Hebrews 7 (7)

Introduction
Let’s remember that the writer’s goal in the book of Hebrews was to arrest his readers’ drift from Christ into what seemed to them the more promising confines of their former religious community. To free themselves from the persecution they were enduring, they had damped their commitment to Christ and were flirting with the idea of returning to Judaism. They were seeking rest from the taunts, challenges, scorn, and perhaps threats of their Hebrew friends and family. But in doing so, they were in danger of forfeiting the rest in God Christ had gained for them. The writer wanted them to understand that, like Jesus, we can learn the cost and benefits of obedience through the things we suffer, and enjoy a better hope in a better covenant, because Jesus is a better High Priest, perfectly suited to meet our needs. They needed to press on, and not fall back.

Read Philippians 3.12-16.

Read and Meditate on Hebrews 7.

Think it through.
1.  In what ways is Jesus a High Priest like Melchizedek, and not like the Levitical priests of Israel? The writer devotes an entire chapter to this argument. Why did he think this would help his readers not to drift from Jesus? Jesus the new High Priest has done away with the need for the old priests of Israel. How is this so? What has Jesus done, and what does He do, as our High Priest that the priests of Israel could not do? How do we today benefit from Jesus being our High Priest? That is, in what sense is it “fitting for us” that Jesus is our High Priest?

2.  Jesus provides a better hope within the framework of a better covenant. What does this mean? What does it mean for us to be saved “to the uttermost”? In the light of this, why is Paul’s example in Philippians 3.12-16 so important? How would you explain to an unbelieving friend what it means to “come to God through Him [Jesus]”? 

Meditate.
“While before it was necessary that the priests were many, because death interrupted the older ones in the course of their office and they did not last forever, now there is no other high priest with our Lord, ‘who lives forever to make intercession for us,’ not in the victims of the sacrifices but in prayers. ‘And he is able for all time to save us,’ not in the earthly delights, which nourish us for a few days, but ‘when we draw near to God through him’ in eternity.” Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11.28

Today, Lord, as I rest in You on this Your holy day, help me to understand more completely what it means to be saved to the uttermost, and to have You interceding for me at the Father’s right hand, so that I…

Pray Psalm 110.1-7.
Make a point to pray and sing through this psalm three times today – morning, noon, and evening. Each time you pray, let the psalm help you understand something more about why Christ is our better hope, covenant, and High Priest. Praise and thank Him accordingly.

Psalm 110.1-7 (Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
“Sit by Me at My right hand,” 
The Lord says to my Lord, 
“Until I make Your foot stand 
On all who hate Your Word.” 
From in His Church the Savior 
Rules all His enemies; 
While those who know His favor 
Go forth the Lord to please. 

Filled with the Spirit’s power, 
In holy robes of love,
From early morning’s hour 
They serve their Lord above. 
Christ reigns a priest forever, 
The King of Righteousness 
And King of Peace who ever 
His chosen ones will bless. 

The Lord at Your right hand, Lord, 
In wrath shall shatter kings, 
When judgment by His strong Word 
He to the nations brings. 
Then, all His foes defeated, 
He takes His hard-won rest, 
In glorious triumph seated 
With us, redeemed and blest!

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press).