Hebrews 7:23-28

The writer continues his comparison between the Old Covenant Levitical Priesthood, and Christ’s New Covenant priesthood

Last week we saw that the Levitical priesthood was insufficient because the sacrifices offered couldn’t remove sin, but only cover over it

We saw that Christ comes from outside the Levitical priesthood, but rather is a Priest/King after the order of Melchizedek

We saw that Christ’s priesthood is a better qualified priesthood, as Jesus isn’t a priest because of his heritage, but because of his intrinsic perfection

In our text this morning, the writer of Hebrews will give us 2 more reasons that Jesus’ priesthood is better

Hebrews 7:23–28 ESV

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

Jesus’ priesthood is better because it is Forever

Let me tell you something you already know

Dead priests don’t offer sacrifices or make intercession

There is a reason that there is an entire tribe of Israel dedicated to the priesthood. Because there would be a need for multiple high priests, generation after generation

Numbers 20:25–28 ESV

Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor. And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Joshua 24 records the death of Eleazer and Numbers 25 speaks of His son Phinehas

These priests were subject to the same death that the people were

But Christ is not subject to death.

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

It is because of His victory over death, that Jesus remains our High priest forever

Joe Thorn

He is a priest who continues forever. His priesthood never ends. His intercession never ceases. He does not grow old, his mind never grows dull, his love never fades. And because Jesus is your priest forever, your access to God and your intimacy with him is forever secure.

He never fails in His position as High priest.

Verse 25

“He is able to save to the uttermost”

Uttermost holds two ideas

Save to the far reaches

Save for all time

The word used here is both

Jesus is able to save ANYONE

One of the commentators said he received a call about the supposed professed repentance and public declaration of faith in Jesus by Jeffrey Dahmer, the famed serial killer and cannibal.

He went on to say that he responded by saying that Dahmer had shown the ability to decieve others with the coldest premeditation, and so it was possible he was repeating pious Christian phrases he had picked up.

But then he said, however, if he has truly turned to Christ, confessing his sins and trusting him alone for his salvation, then he was regenerated and totally forgiven for every sin.

There is no person Christ’s blood cannot save, no sin His blood does not cover

There is no one too far gone

Jesus saves to the far reaches

At the same time, this word uttermost also carries the idea that Christ saves for all time

No one who is washed in Jesus’ blood ever gets dirty again

You will hear us quote Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

How is that possible?

Because Jesus saves for all time. His blood is always covering His children

There are no former children of God

John 6:37 ESV

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

As the writer of Hebrews puts it, He always lives to make intercession for them

Jesus’ priesthood is better because He is the perfect sacrifice

The writer goes on to say that it is fitting that we should have a high priest like this

And at first glance, that can sound prideful

As if he is saying “yeah, that’s about right, we deserve that”

But that’s not what this means. When the writer says that it was fitting, it carries the meaning that it was necessary

Another way to phrase it would be that Christ was fitted particularly for what we needed.

We needed this High Priest, who is Holy, Innocent, Unstained by sin.

There is nothing that prohibits or excludes him from His priestly service. Nothing that separates Him and the Father

The writer goes on to say that He has no need to offer daily sacrifices

He is without sin, and requires no sacrifice for his own sins like the OT priests

When He offered himself up, the offered a single sacrifice that covered for all time as we already talked about.

In the OT, priests were appointed in weakness

Jesus is appointed in perfection.

Application

This is great Brandon. Amen and Hallelujah.

Now how does this affect my week this week?

Let me ask you a question this morning.

What are you struggling with?

What sin, what concern, what situation are you trying to battle on your own?

The good news this morning is you don’t have to fight the battle yourself

You can take your sin to Jesus

You can take your concerns to Jesus

You can take your situation to Jesus

Where you are weak, He is strong

When you can’t bear the weight, He sits on the throne in all His power, able to bear your burden

There is nothing He cannot forgive

There is no concern he cannot intercede for

No Situation he cannot redeem

His perfect priesthood holds us at our most broken

Whatever it is this morning that weighs on your heart, Take it to Jesus