Sermon Central
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A Hymn To Our High Priest
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 28, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: He is our eternal Advocate, always available, always approachable.
A HYMN TO OUR HIGH PRIEST.
Jesus’ priesthood is proclaimed to be of a better order than that of Aaron (Hebrews 7:11) because of His similitude to Melchisedec (Hebrews 7:14-15). It is not genealogy which qualifies our great High Priest, but the power of an indissoluble life (Hebrews 7:16). Although the Aaronic priesthood was God-ordained, it was temporary, and must give way to a new and better priesthood by which we may all make our approaches to God (Hebrews 7:18-19).
King David spoke of an irreversible proclamation made by the Father to the Son in the counsels of eternity (Psalm 110:1; Psalm 110:4). It was an oath concerning the everlasting priesthood of Jesus (Hebrews 7:20-21). Because of that oath, Jesus is made the surety of a new and better covenant: an eternal covenant based on the permanency of its great High Priest (Hebrews 7:22).
Hebrews 7:23-25. THE PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC: CONCLUSION
Hebrews 7:23. The Aaronic priests needed to be many, because one by one they would all die.
Hebrews 7:24. By contrast, Jesus lives for ever: so He has an in-transmissible, permanent, and un-transferable priesthood.
Hebrews 7:25. Jesus has passed into the heavens (Hebrews 4:14) - and is set on the right hand of God (Hebrews 8:1). He “for ever” lives to intercede for us at the right hand of God.
So if we approach God through Him, He is competent to “save” us. This is in the present tense. He is our eternal Advocate, always available, always approachable. He is “a very present help” in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
He saves us “to the uttermost” - literally, “throughout all time” - absolutely, completely, utterly.
Hebrews 7:26-28. THE SINLESS HIGH PRIEST
Hebrews 7:26. “Such a High Priest (as I am about to describe) was exactly appropriate for us:
holy (obedient to the covenant);
free from evil (completely innocent);
pure (untouched by anything that defiles).”
Furthermore He was “separated from sinners.” Whilst truly man, He was yet “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
And He is “exalted above the heavens” (cf. Philippians 2:9).
Hebrews 7:27. The Aaronic priests needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins, as well as for the people (Hebrews 5:3). Jesus did not need to do this, because He did not have any sins.
Neither does he need to make His offering often, as they did, because of the once-and-for-ever sufficiency of His sacrifice.
The holy, blameless, undefiled High Priest offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews 7:28. “The law” was given by Moses (John 1:17), but its priesthood was limited by man’s sin and weakness.
Jesus came to “fulfil” the law (Matthew 5:17), and perfectly kept it.
Our Lord - as the fulfilment of the word of the oath - supersedes all that has gone before.
The Son, we are told, has been "perfected”.
The Passion and cross, death and resurrection of Jesus are what brought about this perfecting (Hebrews 2:10).
The priesthood of Aaron’s sons was transient, because they each died.
Jesus’ priesthood is “eternal,” because He lives for ever (Romans 8:34).