With the ground thus laid, the author sets out to show that, of the two priesthoods reported in the Scripture, Jesus’s is superior (7:11–28) and the only source of salvation (see Heb. 5:9). Of great importance to the interpretation of Hebrews is the contrary-to-fact conditional statement in 7:11, together with two other such statements that figure prominently as the argument unfolds (8:7; 10:2). These clearly indicate that the readers of the letter, tempted to return to the comfortable paths of their former faith and associations, were inclined to precisely the opposite conclusions, namely, that perfection could come through the Levitical priesthood and that the sacrifices could make perfect those who offered them. The grammatical form of these statements favors the conclusion that the ti…