Christ, the Final High Priest

Hebrews 7

Read Hebrews 7

The summation of verses 1-24 can be seen in verse 25.

Heb 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.


Earthly Israeli high priests made intercessions between God and man because it is God's wrath the we need intercession for.  Many people miss this.  We forget where the judgement is coming from.  God's wrath needs appeasing or we will be sentenced at judgment to eternal banishment from God and life.  In order to fix this, God has established priesthood to step between us and this eventual outcome.  The issue with earthly priests is that they cannot eternally intercede for us because they are mortal.  That is why we need a king of righteousness (Heb 7:2) We need a king of peace (Heb 7:2) We need someone without beginning and ending (Heb 7:3) Someone who has an indestructible life (Heb 7:16) and will never die and need to be replaced (Heb. 7:23-24).  We need someone greater than Abraham and greater than Levi- something like Melchizedek, who blessed Abraham (Heb 7:6-7).


Heb 7:26  "...we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."


Verse 25 says that Christ "always lives to make intercession..." Right now and forever, God is making intercession for us.  He will never die and will always be there on our behalf.  Isn't that mind blowing?  Right now, Christ is interceding for you.  When you are imperfect today, when you fail, when you sin, when you are loving the things of this world, when you are gratifying the flesh... He intercedes.  He steps in.


We cannot view this or make the mistake to think about this as an angry God who doesn't love us.  God the Father loves us as much as the Son.  He is the one who established Christ as our High Priest because He loves us.  All this is the love of God rescuing us from the wrath of God, in such a way that the justice of God is vindicated and the glory of God is exalted.  


Verse 25 again.  This is for those who draw near to God through Christ.  Hold fast in your confidence and pursuit of God.  It is foolish to make anything else our priority.  What is more valuable and more precious than what is at stake here?  The wrath of God must be appeased.  


Think of this for yourself and also for those in the world today.  It is not just our problem; it's the world's problem.  They need their High Priest.  The wrath of God is coming.  They all stand condemned.  Be motivated to help them draw near to God through Christ by external intercession.  Meditate on your family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.  Meditate on the wrath of God.  Build anxiousness for them.  May it move you. May it change you.