AUDIENCE: The author identified neither himself nor the people to whom he was writing. However, the content of the book, including the frequent references to the Hebrew Scriptures, makes it clear that he was writing to Jewish Christians who were sorely tempted to leave the Christian church and revert to Jewish worship. The author spends the first ten and a half chapters of this thirteen chapter book (1:1 - 10:18) emphasizing the superiority of Christ and the new covenant to Moses and the old covenant.
CONTEXT: Hebrews 7:11-28 expands on prior arguments related to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Here, the author shows how the priesthood of Jesus is superior to that of the Levitical priests of Old Testament Law. This uses the figure of Melchizedek as a model. Christ's priesthood is sinless, perfect, unending, and decreed as such by God. The Levitical priesthood was temporary, flawed, imperfect, and could not last forever. This better promise, in Christ, is tied into the confidence we have as believers. In Heb 4:14 - 5:14, the author emphasized the superiority of Jesus the high priest over the high priests of Aaronic descent. In 5:5-7, 10, he cited scripture to show that Jesus was God's Son (in a sense that Aaron was not)--and that Jesus belonged, not to the order of Aaron but of Melchizedek--making Jesus "a priest forever" (5:6). In chapter 6, the author warned of the peril of falling away (6:1-12) and the certainty of God's promise (6:13-20). Then in chap. 7, he returns to the theme of the priestly order of Melchizedek--how great Melchizedek was (7:4-10), and the significance of another priest like Melchizedek (Jesus) arising (7:11ff.).
HEBREWS 7:23-25. JESUS LIVES FOREVER--AND SAVES FOREVER
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
"The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing" (v. 23). The priests of the order of Aaron came and went--lived and died--necessitating their frequent replacement. Thus, there were, over time, many of them--both priests and high priests.
but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently." (v. 24). But Christ is eternal, having no beginning and no ending. Other New Testament passages support the idea that Jesus was eternal:
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him (v. 25a). Jesus came to save the world "to the uttermost," but the salvation that he offers is limited to those "who draw near to God through him." John captured this same thought in one of the most popular verses in scripture, John 3:16. Unfortunately, we are prone to quote that verse and stop, but verses 17 and 18 show that there are limits imposed, not by the Son, but by those who reject him: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God" (John 3:16-18).
since He always lives to make intercession for them. (v. 25b). See the comments on verse 24 above.
Intercession is intervening in behalf of someone else--or praying for that person. Jesus interceded for people when he was on this earth. In his High Priestly Prayer shortly before his death, he prayed: "I pray for (to the people whom you have given me out of the world. I don't pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.... "Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.... "I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.... "Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.... "Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:9, 11, 15-17, 20-21, 24).
HEBREWS 7:26-28. SUCH A HIGH PRIEST WAS FITTING FOR US
26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
"For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (v. 26). Christ is the high priest that we need. The salvation that he made possible is the solution to our problem of sin, guilt, and spiritual death.
"who doesn't need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily" (v. 27a). The word "daily" presents a problem. The law prescribed daily burnt offerings (Exodus 29:38-42 and Numbers 28:1-8). As nearly as I can determine, these were not for atonement, but were instead gifts presented to God as a pleasant aroma (Exodus 29:41; Numbers 28:6).
"first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people" (v. 27b). Leviticus says: "No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement FOR HIMSELF and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.... "Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, and put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement FOR HIMSELF and for the people. ...and he shall make atonement FOR THE PRIESTS and for all the people of the assembly." (Leviticus 16:11, 17, 24, 33).
"For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself" (v. 27c). Jesus' death on the cross was a once-for-all-time sacrifice that needs no repetition.
"For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected" (v. 28). The author closes this section by contrasting the appointing by law of "high priests who have weaknesses" with "the word of the oath" appointing a Son forever who has been perfected.
"The word of the oath" is apparently a word from God appointing the Son.
Heb. 7:23-28 - T. CONSTABLE EXPOSITION
The mortality of the Levitical priests 7:23-25
vv. 23-24: The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - The Levitical priests had to succeed one another because they kept dying, but Jesus Christ needs no successor because He will not die.
v. 25: Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - The fact that Christ will not die and need replacement by another priest means that He can see His work of delivering His people through to the end. He can deliver completely (better than "forever," Hebrews 7:25) in the sense of seeing us through to the realization of our full salvation, our rest (inheritance) in God's presence (cf. Hebrews 1:14).
▪ Here the author isn't referring to His saving work as the salvation of sinners from judgment and death, but using the words to save in the sense of 'to bring to God's desired end'. The writer just quoted viewed God's goal for every Christian as spiritual maturity in this life rather than attainment of a full reward in the future.
▪ Our trials and temptations need not separate us from our inheritance since Jesus Christ can continue to support us by providing mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:14-16) all the way to our ultimate reward. What a comfort and assurance it is to realize that Jesus Christ Himself is praying for us constantly!
▪ This verse is not talking about eternal security but about remaining faithful to the Lord and as a result receiving our full reward. Our eternal security does rest on the intercessory ministry of Jesus Christ, but that was not the writer's point here (cf. Romans 8:33-34).
▪ It is important to emphasize this, for the character of our Lord's intercession has at times been grotesquely misrepresented in popular Christian thought. He is not to be thought of 'as an orante, standing ever before the Father with outstretched arms, like the figures in the mosaics of the catacombs, and with strong crying and tears pleading our cause in the presence of a reluctant God; but as a throned Priest-King, asking what He will from a Father who always hears and grants His request.
▪ Despite these exhortations to faithfulness and warnings against unfaithfulness [in Heb 6:4-6], Hebrews does not base the believer's assurance on works. The basis of ongoing assurance is Christ's high-priestly work of intercession." [Note: Colijn, p. 585.]
▪ In Hebrews 'salvation' is presented as a future eschatological inheritance (Heb 1:14; Heb 5:9; Heb 9:28). There is, nevertheless, a definite sense in which the community has already begun to participate in salvation as a result of the obedience and sacrificial death of Christ and his subsequent exaltation.
▪ Just as Christ's priesthood is permanent, so is the salvation which he makes possible.
The summary conclusion concerning Christ's superiority as a person 7:26-28
v. 26: For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; - In view of His superior ministry it is only fitting that our High Priest should be a superior Person. "Holy" (Gr. hosios) stresses blamelessness. (Another word translated "holy," hagios, stresses separateness.) "Innocent" means without guile or malice. "Undefiled" looks at His absolute purity.
▪ "Separated from sinners" probably refers to His being in a different class from sinful people. [Note: Manson, pp. 116-17.] Jesus was not only inherently pure, but He remains pure in all His contacts with sinners.
▪ The exposition is brought to a conclusion in Hebrews 7:26-28 with a majestic statement concerning Jesus' character, achievement, and status as high priest." [Note: Lane, p. 191.]
v. 27: who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. - In Israel's daily sacrifices, the priest had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins before he could offer one for the sins of others (Exodus 29:38-46; Leviticus 4:3-12). Also on the Day of Atonement the high priest would offer a sin offering for expiation for himself and then another one for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:6-10). Jesus Christ does not need to offer up periodic sacrifices to atone for sin either for His own sins or for those of His people. His one sacrifice of both worship and expiation on the cross completely satisfied God. No subsequent sacrifices are necessary for that purpose. The writer proceeded to develop this thought more fully in Hebrews 9:11-14 and Hebrews 10:1-15, after introducing it initially here.
v. 28: For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. - The profound difference between the two priesthoods is detailed in a concluding contrast summarizing the argument of the entire chapter." [Note: Ibid., p. 194.]
▪ Jesus Christ is superior because He is a Son rather than a mere man, because God appointed Him more recently than He appointed the Levitical priests, and because God appointed Him with an oath (Hebrews 7:21). He is "perfect" because He offered one sacrifice for sin that was adequate to satisfy God completely. Because He is perfect He can intercede effectively for us. Consequently we can go to Him confidently any time we need His help overcoming trials and temptations, specifically those trials that might result in our apostatizing. "Perfect forever" has the idea of not being subject to defects. He will never fail us, and another high priest will never replace Him.
▪ In view of the superior order of priesthood that Melchizedek foreshadowed and that Jesus Christ fulfilled, why would anyone want to go back to the old Aaronic order? The person of our high priest is superior. The order of His priesthood is superior. Christ is completely adequate in His person and preeminent in His order. We should worship His person and rely on His intercession because of His order. And we should not abandon Him.
▪ One of the most distinctive themes in the theology of Hebrews is the change from old to new in God's dealings with humankind. In Jesus Christ a decisive shift in salvation-history has occurred according to God's plan. What was provisional and ineffective has been superseded by the final and full salvation in the Son of God, a change anticipated in the Old Testament itself." [Note: Fanning, p. 398.]
Heb. 7:23-28 - EXEGESIS (Richison)
v. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. - Another reason that Jesus' priesthood differs from the Levitical priesthood is that it is eternal, not temporal. Death does not interrupt it. No priest in the Old Testament was permanent because they all were subject to death. The death of one necessitated installing a new one. It was an issue of succession.
v. 24: But He [Jesus], because He continues forever, - Christ's priesthood is "forever," so He will carry His work to completion because He never dies. He has no successor. He completed His work of salvation and conquered death, so neither anything nor anyone can change His priesthood (He 1:8, 11-12). Because Christ lives "forever," this insures a perpetual priesthood.
has an unchangeable priesthood - The Greek word for "unchangeable" is made up of three words placed into one: to step, across, and not. Thus, the idea of this word is to not step across. The thought is of something that cannot be violated or passed on to another. No person can assume Jesus' priesthood other than our beloved Lord. Jesus' priesthood was never transferred to another because His would last "forever." His priesthood was unalterable and inviolable. His priesthood could not ever change.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus' priesthood is permanent, perpetual, and unchanging because He lives "forever."
APPLICATION: Jesus' priesthood can never pass to another. It stands alone and forever. He stands as the only religious founder who is not in the grave. No one compares to Him. Our Lord's priesthood will never terminate. No successor will follow in His footsteps. In the New Testament there is no apostolic succession of priestly offices. Since Jesus is no longer subject to death, His priesthood can never be interrupted. It is "unchangeable" or permanent. Every promise and privilege that comes from Christ will never terminate. We are forever assured that He will be there for us.
v. 25: Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Therefore - Since Christ's priesthood continues forever (He 7:24), He can do something that no other priest could do. This is the implication of Christ's eternal priesthood.
He is also able - The word "able" means Jesus can do what He promises to do. Note that our Lord is "able" to deliver Christians on a continual basis. This word is used for comforting believers (He 2:18), sympathizing with believers (He 4:15), and here of delivering Christians.
PRINCIPLE: God has the ability to work on behalf of the Christian day by day.
APPLICATION: Note passages that deal with God's ability in relation to Christians: able to build them up (Ac 20:32), make them stand (Ro 14:4), establish them (Ro 16:25), make grace abound toward them (2 Co 9:8), "able to do above all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20), keep them (2 Ti 1:12), keep them from falling, and present them faultless (Jude 24).
to save - The idea here is to keep on saving. Once He saves our soul, He will continue to deliver us from issues in the Christian life, from the power of sin.
to the uttermost [completely] - Not only is our salvation continuous, it is complete. The only other place
where "uttermost" is used in the New Testament is Luke 13:11, where a woman could not completely stand
up straight. This is a contrast to this context where Jesus can completely deal with anything that comes our way. He can deal with the sin in our lives, with our adversity, with any issue in our lives.
▪ "Uttermost" means completely. The salvation our Lord provided was fully extensive; He put us in perfect conformity with God (He 5:9; 12:23). There is nothing wanting in His work. He saves completely, totally, and forever. Jesus' priesthood is unlimited in scope.
those who come to [approach] God through Him, - The qualification of Christ's saving work is for those who come to Him by faith (Jn 17:6, 9). The Greek word for "come to" occurs seven times in Hebrews (He 4:16; 7:25; 10:1, 22; 11:6; 12:18, 22). It is used of believers in their post-conversion life.
since He always lives to make intercession for them. - The reason Jesus can save to the uttermost is that He lives forever. The continual life of Priest Jesus allows Him to deal with sins as they may come. Not only does the priesthood of Jesus relate to initial salvation but with the ongoing life of the believer; the believer has free and continuous access to God. His salvation is complete.
▪ "Intercession" is to intervene for someone else. This is the function of an advocate (1 Jn 2:1).
PRINCIPLE: God is able to deal completely with any trial a believer might face.
APPLICATION: Jesus always prays in heaven for the believer, not that God is reluctant to hear His prayers. Christ's intercession for the believer never stops. His saving capacity never ends. Our Lord represents us before the throne of God without end. Jesus is not only the offering for sin but the Priest who offers it. He paid for our sin and He intercedes for us day by day. This grace began with our salvation and continues throughout the Christian's life (Ro 8:34). Jesus does not deal with our sin in a half-way measure. He goes beyond covering sin (atones) like Levitical priests; He eradicates it. He can save forever because He lives forever. Because of His inviolable priesthood, Christ is able to offer complete salvation. His salvation operates in the eternal sphere of which He is a part. His ability functions in the realm of the transcendent.
v. 26: For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; - The central theme of the book of Hebrews is the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. The argument of verses 26-28 is that the new priesthood is better because the new Priest is Jesus.
For - The "for" here explains the implications of the previous verse, of the intercessory work of Christ on our behalf (He 7:25).
such a High Priest - The word "such" contrasts the Levitical priests with Jesus the High Priest. The idea of "such" regarding Jesus is the wonder of His priesthood. He stands in immense magnitude. This High Priest does not position Himself at a distance from the sinner but works on his behalf.
was fitting for us, - The idea of "fitting" is literally became us. The word indicates something that is appropriate (He 2:10). The assets that Jesus provides correspond to the believer's needs. He is the kind of High Priest we need. Who He was is appropriate for dealing with sinners. We need a sinless Savior. He is eminently suited to be our High Priest. His sacrifice suits all kinds of people everywhere.
PRINCIPLE: Our High Priest answers exactly to our predicament.
APPLICATION: Our High Priest answers exactly to the requirements of the predicament in which people find themselves. He is such that we need no other; He perfectly fits our needs. Our Lord intercedes personally on our behalf. The believer needs someone to satisfy God about paying for his sins (He 2:17). He needs a cleansing of conscience to serve God freely (He 9:14). He requires someone who acquires acceptance before God for him (He 10:19). He needs someone who will enable him to worship (He 13:15). He requires someone to equip him for service (He 13:21). He needs comfort in trials (He 2:17-18; 4:15-16). He wants someone to constantly intervene for him (He 7:25). He needs help (He 2:18).
* The author presents five characteristics of Christ's High Priesthood in this verse.
who is holy [devout], - "Holy" sets forth Jesus in relation to the Father. He was wholly oriented to God the Father. He was ever faithful to Him. This word for "holy" is not the normal word (hagios, separation unto God) for the concept; the word here carries the idea of devout. The meaning here is personal holiness.
harmless, - "Harmless" means blameless, guileless. Jesus related to human beings in a guileless manner. He never extended malice to anyone. Neither did He use craftiness in dealing with people. He was characterized by personal integrity in His dealings with others.
undefiled, - "Undefiled" describes Jesus in relation to Himself. The word "undefiled" means unsullied or unblemished. He had no spot on His soul. He lived a life free from sin. Jesus was free from any taint in His person or character.
separate from sinners, - The characteristics here and in the next phrase refer to Jesus in the eternal state. The words "separate from sinners" describe His present state in heaven. He is separate from the company of sinners while in God's presence.
and has become higher than the heavens; - Christ's priesthood has been exalted higher than the universe (He 4:14). The Old Testament High Priest could only go into the Holy of Holies, but Jesus went into heaven or the presence of God Himself.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus' priesthood is great because His person transcends any other.
APPLICATION: Jesus was free from anything that might disqualify Him from the priesthood. His High Priesthood is totally acceptable to God. He experienced temptation and trial to the fullest, yet did not yield to sin in the process. Instead, He did something for people; He became a sin-offering for them.
v. 27: who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. - Jesus' priesthood did not have the flaws of Levitical priests. He differed in two respects: (1) He never sinned like them and (2) they had to offer sins for themselves.
who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices - Regular Levitical priests offered sacrifices for sins daily (He 9:6; 10:11). The high priests offered sacrifice on the Day of Atonement once a year. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice once on the cross.
first for His own sins and then for the people's - Priests of the Old Testament had to make a sacrifice for their own sins first and then for others.
for this He did once for all - Jesus offered sacrifice for sin one time upon the cross. His death was a singular event (He 10:12, 14). No sacrifice beyond that point was needed. He was never required to repeat sacrifice for sin, but He intercedes for us day by day based on one final sacrifice.
when He offered up Himself. - The reason no other sacrifice was needed was that Jesus offered Himself as the final payment for sin. He was both victim and Priest; He was both the sacrificed and the Sacrificer (Mt 20:28; Ro 8:3; 2 Co 5:21). Jesus' sacrifice was Himself.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus' one act of sacrifice was definitive and enough.
APPLICATION: Because Christ was the sinless High Priest, He was able to make a definitive and final sacrifice for sin. He offered but one unrepeatable sacrifice. This secured our eternal salvation. Jesus did not need to sacrifice for Himself or repeatedly sacrifice for others.
v. 28: For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. - Verse 28 shows the profound difference between Christ's priesthood and the Levitical.
For - The "for" gives the reason for the differences between Christ's and Levitical priesthoods.
the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness - The Mosaic law appointed high priests with "weakness." They were morally and spiritually weak.
but the word of the oath - Jesus' priesthood came by an "oath" confirmed by God (Ps 110:4). If the Levitical priesthood had been permanent, then there would be no further need for a priesthood.
which came after the law - The Melchizedekian oath in Psalm 110:4 came centuries after Moses and the law. Jesus came in the line of David and the Davidic oath in this verse and the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7:12-18. Christ's priesthood did away with and made unnecessary the preceding Levitical priesthood.
appoints the Son - A second difference in priesthoods is that Jesus' was as the "Son" of God. Since He shares the very nature of God, His priesthood is eternal in nature.
who has been perfected forever. - The words "perfected forever" refer to the consecration and completion of the requirements for Christ's priesthood. The thought is that He was consecrated or fully installed in priestly office. In His humanity He met every prerequisite to save and deliver us (He 2:10, 17-18; 4:15-16; 5:8). It is by the completion of Christ's work on the cross that He made our salvation possible. Therefore, who and what He is suits us and is appropriate for us.
▪ "Perfected" does not carry the idea that He had been morally imperfect in some past sense. Jesus was born morally perfect inasmuch as He was perfect forever as the Son of God.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus is the ideal High Priest.
APPLICATION: This chapter climaxes with high Christology about the Son. This is the One who made the universe (He 1:2). He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being. He made purification for our sins (He 1:3). This High Priest passed through the heavens (He 4:14). Thus, as the divine and pre-existent Son of God living forever, He stands in a unique place to function as our permanent High Priest.
Heb. 7:23-28 - BibleRef
CONTEXT: Hebrews 7:23-28 expands on prior arguments related to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Here, the author shows how the priesthood of Jesus is superior to that of the Old Testament Law. This uses the figure of Melchizedek as a model. Christ's priesthood is sinless, perfect, unending, and decreed as such by God. The Levitical priesthood was temporary, flawed, imperfect, and could not last forever. This better promise, in Christ, is tied into the confidence we have as believers.
v. 23: The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; - In these verses, the writer of Hebrews presents several areas in which the Old Testament priesthood was flawed, or limited. The purpose of these criticisms is not to say that the Old Covenant was wrong, or bad-it was part of God's plan to bring His people to faith in Christ (Galatians 3:19-4:7). However, that system cannot be seen as the ultimate, perfect fulfillment of our salvation. Prior verses mentioned that Levitical priests received their position by ancestry, not an oath. Jesus, on the other hand, is guaranteed His role by God (Hebrews 7:21). This, in and of itself, makes His covenant better than that of the law of Moses.
▪ Verses 23 and 24 present another way in which the Old Testament priesthood is imperfect. The law of Moses required many priests and high priests, since those men were mortal. They could not serve as priests any longer than their natural lives. Sooner or later, death would stop them from continuing in their roles, meaning those tasks would need to be passed on to someone else. Jesus, on the other hand, possesses an "indestructible" life-an eternal existence-and so He can serve as a priest forever. This is exactly what God has promised, through the priestly order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4).
v. 24: Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. - Unlike the priests of the Old Covenant, Jesus will not see His priesthood end in death. The men who served as priests and high priests could only intercede for the people while they were alive. After death, their personal priesthood ended and their priestly responsibilities had to be passed on to others. This passage is all about the ways in which Jesus' priesthood, in the style of Melchizedek, is superior to the Levitical priesthood. Verses 23 and 24 highlight this issue of mortality-which Jesus does not suffer from. Unlike human priests, Jesus has an "indestructible" life, or an "eternal" life (Hebrews 7:16). This not only makes Jesus' priesthood superior, it allows Him to fulfill the promise, made by God in Psalm 110, to establish a priest like Melchizedek "forever" (Psalm 110:1-4).
▪ Other limitations of the Levitical priesthood are discussed in this book as well. Priests are naturally sinful (Hebrews 7:27), while Christ is not (Hebrews 4:15). Their sacrifices are limited (Hebrews 9:6-7), while the sacrifice of Christ is perfect and infinite (Hebrews 9:11-12). These limitations prevent the Old Testament Law from saving us completely, since the system is based on human efforts. The purpose of these laws was never to save us, but to point towards the one who could utterly save us-perfectly and completely-through His superior role. This person is Jesus Christ.
v. 25: Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - This verse begins with the Greek word hothen, which literally means "therefore." The statement which comes next, then, is entirely dependent on what has just been said. In prior verses, the author has been explaining how the Old Testament system of priests is limited, and therefore ultimately useless for our salvation. Human priests can only serve until they die (Hebrews 7:23), and so they cannot intercede for us forever. No human priest could offer sacrifice for all sins, since he could never live long enough to do so. Jesus, on the other hand, lives forever (Hebrews 7:16), with a priesthood guaranteed forever by God (Hebrews 7:17, 7:21).
▪ Therefore, Christ can save us in ways which the Old Covenant never could. The concept of Jesus saving "to the uttermost" is often taken to mean that God can save anyone, no matter how sinful they may be. That idea is true (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), but is not the point being made here. Instead, the author of Hebrews is echoing the same points made earlier: that Jesus is eternally available to intercede for us, and to offer us forgiveness, even right now (Hebrews 4:14-16). Where a human priest would fall short, Christ can save us entirely, since His priesthood is unending (Romans 8:34). What man's effort cannot achieve, Christ's finished work on the cross has already done (Matthew 19:26; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 11:6).
▪ This is powerfully illustrated in the Greek phrase used for "to the uttermost," which is eis to panteles. This exact same phrase, using the exact same words, is used in Luke 13:11 to describe the plight of the crippled woman. She was suffering from a condition which prevented her from standing up "completely." She was bent over, and as much as she tried, she could not completely uncurl her back-she could not straighten her back eis to panteles. This same phrase is used here to show how Christ does, in fact, save us that very way: completely.
▪ Later verses will expand on this by pointing out how Christ's sacrifice is also perfect, not limited like that of the Levitical priests (Hebrews 9:11-12). His life is sinless, unlike the flawed human nature of other priests (Hebrews 4:15). Human priesthood, left to itself, could only save us to a certain extent-not completely, and not eternally. Christ, on the other hand, saves us entirely and forever (Hebrews 9:24).
v. 26: For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; - According to the author of Hebrews, it makes sense that God's ultimate plan for our salvation would involve a high priest who is eternal, exalted, and without sin. The gist of this passage has been the superiority of Jesus' priesthood to that of the Old Covenant (Hebrews 7:22). Among the points raised so far are that the Old Covenant priesthood was not promised with an oath (Hebrews 7:20), while Jesus was given such a promise by God (Hebrews 7:21). Priests could only serve until death (Hebrews 7:23), while Christ is eternally alive (Hebrews 7:16). Later verses will also mention the fact that human priests have to offer sacrifices for their own sins (Hebrews 7:27), while Jesus is sinless (Hebrews 4:15), and that animal sacrifices can never equal the single, perfect sacrifice offered by Jesus on the cross (Hebrews 9:11-14).
▪ This verse summarizes the overall point of this passage: that Jesus is the perfect, complete fulfillment of God's promised role of high priest. All attributes listed of Christ here correspond to attributes assigned to Jesus elsewhere in the book of Hebrews, as well as the New Testament. Jesus is "holy," meaning "set apart" (John 6:69). He is "innocent" and "unstained" by sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He is "separated" from sinners, in the sense that He was tempted without falling into sin (Hebrews 4:15). And, Jesus is "exalted" by God (Phil. 2:9).
▪ A fundamental theme of Hebrews is confidence in Jesus Christ. The reason for arguing that Jesus holds a superior priesthood is to encourage believers not to fade under persecution. Instead of falling away, or returning to the imperfect system of Judaism, we should be willing to "hold fast" to the gospel (Hebrews 3:6).
v. 27: who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself. - This verse, like all portions of Scripture, needs to be read in context to be understood correctly. No sentence in the Bible is meant to be interpreted like a fortune cookie: shallowly and alone. A key mistake here, where some readers stumble, is the phrase "his own sins." This verse is in reference to Jesus, as part of an explanation as to why His priesthood is superior to that of the Old Covenant. Various points have been made so far, such as the fact that Jesus has eternal life, while human priests are mortal (Hebrews 7:16, 23), and that Christ's priesthood is guaranteed with an oath (Hebrews 7:17, 21), while the Levitical priests inherited their titles (Hebrews 7:20).
▪ Here, the point being made is a continuation of verse 26. There, the author of Hebrews points out that it makes sense for God to install a "holy, innocent, unstained" high priest. The point here, then is that Jesus does not need to do what human priests do: to offer sacrifice for their own sins, and then sacrifice for the sins of the people. Jesus does not offer sacrifices for His own sins because He has no sins of which to be absolved (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15).
▪ This verse also emphasizes the once-for-all, eternal, perfect nature of Jesus' sacrifice. This is another way in which He is the true fulfillment of God's plan of salvation. Where human efforts will fall short (Hebrews 7:18-19; Romans 3:20), and animal sacrifices will not be enough (Hebrews 9:11-14), Jesus' death on the cross "utterly" saves us from our sins (Hebrews 7:25).
v. 28: For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever. - This verse summarizes the conclusion of the author's argument: high priests of the Old Testament were flawed, but appointed by the God-given Law to serve their purpose (Galatians 3:19-4:6). Jesus, on the other hand, is perfect. In the book of Hebrews, the word perfect is most often a reference to something being completed (Hebrews 5:9). Here, however, the context includes the idea of Christ's sinlessness and moral perfection (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus has been appointed to His position directly by God (Hebrews 7:17, 21), unlike Levitical priests who inherit their titles (Hebrews 7:20). Jesus lives forever (Hebrews 7:16), and does not lose His priesthood to death as mortal priests will (Hebrews 7:23). Human efforts will be incomplete (Hebrews 7:18-19), but Jesus' efforts remove our sin completely (Hebrews 7:25).
▪ In the next chapter, the author will build from his last two ideas. These were the idea of Melchizedek being greater than Abraham, and the priesthood of Jesus-on the order of Melchizedek-being greater than that of the Levitical priests. These will be the springboard to a deeper discussion of how, and why, Jesus' role in our salvation is exactly what God has always been promising us. The Old Covenant, while flawed, is not a mistake or a failure by God. It is simply part-and only part-of His overall plan.
