יּקנרק'ד

Hebrews Chapter 7  Verses 23-28

:23 “And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”         

“And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”  Under the old covenant there were many high priests.  These men were all sinners and had the effects of sin in their bodies.  Some were more faithful than others.  Yet all of them died after a period of time.  None of them had a perfect reign as a priest.  They were limited by their mortality.  Christ is not plagued with sin and because he is after the power of an endless life, he will always be the same perfect high priest. His priesthood is unchangeable.  He cannot start out good and turn bad as a high priest.  He will always be a perfect high priest who perfectly performs the office of a high priest.           

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”  As a perfect high priest that cannot change and cannot die, Christ knows all things and all about everyone of the elect family of God.  He knows our needs before we know our needs.  He is everywhere present and no where absent.  He can hear and answer literally millions of prayers at one time.  He is not limited by the mortality of human flesh.  One of the duties of a high priest in the old covenant was to intercede on behalf of the people unto God.  Because of their limitations, that was not always possible that the high priest would know the needs of the people and know what to intercede to God for them.  Christ has no such limitations.  He ever liveth to make intercessions for us.  Moreover, he has saved us from the condemnation of sin and has saved those of his born again children from the bondage of sin and in the resurrection save all the elect from the corruption of sin.  Additionally, he is able to save us from the timely circumstances of our lives and frequently does so for each of his children.  He is able to save us to the uttermost who come unto God by him.           

“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”  Considering the sum of mankind, can anyone other than Christ be said to be perfectly holy, or perfectly harmless, or undefiled, or separate from sinners.  I dare say that not one can be found that any one of those things could be honestly said about them.  He was also made higher than the heavens because he is higher than the heavens.  He is perfection personified.  He became us in that he was that perfect suitable high priest for the needs of the elect family of God.  As a result of the end result of his high priesthood, we will one day be conformed to this perfect one and be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.  To this end we were predestinated according to Rom. 8:29.           

“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”  Because the high priests under the law were sinners, it was necessary that they offer up daily sacrifices for their own sins and for the sins of the people.  In contrast, our high priest after the order of Melchisedec is sinless.  Therefore, He did not have to offer up a sacrifice for himself.  Moreover, the sacrifices of the high priests under the law only brought sin to remembrance.  They never did away with sin.  Unlike these priests offerings, when Christ offered up himself, he offered up that which was perfect and which was also a perfect sacrifice for sin.  Consequently his sacrifice was all that was needed to save his people from their sins.           

“For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”  In contrast to the law which made men high priests which had infirmity and who were sinners, the word of the oath, “Thou art a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec,” made the Son a perfect High Priest who is consecrated to that office for evermore.  Thanks be to our Great God for this unspeakable gift!