Hebrews 7:20-28: Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant

Introduction

Scripture

Hebrews 7:20–28 ESV

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 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. 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 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. 28 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.

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory

Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses

Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus

Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:14-7:28 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature

Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity

Hebrews 6:9-12 - Loving Motivation

Hebrews 6:13-20 - The Promise of God’s Word and God’s Oath

Hebrews 7:1-10 - The Greatness of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-19 - Jesus’ Priesthood is Needed

Hebrews 7:20-28 - Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant

Hebrews 7:20-22 - A Priest From an Oath

Hebrews 7:23-25 - A Permanent Priesthood

Hebrews 7:26-28 - The Sinless Priest

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

Jesus, the pure high priest, continues in His priesthood forever because of the Lord’s solemn oath

Hebrews 7:20-22 - A Priest From an Oath

Hebrews 7:20–22 ESV

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

***Inclusio is formed in this chapter by “Son” in vss. 3 & 28***

***Chapter is broken into three sections - 1-10, 11-19, & 20-28***

***Smaller inclusio is formed in vss. 1-10 by “met”***

***Smaller inclusio is formed in vss. 11-19 by “perfect” & “law”***

***Smaller inclusio is formed in vss. 20-28 by “oath”***

And it was not without an oath.

Without an oath

Committing oneself to the stipulations and penalties of an oath

For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,

Without an oath

Committing oneself to the stipulations and penalties of an oath

But this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

This one

Jesus

With an oath

Committing oneself to the stipulations and penalties of an oath

Hebrews 6:13–20 ESV

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The one who said to him

“The Lord has sworn, and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’.”

Psalm 110:4 ESV

4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

A bit of foreshadowing as the author will write about a better covenant in Hebrews 8

Guarantor

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament ἔγγυος

1. guarantor — a person of sufficient means who offers his belongings, freedom, or often his life as an assurance that another person will meet certain specifications or requirements; especially in a financial context of debt repayment.

Not only is Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, he guarantees the blessings reaching those who are God’s

Better

Superior to another

Covenant

An agreement better God and man

The oath sworn by the Lord to Christ qualifies Jesus as the guarantor of the better covenant

Hebrews 7:23-25 - A Permanent Priesthood

Hebrews 7:23–25 ESV

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 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.

The former priests were many in number,

Because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

Prevented by death

Hebrews 7:8 ESV

8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

Hebrews 7:16 ESV

16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.

Josephus mentions there were 83 high priests from Aaron to the destruction of the temple in 70AD

But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

He continues forever - Psalm 110:4 reference

Hebrews 7:16 ESV

16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him,

Uttermost

Completely

Through him

There is only one way to draw near to God - through Christ

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Matthew 27:51 ESV

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Intercession

Appeal

Romans 8:34 ESV

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Christ as the eternal high priest belongs to more than our past, our future, BUT ALSO NOW!

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 7:26-28 - The Sinless Priest

Hebrews 7:26–28 ESV

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 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. 28 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.

***Conclusion of his argument and also setting up Hebrews 8:1-10:18***

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,

Holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners - He is PURE

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 Peter 2:22–24 ESV

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Holy

Morally and ritually pure

Innocent

Free from evil or guilt

Unstained

Free from blemish, pure

Separated from sinners

Exalted above the heavens

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily,

Sacrifices daily

Hebrews 5:1–3 ESV

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.

First for his own sins and then for those of the people,

Since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Once for all

One occasion and never repeated again

Offered up himself

He is the sacrifice and the high priest which will be further developed in Hebrews 9

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.

Comparisons

Levites

Law appoints

Men

Weakness

Christ

Oath appoints

Son

Perfect forever

Application

Jesus saves us completely and is currently making intercession on our behalf

Main Point

Jesus, the pure high priest, continues in His priesthood forever because of the Lord’s solemn oath