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Hebrews 7.20-28
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.
“Those are the optional items.” That’s what the salesman said to me the first time that I was looking to buy a new car. I quickly learned that there was a big difference in cost between the base model and the one that contained the full package of options. If I wanted the full package, it was going to cost me.
I was thinking about that as I read this passage because Hebrews has been going to great lengths to tell us about who Jesus is and all that we receive in a relationship with Him. In Jesus, we get the full package. The difference is that it doesn’t cost us, it cost Jesus.
Up to this point, Hebrews really has been taking great care to explain who Jesus is. We know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, the one to whom we can wholeheartedly entrust our lives, the one to whom we can always turn, and the one to whom we pray.
In addition to that reality, Hebrews has also carefully explained to us that Jesus is our great high priest, established forever, and while seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father, Jesus ushers us into the Father’s presence, and that’s the point that this passage is driving at today.
In this passage, Hebrews continues to contrast Jesus with the other priests in the temple.
There are a couple of amazing differences between Jesus and these other priests.
Unlike the other priests, Jesus was made a priest on an oath from the Lord (verse 20-21 relating to Psalm 110.4).
Jesus is also the guarantor of the better covenant who renews our relationship with the Lord (verse 22).
Jesus’ priesthood continues forever, unlike the previous priests who all passed away and new priests took their place (verse 23-24).
And unlike the other priests who had to offer sacrifices for their sin before offering sacrifices for the sins of the people, Jesus is sinless (tempted yes, but never sinned—verse 26). In fact, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for our sin through His death on the cross.
All the previous sacrifices before Jesus were imperfect and merely pointed to the perfect sacrifice that Jesus would make on behalf of all humanity.
You may have noticed that throughout our reading so far, Hebrews has gone to great lengths to explain to us who Jesus is, what He has done, and the blessings that are ours as we entrust our lives to Him.
In Jesus, we have it all, the full and complete package. Why not say “yes” to Him? Jesus offers you Himself, no strings attached, and there is nothing about your life that prevents you from entrusting yourself to Him. What could possibly hold you back? And if you’ve entrusted your life to Jesus, what can you thank Him for today?
God bless you and know that I am praying for you constantly.
Scott
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