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THE FINAL PRIEST. Hebrews 7:20-28. 10/29/2023. #22.
20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’”), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 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. 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; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
1. A priest by oath
a. Aaron was established as a priest without an oath
a1. God did not swear to make Aaron’s line
permanent priests
a2. Unlike David (II Samuel 7:14), who was promised a continual line, no promises were given to Aaron as to his line’s longevity
b. Psalm 110:4 the priest after the order of Mel., Jesus, was promised his position forever (“unto the ages”)
a1. The oath was sworn by God (the Father)
a2. God made Jesus a priest, just as He “gave” (John 3:16) Jesus to be the sin offering for man
c. The oath is irrevocable (God won’t change his mind)
a1. Salvation is an eternal certainty
a2. Our assurance rests on the integrity of God
2. A far better covenant
a. The New Covenant is far superior to the Old Covenant
a1. The Old Covenant couldn’t remove sin guilt
a2. The Old Covenant mediated through sinful priests and mortal animals
b. The Old Covenant was flawed from its inception
a1. Though the Law was perfect, it only could define sin, but couldn’t redeem the sinner
a2. The Old Covenant couldn’t be permanent
a3. Covenant is used here for first time in Hebrews, but is used sixteen more times (most in New Testament)
c. The High Priest could never continue in office, since he died, as did each new high priest
d. Jesus continues forever
a1. At His resurrection Christ overcame
death for all believers (I Corinthians 15:50-58)
a2. His continuation guarantees ours
e. While still in our sinful state, Christ makes intercession for us, opposing the Accuser (Hebrews 4, Revelation12)
f. Jesus is our surety (guarantee) of a better covenant
a1. Ephesians 1:13-14 the Holy Spirit is our deposit, assuring of full payment (eternal life)
a2. Jesus is the guarantee behind the deposit
a3. Surety (enguos) only used here in New Testament
3. A permanent high priest
a. The Old Covenant high priest was flawed
a1. He was not permanent
a2. He had to offer for his own sins first
a3. He could not remove the penalty of sin
b. Jesus is far better than the high priest
a1. He did not need to offer for His own sins
a2. His intercession for us is continual and effectual for all time
a3. Unlike the HIGH PRIEST many ineffectual offerings, Christ offered one effectual offering for all
c. Christ has a better appointment
a1. The HIGH PRIEST was appointed as a weak intercessor, flawed and dying
a2. Christ was appointed after the Law was established, being greater than the Law
d. Jesus has become higher than the heavens
a1. Lit., “is having become”
a2. Jesus was always higher than the heavens, but by redeeming believers his eternal resume’ now includes Redeemer of mankind
a3. By gaining redeemed man, He has been made perfect (complete), fulfilling His mission
Key verse: 1 Corinthians 15:50-5850 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.