Opening Prayer
I come to your Word with anticipation today, Father, looking forward to hearing your voice. Thank you because through it, you offer me all that I need for faith, hope, and joy.
Read HEBREWS 7:11–28
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”[a]
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’”[b]
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘Before the throne of God above / I have a strong and perfect plea; / a great High Priest whose name is Love, / whoever lives and pleads for me.’1
Think Further
This section is in two parts. Verses 11–25 establish that Jesus is a superior priest to the Levite priests and verses 26–28 summarize all that has been said about Jesus the High Priest until now and introduce chapters 8–10 dealing with his ongoing ministry. While Jesus is seated at God’s right hand, he also ministers in God’s presence on our behalf.
In verses 11–25, the Genesis Melchizedek story fades into the background and Psalm 110:4 returns. The writer concentrates on the term ‘forever’ and God’s oath that guarantees it. Jesus is a priest forever. Unlike those other priests who die and need to be replaced, his life is ‘indestructible’ (v 16). He lives forever and has a permanent priesthood, something that God has guaranteed with an oath. God will never change his mind about Jesus. If the argument is complex, the conclusion is not: ‘Jesus … is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ ( 24,25). Take hold of this today.
The summary in verses 26–28 lists some of his qualities: he is ‘holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.’ Verse 27 introduces a phrase that will become important in chapters 9–10: ‘once for all.’ Here we learn that, unlike the Levite priests, Jesus does not need to offer daily animal sacrifices for the sins of the people. He made his offering once for all when he offered not an animal but himself. His is a sacrifice that never needs to be repeated. For that reason, he truly meets our needs. God will never change his mind about those who believe in Jesus.
Apply
Jesus’ sacrifice can never be repeated. Look again at Hebrews 6:6. Think about the importance of persevering and thank God for Jesus’ ministry, enabling you to persevere.
Closing prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that there never is a time that you don’t welcome me to come to your throne of grace. There is never a time that you are unable or unwilling to meet my need.
Last Updated on July 30, 2024 by kingstar