the case with the law, it only reveals more powerfully why we die.
From a different tribe, not from Levi, came Jesus—not according to the law but according to God’s eternal promise to redeem us from the curse of the law. In Jesus the promises of God are all fulfilled: “Yes!” and “Amen!” Our Lord Jesus has become our Redeemer, Advocate, and Intercessor by the power of His indestructible life. He, Himself, always lives to bring us near to God, now by His Word and sacraments; sooner or later, by actually taking us to Himself in paradise.
Maybe slowing down to read texts that look too hard is just when we discover a Word of God to us that we would hardly want to miss?