For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 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.
What happens when a pastor dies? A lot happens, but from a service perspective, their ministry ends.* This was the case for every single priest in the Old Testament Temple.* Their role as intermediary between God and man as well as their role as priest who made the sacrifices necessary to atone for the sins of the people had to be passed along to another at the end of their life.*
This is not the case for Jesus. Jesus, being eternal, never has to pass His priestly duties on to another.* His role and His work has no end.* This reality provides a tremendous and incomparable security to those who place their trust in Him.*
Interestingly, verse 22 describes Jesus as the guarantor of the covenant. How can this be? A guarantor is one who sees to it that a covenant is fulfilled.* The priests of the Old Testament did not do this.* At best, one might say that the priests played the role of mediator of the covenant.* Jesus can do what they could not because there is no end to His priesthood.* He remains forever and can therefore guarantee the results of the covenant between God and man.*
Furthermore, Jesus did something completely unique: He offered Himself as a spotless sacrifice. Can you imagine being an Israeli in the Old Testament, bringing your lamb for a sacrifice, and the priest offering himself instead? That would be wild, and that’s what Jesus did! But, unlike a lamb, His sacrifice took care of the sins of the world completely and forever.
No one else could do what Christ did. Hence, Hebrews 7 refers to the hope that Jesus brings and the covenant He guarantees as “better.”
The ministry of Jesus never ends, and it is better, indeed.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to rest in the security that He has taken care of your sin (past, present, and future) permanently. Perhaps God wants you to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and how amazing it was! Maybe God wants you to remember that Jesus lives forever so that we can too, and this is better.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 7:20–28). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 366–367). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 98–100). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 267, 276). Zondervan Publishing House.