Our Permanent High Priest — the Lord Jesus (A Brief Look at Hebrews 7)

My friends and I have been reading through the book of Hebrews. This week we’re reading Hebrews 7 together. I describe our Bible-reading covenant here and recommend that you consider doing the same with a few of your friends!

I think Hebrews 7 is one of the toughest chapters in all of the Bible! I don’t understand much of the material about Melchizedek, but that’s okay. The major point of the chapter, I believe, is about our great high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some of my observations on verses 26-28 —

1. He is a high priest who meets our needs (v. 26). My primary need — and yours too I suspect — is for an intercessor with the Father. And the Lord Jesus is precisely that for His disciples. There is no greater need.

I have a bit of a confession to make.  My wife and I are avid Starbucks coffee drinkers. Every morning I get up about 5:30 and make myself a cup, freshly ground, in our Keurig. When Linda wakes up, I kiss her good morning and ask, “Would you like a cup of coffee?” She says, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I would.” And I make her a cup. We’re presently drinking an expresso flavor. I found it interesting that it is described as “BOLD” and “DECADENT.” I want to be bold in my life, but certainly not decadent!! And I’m so glad the Lord Jesus has taken care of my decadence.

2. His character is described in five ways. He is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens (v. 26). These qualities show that Jesus is our perfect high priest and is now exalted by the Father for His atoning work.

3. Unlike every other high priest, Jesus does not need to repeatedly offer sacrifices day after day. He had no need to offer sacrifices for His own sins for He had none. He has made the ultimate sacrifice — Himself — for our sins!

4.  The Son has been made perfect forever. This statement in verse 28 seems to relate to the Son of God’s humanity for He was always perfect as the Second Person of the Trinity.

Today’s Challenge:  Some of our previous posts have been about our need for a high priest. Thank the Lord today for your permanent, perfect high priest who intercedes for you and me before the Father!