Jesus Our Better High Priest
Hebrews 7:23-28 NASB
The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
The book of Hebrews was written to address Jewish believers who were under pressure to return to Judaism. In this chapter, the author is describing reasons why Jesus is the better High Priest than those chosen from among men.
The earthly priests who represented the people before God kept having to be replaced. It was the death of the priest that created the necessity to choose a new High Priest. No one lives forever down here. But Jesus is alive forever, so His priesthood representing us before God is a forever priesthood. And so, Jesus can save those who draw near to God through Him. Jesus does not get replaced or lose His job, and He never dies. He is our High Priest forever.
And our High Priest, who represents a better covenant or agreement between God and man, is different than the earthly high priest. Jesus is holy and without sin, separated from sinners and exalted to a high place by God Himself. The old Levitical priesthood was handled by men who were mortal and weak. Whereas Jesus was without sin, and so He did not have to offer any sacrifices for His sins. The old high priests not only offered up sacrifices for the sins of the people but also for themselves. The sacrifice for sin that Jesus offered as our High Priest was Himself.
One of the key tenets of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is better. Better than angels, Moses and the Levitical priesthood. Jesus is the new priest and has received a new priesthood based on the sacrifice of Himself. The Law was a man-based system that man could not fix. Jesus brought to us a better hope. The Law had weak high priests, but our new agreement is based on Jesus, and there is no one stronger.
I admit I do not understand everything about Scripture. I am far from that space. The subject of Melchizedek is a bit fuzzy for me, namely because I am not sure about his birth, how he was established, and if he is still living. What I do know is that we have it so much better than the people of the Old Testament. And I would never want to go back to that time or that restrictive law. I love how we can call God Father, and how we can fellowship with His Son, Jesus, and how we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit. What God is doing today, by His Holy Spirit through Jesus, is better than what the Old Testament can offer. And we don’t have to miss a thing because Jesus is better.