This Week with the Word

The Uniform Lesson for June 8
Background & Commentary by Sam E. Stone

Each week this month we will highlight one of the images of Jesus found in the book of Hebrews. The word “better” is a key theme throughout this letter: better than angels (1:4), better things (6:9; 11:40), better hope (7:19), better covenant (7:22), better sacrifice (9:23), better possessions (10:34), better country (11:16), better resurrection (11:35), and so on. We also have a better priesthood with Jesus as our only intercessor.

The book’s original readers were Jewish believers undergoing persecution. For them, this message was especially significant. Chapter 1 demonstrated the Lord’s superiority over angels. The writer then gave a warning. If those who turned away from the Old Testament message (that had been affirmed by angels) were punished, how much more certain is the judgment that awaits all who refuse God’s only Son? Jesus was greater than both the angels (2:1-18) and the lawgiver Moses (3:1-6). In 4:14–10:25 the author contrasts Christ’s role with that of the Old Testament (Levitical) priesthood.

William Barclay titles this section, “The high priest we need.” He is right. Christians often sing about this very fact: “He is all I need.” “Yea, all I need in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come.” “I need Thee every hour.” Only Christ can represent us adequately before God. He is the only intercessor we need.

His Selection/Hebrews 7:20-22

Verses 20, 21. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Whenever God made an oath, it was to indicate the certainty and immutability of what was sworn. This happened with various announcements: to Abraham—that all of the nations would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 22:16-18); to the rebellious Israelites—that they would not enter into his rest (Deuteronomy 1:34-37); to David—that his seed and his throne would endure forever (Psalm 89:3, 4). At the inception of the Levitical priesthood, however, there had been no oath. God simply told Moses to take Aaron and his sons to serve as priests (Exodus 28:1). They were set apart in the usual way. In contrast, Christ was set apart with an oath given by God himself (Psalm 110:4). Jesus became a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:17).

Verse 22. Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. The word “guarantee” is used only here in the entire New Testament. It indicates that Jesus is our all-sufficient assurance. The Son of God gave his life for us, rose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven. What more could we possibly need to be certain of our salvation?

His Duration/Hebrews 7:23-25

Verse 23. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. Over the years many different men served as high priest for a time but, like every mortal, all would soon die. The old priesthood was not lasting.

Verse 24. But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Death has no power over Christ. For this reason, there will never need to be a successor to him. His role is not alterable, not transferable; it is unending.

Verse 25. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. The Christian can have complete confidence in Jesus. Paul affirmed this truth as well (Romans 8:28-31). While the Jews might have a sympathetic priest one day, they might have a different one the next. The Christian has Jesus. He will always be the same. As high priest, he intercedes for his people, insuring their justification, their sanctification, and their redemption. Jesus saves us for time and for eternity. No wonder the lesson planners chose this as the “key verse,” the “golden text” for today’s lesson.

His Perfection/Hebrew 7:26-28

Verse 26. Such a high priest meets our needs—one who is holy (sinless), blameless (perfectly innocent, free from all malice), pure (no stain defiles him), set apart from sinners (perfect and complete), exalted above the heavens (now in the presence of God). He alone meets all our needs, saving us from sin and its consequences. The qualities of our great high priest are beyond question.

Verse 27. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. The high priest was responsible for all of the daily offerings, although he himself would not personally perform every priestly function every day. On the Day of Atonement each year, he represented all of the people. He would first offer a sacrifice for himself and his house (Leviticus 16:11-16). In contrast, Jesus offered up himself—a one-time, all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was both the perfect high priest and the perfect offering.

Verse 28. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. The priests were mortal and sinful, able only to offer animals as a temporary sacrifice. Jesus’ unique priestly role was “after the order of Melchizedek” (7:11, 16, 17). He stands alone. He is our only intercessor. |L

Sam E. Stone is the former editor of Christian Standard. He continues his writing and speaking ministry from his home in Cincinnati, Ohio.