The reason I wanted to highlight these two verses is because there are some that don't think they need Jesus. I am not only talking about unbelievers- they are obvious about their belief to be self-sufficient. I am also talking about those who call themselves believers, but still practice self-sufficiency. By this I mean they do not call on the name of the Lord- rather, they walk their lives on their own. When in difficulty, it is only when they have failed time and time again on their own that they decide, well, maybe God can help me.
In the Old Testament, before Jesus ever came to earth as a man, the people had priests to confess their sins to, and the priests offered sacrifices on an altar to God on behalf of their sins. We learned this in chapter 5. We also learned in chapter 5 that when Jesus came He offered the ultimate sacrifice- His life- to pay for the sins of all- past, present and future.
These are my own words about verses 11 and 18. Perfection couldn't be attained through the Law, and that is why another priest arose after Melchizedek. His name was Jesus. Just as there was imperfection with the Law (the way the Israelites lived) , there is imperfection in us and in the way we live. In our lives, we all set up our own "way" of living. We all have different standards, dreams, goals, desires we want out of our life, and we all live our lives differently in order to meet those standards or attain those dreams. And although it might look good to us, just as the Law looked good to the Israelites- hey, if we follow the Law (or our own "law") life seems good, and things seem in order. Well, just as the Law was imperfect, so are our own plans. But God's plan is perfect. I'm not saying that following Jesus makes a life without suffering- in fact, Jesus was made perfect through His suffering, therefore, we should expect the same.
As verse 18 says, the old Law was useless once Jesus came, because the Law made nothing or no one perfect, but Jesus was perfect, and through Him, all are made perfect.
What a great God we serve!
So in conclusion- if you could be made perfect by things you do or a law you follow, there wouldn't be a need for Savior. But you are a sinner and you are imperfect- imperfect without Him. Therefore, you do have a need for Savior- and His name is Jesus. That is why He came- to sacrifice Himself as a "sin offering" to the Most High God. As a result, we can be made perfect through Him, that we might have everlasting life in Him. There is no more need to follow a law, or sacrifice animals on an altar. There is only one need- and that is to make Jesus your Savior. Amen.
~Leanne~