The New and Greater (est) Covenant

Hebrews 8

We began our book of Hebrews Bible study last week with Hebrews 7. Let us remember the main points of the chapter. Jesus was of a type like Melchizadek, the first priest of Yahweh. Since he had no known birth or death dates, he appeared to be before time and continuing after time. In addition, since he received a tithe from Abraham, which acknowledges Abraham considered Melchizadek a priest of God, we must consider him as such. Further, Melchizadek offered bread and wine, as Jesus did when He distributed the Passover and reckoned it His body and blood. Another thing to consider in their relationship to each other is Melchizadek’s name meant king of righteousness and he was the king of Salem, which means peace. Melchizadek was the king of righteousness and peace. Jesus, too, is the king of righteousness and peace. Existing before time makes Jesus before the Law God gave to Moses. This means Jesus’ personage came before the Law stating the priests were to come from the line of Aaron, the tribe of Levi. In addition, we found out from the writer of Hebrews the Law led us to know our sin, but did not give us cleansing from our sins eternally. The sacrifices offered were offered repeatedly over time, whereas, the sacrifice Jesus offered was once-for-all. His sacrifice was sufficient for all time and all people.

Let us begin our study for this week in Hebrews 8. The first verse of Hebrews 8 states, “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” The writer immediately stated Jesus’ position. He dealt at length with this thought in chapter 7 and he wanted to make this emphatic statement to clarify so there was no doubt about it. Jesus is our High Priest who sits at the right hand of God in heaven. David, in Psalm 110:1, said, “The LORD says to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” Hebrews 1:3 states, “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty/God on high.” In both the Old and New Testaments, Jesus is a part of the Godhead upon the throne. He sits at the right hand of Yahweh God who reigns in majesty. Further, in Hebrews 3:1, we see we are to consider Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. He is above the earthly priests and His sacrifice offered was greater than any that earthly priests could offer. The main point in verse one is still that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father until HE (the Father) makes His (Jesus’) enemies His footstool, until all evil is defeated. A person under Jesus’ feet means he or she is under subjection to Jesus. You can see this in Ephesians 1:22 and 1 Corinthians 15:25, too.

Moving to verse two, we read, “A minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.” This is a continuation of verse 1. Jesus is a priest in the sense people know priests; He offers sacrifice. Another difference from the earthly priests is they offer service in the earthly sanctuary and tabernacle, whereas, Jesus Christ offers service as a minister in the true tabernacle. This verse appears easy enough to understand. There are sects that interpret this to mean Jesus is still ministering in a heavenly tabernacle like priests on earth minister in an earthly tabernacle. They think this because, in Exodus 25:9 & 40, God told Moses to make the tabernacle “after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.” People from these other religious organizations have read that the earthly tabernacle is a pattern or copy of a tabernacle in heaven. They believe God reigns in a heavenly tabernacle. However, we must return to what tabernacle and sanctuary mean and their purposes to understand this verse. The tabernacle was a tent pitched by the Israelites while they were traveling to the Promised Land. There was nothing solid about the tabernacle; it was a portable place of worship. Yet, God required the Israelites to set aside a place for Him to be a holy place where the people could go to Him for worship and to offer sacrifice. When we read further in Hebrews, the writer explains to us what he meant by the “true tabernacle.” In Hebrews 9:24 he said, “For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” The “true tabernacle” is heaven where the Father sits on His throne and Christ is sitting at His right hand. God provided the diagram for Moses to build the tabernacle. Just as God planned the earth, heavens, and universes,  He planned the tabernacle and Moses built it to God's specification. The earthly tabernacle does not look and function as the “true tabernacle.” The earthly tabernacle was for use while they were traveling, but when the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, they built temples and synagogues.

Solomon built the temple according to God’s specifications. It was the center of Jewish worship from that time. The Jews rebuilt it under the leadership of Ezra after the Babylonian exile. The Wailing Wall is what remains of the temple area. It is the western retaining wall for the hill where the temple stood. Today the Dome of the Rock built by the Muslims resides where the temple of Jerusalem was. A synagogue is a house of prayer. It is where Jews come together for community prayer services. Because of this, Jewish rabbis call the synagogue the “little temple” in rabbinical literature. The synagogues are independent community organizations. They can be run with or without a rabbi whom the board of directors (lay people) of the synagogue hire. Jews hold prayer services in the sanctuary of the synagogue. To summarize, the Israelites built the temple according to the specifications of God and for worship of God in Jerusalem. No other temple exists. Individual Jewish communities build synagogues for their communities. It is a place of prayer for Jews in the community. The sanctuary is where the prayer services in a sanctuary occur. Comprehending this makes it easier to understand the writer of Hebrews when he speaks of being in the “true tabernacle,” a place not pitched by the hands of men. Nothing of earth is exactly like God’s heaven, not His Priest, His sacrifice, or the place from which He reigns and ministers.

Hebrews 8:3 states, “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.” Every high priest, according to the decrees of God, was to offer gifts to God and sacrifices for the people’s sins (to atone for their sins) so they could be in the presence of God in His tabernacle/temple. “Gifts” is doron and are offered in honor of God as thanks. The "gifts" are used for the temple and the poor. “Sacrifices” is thusia and, in the Law, were for the forgiveness of sins. Since the Law required the High Priests to offer gifts and sacrifices, the High Priest for us must have something to offer just as the Old Testament gifts and sacrifices (see Leviticus 16). The earthly priests were to offer gifts of thanks to God. These gifts were for the priests and aided the poor. The priests were to offer sacrifices for atoning/forgiving of sins. Jesus as the High Priest offered these, too. His sacrifice was His death and blood for our once-and-for-all redemption from the penalty of sin, death forever. In the old covenant, priest had to offer gifts, too. Jesus’ gift was a gift from God to humankind as a gift of love, the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God. Note the difference here from the earthly priests. God gave both sacrifice and the gift in the new covenant. Humankind has to do nothing to make the new covenant valid. This is why the new covenant is more powerful and will be effective. Humankind has to do nothing to be a part of it or receive the benefits of it. Yahweh does it everything. We just accept the gift and believe. The gift of Jesus becomes personal when each person believes Jesus is the Son of God and He died to remove his or her sins. The act of belief/faith is a gift from God, which anyone can have by asking God. We can be like the father in Mark 9:17-24 who recognizes his unbelief and asks for faith. In addition, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:9 God gives faith as a gift.

Reading Hebrews 8:4-5 we see,

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle. ‘See,’ He (God) says, ‘that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain’.

 If this High Priest were on earth, we would not need him because earthly priests offer these gifts and sacrifices according to the Law. We need a High Priest who did not come by the Law but by power and might and who shows us our sin and removes all of it for eternity, not just for a time. This High Priest came from the Most High God, who has no beginning and no end and who has the power to provide the sufficient sacrifice so we can be in His presence for now and forever. These earthly high priests are a copy and shadow of heavenly things. “Copy” is hupodeigma in Greek and means a representation or a thing to be imitated. This Greek word is also used in John 13:15, James 5:10, 2 Peter 2:6 (“example”), and Hebrews 4:11 and 9:23. A copy is never as accurate and sufficient as the real and original. “Shadow” is skia in Greek and means an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object. Thus, the earthly tabernacle represents (is an image of) the true tabernacle – heaven - but is not the true tabernacle. In heaven, we will have access and communication with God at any time. The tabernacle was a holy place on earth where priests could intercede/speak to God for their people. So, in all the earth this was the only place people could commune with God, whereas, in heaven, people can commune with God anywhere and at any time. The earthly tabernacle and priests are just an image, not the real and perfect thing. Even Moses knew it was a representation, not the true tabernacle (heaven). He was making the tabernacle according to the “pattern,” which God showed him on the mountain (Exodus 25:40). Since the earthly tabernacle is a representation, the high priests on earth are representations of the true High Priest. Since they are representations, the sacrifices they offer are not complete fulfillment for atonement of human sins. The true High Priest is the only one who can offer the true and absolute fulfillment for sins.

            Jesus Christ, then, has a more excellent ministry than the earthly Levitical priests. Hebrews 8:6 says, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” Jesus’ ministry is greater than the earthly priests’ ministry because His ministry is based on the new covenant, the better covenant. Jesus is the High Priest of the new covenant and the mediator. First Timothy 2:5 speaks of this mediator, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” "Mediator" in Greek is mesites, which means one who intervenes between two people/groups to make or restore peace or for ratifying a covenant. He is the mediator because He brought the new covenant. He is the new covenant, the promise of restoration/redemption fulfilled in His death and resurrection. Jesus is the means by which humans can be in relationship with God. Since Jesus is the mediator, the one who provides the restoration and means for the new covenant, He enacted it on better promises. Remember Jesus is the only priest who became a priest by an oath/promise. God promised a new covenant. (See Hebrews 7 Bible study, “The Greater (est) High Priest and King.”) This promise He spoke of is the new covenant through Jesus’ blood. Jesus spoke of the new covenant through His blood in Luke 22:20, “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Hebrews 9:14-15 speaks of Jesus as the mediator because of His blood being poured out as the offering for our sins. Hebrews 12:24 speaks, too, of Jesus as the mediator because of His blood which sealed the new covenant. “Blood” is haima in Greek, which means blood shed for a purpose and refers to the seat of life. The earlier promises/covenants between God and Israel were two-sided; God would provide for them and forgive them if they walked in His ways and offered up sacrifices. The new covenant is one-sided; God offers the perfect sacrifice for forgiveness and the holy High Priest to administer it. People do not have to provide the sacrifice because their sacrifices never removed forever their sins against God. God is faithful to keep His promises. Human beings are not faithful; therefore, God’s sacrifice is perfect. The sacrifices of humans never completely removed their sins, thus, the priests offered sacrifices repeatedly.

            The writer continues, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.” Reread the Bible study from last week on Hebrews 7:11. The Levitical priests could not obtain perfection since they were sinners. Hence, there needed to be another priest, a Great High Priest. Since humans did not keep their promises to God, the Mosaic covenant was invalid. It could not remove the sins of the people. So, God created the new covenant, which relies on nothing from humankind. It relies solely upon God’s promises, power, mercy, forgiveness, and majesty.

            The writer of Hebrews takes the readers back to the prophetic voice of Jeremiah chapter 31. The writer recalled,

⁸ For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING,” SAYS THE LORD, “WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; ⁹ NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM,” SAYS THE LORD. ¹⁰ “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS,” SAYS THE LORD. “I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. ¹¹ AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. ¹² FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE." (Hebrews 8:8-12 [NASB])

Jeremiah was a priest who lived 3 miles north of Jerusalem. His name means Yahweh establishes. Jeremiah spoke to the Israelites who were a vassal state of Babylon. Through Jeremiah, God reminded the people He is the same God who brought them out of Egypt to the Promised Land. God offered hope for the Israelites. This hope told them He would not forget or leave them in their sinfulness forever, separated from His love and mercy. He had promised He was their God and they were His people (Exodus 6:7). Through Jeremiah, God gave the people hope. His hope concerned a new covenant with Him. It showed God had not forgotten them and He understood and still loved them. The old covenant is what the people did not keep. God stated with bluntness that He did not care for them because of it. In the new covenant, in contrast to the previous covenant, God would put the new covenant into the minds and hearts of the house of Israel and would be their God and they His people. The Israelites would not have to teach everyone about God because everyone would know Him because of His mercy and forgiveness. Before, in the Mosaic covenant, God commanded the Israelites to teach the law to their children, the people in their cities and lands, and the foreigners. They were to teach about Him and His covenant. With this covenant, God will be the one teaching and reminding people of His power, mercy, love, and forgiveness. God will pardon all their sins, the sins of Israel (Jacob), and pulverize all the altar stones (see Isaiah 27:9). The altar is not needed any longer. The children of Israel are pardoned of their sins forever. “All” in verse 11 means everyone, each individual. This means the new covenant is for everyone, not just select Jews or priests.

For Paul, this new covenant is also for non-Israelites. When a person believes in Yahweh and His Son, Jesus Christ, he or she becomes a new creation, an adopted child of God through Abraham who was a child of God before the Law. Romans 11:27 shows this the covenant will take away sins. Paul said in Galatians 6:15-16, “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” This “new creation” Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. These people are new creatures. Hence, the new covenant is as pertinent for all who believe in Jesus as it was and is for the Jews. The new covenant is universal, for all humankind for all time, for the least and the greatest forever.

Verse 12 is very explicit; God will be merciful and will remember peoples’ sins no more. He said He would wipe out their transgressions and forget their sins (Isaiah 43:25). No iniquity/sin will be found because God pardons fully (Jeremiah 50:20). The remnant spoke of in Jeremiah 50:20 is sha’ar, which means those who remain or are left behind. Jeremiah 50 speaks of the captivity of the northern and southern kingdoms and those who the captors left behind. It alludes to those who will return from captivity in Babylon and Assyria. God forgave the sins of the Israelites through the punishment of captivity in or exile by Babylon and Assyria. They are the remnant of those who had been in Israel and Judah. It alludes, too, to the ultimate forgiveness of God at the end of time for the remnant of His inheritance (Micah 7:18-20). God will have compassion on each person and cast all their sins into the depths of the sea/behind their back (Is. 38:17) and not remember their sins (Is. 43:25).

The previous covenant provided for sin sacrifices, but they could not remove sins forever. Only Jesus as High Priest and sacrifice is great, perfect, and powerful enough to remove our sins forever so humans can be in God’s presence forever. Only His sacrifice is sufficient to cover all sins for the past and the future. Bible book writers spoke of this in Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:12 &10:17. God’s forgiveness of sin and remembering them no more is the fulfillment of the old Law. He did not destroy the Law, but made it obsolete (vs. 13). Jesus fulfilled the Law and brought in a new covenant, which only He could do because He is holy, righteous, and perfect. He is the king of righteousness and He brings peace.

Each of us must consider this. We must each decide if we will choose to believe Jesus is the Son of God whose blood sacrifice takes away their sins. Each person must choose whether to accept and believe in Jesus and become inheritors of God’s kingdom, live with God forever. What do you choose – Jesus or self? It is your choice.

The Greater(est) King-Priest

Hebrews 7 

While living in a world of different religious thoughts, people confront you with the question of the reality and sufficiency of God’s salvation. I know many religions that do not even believe in Jesus and His deity. There are those religions that do, though, but they skew the Gospel. I began studying more intently on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because of these off-shoots of Christianity so I could give a very well researched and biblical response to people who have been deceived by these skewed gospel presentations. This study has taken me through both the Old and New Testaments, looking at the old and new covenants. The next few blog posts are my thoughts on Jesus as High Priest, King, and sufficient sacrifice. I gladly accept any comments you may have on this topic and will try to write back to each of you. Let us begin our study with Hebrews 7. I will be using the New American Standard Bible. I encourage you to have your Bible beside you as you walk through these studies with me.

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually . 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law ), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron ? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect ), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ' "); 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 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. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens ; 27 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. 28 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.

            Verses 25-28 are the crux of this chapter, but no one can understand completely the power of them without the first twenty-four verses, which explains how Jesus’ priesthood, like Melchizadek’s, is greater than that of all other priests of God. This then explains how Jesus’ sacrifice is better than that of other priests. We must begin with Melchizadek.

            The writer of Genesis mentioned Melchizadek in Genesis 14:18-20. His name means king of righteousness. He was the king of Salem, the city later renamed Jerusalem. Salem means peace, so Melchizadek was the king of peace. Abraham recognized him as a priest of God and gave him a tenth of his takings from his battle with the kings who conquered Sodom and took his kinsman Lot captive. Melchizadek brought bread and wine to Abraham and he blessed Abraham. Melchizadek, a lesser man, blessed Abraham, who is greater because of God’s promise to him (Hebrews 7:6-7). This king, Melchizadek, is, thus, considered a priest-king (blessing others, accepting tithes, and giving wine and bread). King David and the writer of Hebrews used Melchizadek as a type for describing the Son of God, Jesus Christ, not just because he was a priest and king, but because his genealogy was not known and his birth and death were not known. He appeared to be eternal so the Israelites considered that his priesthood went into perpetuity. Another reason the Israelites considered Melchizadek a greater priest than the Levitical priests is the argument that since Abraham gave him a tithe, the Levites, as descendents who were still in the loins of Abraham, also gave him a tithe. For these reasons, the writer of Hebrews and King David considered Melchizadek’s priesthood greater than the Levitical priesthood and made him a type of the king-priest the Messiah would be.

            The Jewish arguments for the priesthood and the Law occur in verses 11-21. Several arguments arise in these verses, but the first is that if the Levitical priesthood was adequate to provide sufficient atonement for sins, why would Jehovah have spoken in the Old Testament about the need for a new covenant that comes through a better priesthood? (See Jeremiah 31:31-34.) Why would this priest not be from the tribe of Levi? The answer lies in the argument of Hebrews 7. Through the Law, the Levitical priests received their roles and authority. Since the Law could not save people from their sins, but served to point people to God, the sacrifice dictated by the Law was not enough and the priesthood called for by the Law was not enough. So, the holy, perfect, and sufficient priest would not come from the line of Levi. The new priest came not because of the law of physical requirement (from the tribe of Levi), but according to the power of indestructible life (vs. 16). The new priest came with power over life and righteousness. King David said this priest would be according to the order of Melchizadek (Psalm 110:1-4). Zechariah the prophet said the priest who was coming would bear the honor and glory of the only begotten of the Father. He would be a priest upon the Father’s  throne and the counsel of peace would be between the two offices – Priest and King (vs. 6:13). This only begotten of the Father, His Son, is greater than the Levites. He brought a holy, pure, and perfect sacrifice and with it a new covenant. He is not time bound. These attributes made the Israelites remember Melchizadek, who was before the Levitical priests ordained by God.

            Verses 18 through 19 speak of how the priesthood of Christ sets aside the earlier covenant of God with the Israelites because of the weakness of the Mosaic covenant. Its weakness did not come from God, but from sinful humanity who did not keep their agreement, which they made in their covenant with Yahweh. Because of human inability to keep their side of the covenant, the covenant was useless. It could not give them unbroken relationship with Yahweh or eternal life. The Law made nothing perfect. The Law made people aware of their sin, but did not make them perfect. Paul said this very succinctly in Romans 3:20 and 7:7 and in Galatians 2:16 and 3:21. Luke spoke of it in Acts 13:39. The Law was not adequate to bring redemption for human sins, but only to point out sinfulness and point them to God. Humankind can only be made perfect and just by the holy, pure, and perfect priest, Jesus Christ. With the greater Priest and King, who brought in a change of and better covenant, came a better hope with joyful expectation of eternal salvation.

            Something that must be noticed in verses 21 and 22 is that God made an oath to Israel and He does not renege on His oaths. Moses, Samuel, and Paul each attested to this in their writings, Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, and Romans 11:29. What God promises, He fulfills. God promised a better covenant and it would have to be administered by a better Priest. He brought His Priest in through an oath (of a better covenant), but the Levitical priests were not required to make an oath when they became priests. He promised to bring a Savior to the world and this Savior became our great High Priest and King. God’s promises have never been void and He fulfilled this promise, as well, unlike Israel who did not fulfill their promise/oath with God in the Mosaic covenant. Jesus is the fulfillment of the oath/promise and He is the guarantee and surety of a better covenant. This better covenant does not need humans to do anything, which makes it a better covenant. Humankind is not faithful to their oaths. What God pledges He fulfills.

            The writer of Hebrews gave examples of how Jesus Christ is the greater Priest. In verses 23-24, the writer said there were many priests before Christ who could not bring full redemption and perfection from sinfulness to sinlessness. Each time the priests interceded for the people, they first had to cleanse themselves from their own sins with sacrifices. They, too, were unclean. Jesus never sinned though tempted. Second, the writer stated the Levitical priests had to repeatedly offer sacrifices of rams and bulls for the Israelites because they continued to sin and continued needing to be cleansed to be in God’s presence. Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect the first time and no other sacrifice is needed for those who believe in Him. Third, the Levitical priests died throughout the centuries. Men crucified Jesus, but He defeated death and returned to life three days later. The priests sprinkled the blood of the sacrificed animals over the people (see Exodus 24:8). Likewise, Jesus’ blood confirmed the new covenant. The idea and promise of a new covenant was not a surprise to Israel. Jeremiah spoke of God’s promise about it in Jeremiah 31:31.

Since Jesus returned to life after His crucifixion and always exists, His sacrifice is always available for those who have faith in Him, not that He must offer more sacrifice, but that His one-time sacrifice is enough and will exist throughout eternity for those who, by faith, believe in Him (vs. 25). He does not have to offer another sacrifice. His once-for-all sacrifice is adequate to redeem people from all their sins of the past and any they may do in the future. The intercession spoken of in verse 25 is entugcano in Greek. It means to meet with a person for conversation, consultation, or supplication. It means to pray or entreat someone to help another person. Verse 25 says Christ prays to and entreats the Father to help His children as they live on earth so they stay strong in their faith, have their needs provided, and know His love and presence. Christ’s intercession is not added atonement to save humankind. Intercession is His conversation with the Father on the behalf of His children, those who believe in Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he spoke of them being more than conquerors. In verse 33, Paul said God justified, made a person perfect. He then asked in verse 34 who can condemn believers since Jesus Christ who died and is sitting on the right hand of the Father is interceding for them. Notice, a person is justified fully and completely redeemed/atoned for before Christ intercedes for him or her. This intercession that Christ does is entreating the Father to send aid to keep the believers strong in their daily walk, be it for their trials or daily needs. Hebrews 9:24 states again, Christ entered heaven, not a temple made of human hands, and speaks to the Father for us.

Summing his thoughts in the chapter, the writer of Hebrews reiterated the salient points of the argument. Read again verses 26-28. He described this high priest as holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. No high priest of the Levitical priesthood could say he was any of these. They had to atone for their own sins before they could atone for the sins of the Israelites. This “holy” is hosios in Greek, which means pure, free from sin. “Innocent” is akakos, which means without guile or fraud, harmless, free from guilt. “Undefiled” is amiantos, which means not soiled, deformed or debased and does not have its force impaired. “Separated” is chorizo, which means to divide or remove one’s self. “Exalted” is hupselos, which means high and lofty in influence and honor. To be a high priest, one is assumed to be holy, innocent, undefiled and separated from sin. The writer added these words after “high priest” for emphasis. Additionally, to be holy, an attribute related only to God’s being, means to be innocent, undefiled, and separated. No human is holy and so no human can be the priest who provides full atonement for sins. Only God is holy and only God can give complete cleansing and atonement/redemption from sins. Another attribute of God is that He is exalted. He is high and lofty in influence and honor. No other person can be exalted because of their being/personhood. Their position can make them due to be revered, such as a king or queen of a nation, but none is exalted because of who they are, their being. The Triune God is each of these and is able then to be the perfect/righteous Priest and King. None of the Levitical priests was perfect and clean from sin. The Israelites considered Melchizadek, of all priests of God, a type of priest who was like the Christ, not born in the Levitical priesthood and appointed by God. Christ does not need to daily offer up sacrifices for sin, like the Levitical high priests, first for themselves and then for the people, because He is holy and He sacrificed once-for-all (complete when done the one time) when He offered up Himself. The blood of rams and calves, creatures of creation, are not enough to cleanse us for eternity. (See Hebrews 9:12.) These animals are not eternal and their blood cannot cleanse or remove sin or guilt for all time. It took the eternal, holy, all-powerful God to take away the sins of all humanity for all time. He is beyond time and the Creator of time. His sacrifice is completely sufficient to remove the sin of humankind. Christ, the perfect Son of God, is the perfect sacrifice - eternal, all-powerful, and holy. This all-powerful, all-redeeming Son of God does not need to offer sacrifice repeatedly. His one sacrifice is adequate to cleanse sin forever. He rules eternity and His sacrifice is greater than any humans can offer in their finite lives. His sacrifice is enough. Hebrews 10:14 says this more succinctly, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” One offering, one sacrifice, because of its perfection and the perfection of the Priest, is all that was needed forever.

The writer of Hebrews completed his thoughts in verse 28, “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.” Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and its requirements for redemption and atonement for sin. As the High Priest of God and the Son of God, His sacrifice was perfect and complete. His Priesthood is holy. God provided the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice to remove our sins from humankind forever. His oath, His promise, to humanity is fulfilled. Nothing more is needed from humankind other than belief in Jesus Christ, no good works or deeds. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Lamb who came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Now and forever, He sits at the right hand of God in heaven interceding for us with the Father for our needs.

            As we come to the end of this chapter, we must each decide for ourselves who we believe Jesus Christ to be. Is he just a man born over 2000 years ago? If so, you have no hope for anything beyond your meager years on earth. Is he a prophet? If so, you will die looking beyond the gift given by God 2013 years ago in the form of an infant. Is He the Great High Priest and King? Your belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God gives you eternal forgiveness for your sins and a life forever in heaven with God. It is your decision. You must be the one to choose to believe in Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews laid it out plain so that everyone would know the truth. I pray you have seen the truth in your heart and now believe in Jesus Christ, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

**Strong's New Testament Greek Lexicon was used in this post.