Bible Diary - Hebrews 7:18-28
August 17, 2008
The desire to draw near to God seems to me to be a given of human existence. For the ancient Israelites, feeding this desire boiled down to living according to the law of God with the help of their priests. Problem was, trying to meet the law’s demands for personal holiness was futile, and their priests weren’t much help. The writer of Hebrews says this was because their priests were appointed by men, not affirmed by God.
7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless, 7:19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 7:20 And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 7:21 but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” – 7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 7:23 And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office, 7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. 7:25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 7:26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 7:27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. 7:28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.
It’s a different ball game now because of God’s strong affirmation of the priesthood of Jesus. With Him we have a perfect High Priest, one who is effective and guaranteed by God to live forever. He will always be there to intercede for us and our descendants at the throne of God.
The religious landscape has changed drastically since the letter to the Hebrews was written. The message hasn’t changed, but this letter to the Hebrews portrays only one aspect of the mystery of God the Son. So I can’t stop here; I must keep on going and hear what the rest of Scripture tells me about God’s redemptive acts in time and history through His Son.
Dave, trusting.
-sdg-
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