September 28, 2020
Trading Up for a Better Hope!
Hebrews 7:11–28
Chad Swank
Central Truth
Jesus is able to save completely. His perfect life made the perfect sacrifice to satisfy God's standard of perfection. Jesus' perfection covers our imperfection and allows us to draw near to God.
Key Verse | Hebrews 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.
Hebrews 7:11–28
Jesus Compared to Melchizedek
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost 1 7:25 That is, completely; or at all times those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 7:11–28
Did you get bogged down in Leviticus during the 2019 Join The Journey? Did your daily abiding in God's Word get derailed in Numbers or Deuteronomy? What starts so brightly in Genesis and Exodus with stories of God's miraculous power and redemptive script seems to slow to a grind in the remarkably meticulous Old Testament sacrificial system.
By God's law, the Levitical priests methodically offered daily sacrifices for themselves and for the people of God. But the need for this sacrificial system stopped with Jesus—a high priest in the likeness of Melchizedek. Because Jesus lived a perfect life, completely innocent and undefiled, He was able to act as both High Priest (the person acting as a mediator between God and the people of God) and as the once-for-all sacrifice (substitute for our sin) (Hebrews 7:27)!
Therefore, He is able to guarantee the promise (Hebrews 7:22) of salvation forever and intercede on behalf of those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). He alone could do this. The old way of observing the law (the priests offering sacrifices) could neither make us perfect (Hebrews 7:19) nor acceptable to God. Jesus, in His once-for-all sacrifice is the only way to have hope and draw near to God (Hebrews 7:19).
Growing up the son of a pastor and grandson of missionaries to Nigeria (answer: choice 2 is the lie), I was pretty confident God needed to have me on His team. In the face of my hubris, I remember the day that God's perfect standard broke through my attempts to be a "good" person. I realized I couldn't be made good enough by trying to follow the rules. I wasn't perfect or innocent or undefiled. But through Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice, my past, present, and future were forgiven and replaced with "a better hope." And because I have been saved completely by Jesus, this better hope is to be with Jesus where He is (John 17:24). In this better hope, I (and you) can experience the love of the God who made us.
Discussion Questions
1. Why is Jesus compared to Melchizedek and not the Levitical priesthood?
2. Where have you placed your hope? How does this play out in your life?
3. How does Jesus offer a better hope than following the law?
4. What confidence do you have that Jesus is the guarantor of the better covenant?
5. How does Jesus pray (intercede) for all those who believe in Him? (HINT: Go back and check out the April 28, 2020 JTJ on John 17). How does that encourage you today?