Day 711: Always and forever - Hebrews 7 vs 23 – 8 vs 2

23-24 The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but Jesus holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost (completely; at all times) those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27-28 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.

Chapter 8  vs 1-2 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent (tabernacle) that the Lord set up, not man. Hebrews 7:23-8:2 (From the English Standard Version)

Last week's post in Hebrews ended with noticing how Jesus was described as a 'forever' priest. In today’s post vs 23-24 explain why that is the case. The priests of the old covenant lived and died. But Jesus was resurrected never to die again. What is the wonderful outcome of this truth? (vs 25)

There’s no limit to what Jesus can do for those who draw near to God through Him! He is always at the Father's right hand. He is the eternal mediator between a holy God and the people He has redeemed. That's why our failures, frequent as they may be, cannot take away our salvation. Or, as the apostle Paul put it: “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

In vs 26 the writer describes just how suitable Jesus is for His role as our high priest. He is holy, innocent and unstained. His life was blameless and His obedience to the Father was perfect. There was no crime in Him that He deserved to die for. In this sense, and in His resurrected glory, He is separate from sinners like you and me. But when He went to the cross He was 'numbered with transgressors'. In His sacrifice Jesus identified with sinners – He bore their sins. In His role as our High Priest, however, Jesus is completely without sin and can boldly intercede for us.

It wasn’t only the fact that the priests under the old covenant came and went as they lived and died, what is the other big distinction between those priests and Jesus? (vs 27-28)

They were as weak as you and I are, and sinned often. Because of that weakness they had to offer sacrifices - even for themselves - every day. But because of His faultless obedience Jesus was able to make a perfect sacrifice that was once and for all. Through that sacrifice the sinners debt is paid in full. The law could only appoint such men who were weakened through sin. But the promise God made with an oath (in Psalm 110:4) of sending His son, who would be a greater priest, was made long after the law was given. God's promise superseded the law.

Chapter 8 starts with the writer explaining the point of all he’d been saying concerning the man named Melchizedek, and how Jesus was this perfect priest God had promised. What was his application?

Our high priest is not offering daily sacrifices as the priests used to do in the tent tabernacle which the Israelite men had to set up and take down as they travelled through the wilderness. He is already in the highest heaven, seated, as one whose work is done, at the Father's right hand. So Christians – whether from Jewish or gentile backgrounds – can have confidence to draw near to God through Him – because He always lives to make intercession for us.