“Perfection!”
(Hebrews 7:11-28)
Series: Captivated by Christ (Hebrews)
Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD
Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson
- Take your Bibles and join me in Hebrews chapter 7.
While you’re finding that…Brochure in bulletin, “The Big Scoop.” The big scoop is that serving in the church is sweet. Serving is sweet, like a big scoop of ice cream. It’s sweet to serve the church…everyone has a gift to use in service…check out this video clip where one of our members discovered the sweetness of serving…pray, look over the menu of sweet options, think it over, get connected serving. Turn in by June 10. In July a couple of soft-serve days, to try out ministry without committing…pray.
Now before we look at Hebrews 7, I want you to know I’ll be available after the services this morning in the Response Room—questions about salvation, baptism, joining the church. Response Room.
We’re going to study this passage a little differently this morning. There’s an awful lot going on in this passage and I want to be sure we take our time to rightly understand what we are reading and why it matters. So why don’t we begin with a word of prayer.
- Pray: “Father, thank you for your word. Holy Spirit be our teacher this morning and show us what we need to see. In Jesus’ name and for Jesus’ sake, amen.”
What I’d like to do this morning is get up in the air about 35,000 feet and look down on the passage. So let’s get airborne, get the plane up, and look out our windows down below to see the entire passage.
As we get the plane in the air and begin gaining altitude, let’s remember why the writer wrote Hebrews. The writer knows that his readers are bruised and beaten and considering throwing in the towel. They had come out of old covenant teachings of temple worship, priests, and animal sacrifices. They had left that system and for this reason many had been cut off from their families, excommunicated from the community gatherings, the temple was closed to them—that temple for so long central to their very identity.
So the writer seeks to encourage them. He wants to show the why Jesus Christ is better than anything they knew before in that old covenant religious system of priests and sacrifices. So we’ve reached 35,000 feet in the air. As we look down what do we see?
We see that this passage is all about drawing near to God. I mean, in a nutshell that’s what chapter 7 is about, about how sinful people can draw near to God, be with God, stand in God’s presence, be accepted by God, be approved by God. And all that is being taught in chapter 7.
The original hearers of this letter—the Hebrews—were raised in a system that got people as close to God as possible but it was an incomplete system. The system of human priests, all descending from the Jewish tribe of Levi, these levite priests had the job of acting as intermediaries of the people. The priest’s job was to help people draw near to God as best they could. But they were merely sinful, human go-betweens. They were imperfect people representing other imperfect people, doing their best to help them draw near to God.
There’s a new work God has done that totally replaces that old covenant, Jewish religious way of these priests helping people draw near to God. A better way. A better covenant than the old covenant. A better Priest.
Chapter 7 opens with the writer’s talking about a different kind of priest who comes from a different order of priesthood altogether. He doesn’t come from the tribe of Levi, all those human priests, one descending from another, working for some years and then either retiring at age 50 or dying before that time. But they served temporarily, one following another, in a long line of succession of priests and high priests.
There’s this other priest, an unusual priest who appears long before these levitical priests, and this priest’s name is Melchizedek. He comes from a different order or system altogether. A better priesthood.
And the cool thing about Melchizedek is that the Bible nowhere mentions his genealogy, when he was born and when he died. So it’s like he has no beginning and no ending. It’s like he’s eternal. And it’s not that the writer believes Melchizedek to be eternal, but he uses Melchizedek as a picture of someone else, as a foreshadowing, or a forecasting, or a preview, pointing to someone else who is even better. And that person who is better is Jesus Christ, an eternal Priest who really has no beginning and no ending. And Jesus is the better, greater high priest who succeeds at helping people draw near to God.
So this chapter is about drawing near to God and why people need this better high priest to draw near. The Mosaic law—the law of Moses—with all its teachings about human priests, this law was unable to make men perfect and complete because it was administered by sinful, mortal priests. And God has made a better way, a perfect way and a permanent way for men to be reconciled to God.
Okay, let’s get the plane back down, descend, release the landing gear and land. And we’ll slowly roll through the terrain and see the trees having seen the forest from above. We’ll roll slowly through these verses now, verses 11 and following.
As we move forward through these verses I want to encourage you to see two themes throughout the text. Two themes: Perfection and Permanence. Those two themes run like two threads through these verses. You see the first one immediately there in verse 11:
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
The old covenant and the law could not provide access to God. It could not bring anyone near God. It was imperfect.
The law programmed and prepared people for sacrifice. The law could cover sin, but the could not atone for sins.
This passage is all about drawing near to God…no one can because of sin. He is holy. Wrath. We may have the wrong idea of God the Father if we think of Him as an angry God who doesn’t love us. The idea of our drawing near to God is God’s idea! He’s the one who makes it possible by coming to us.
12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
The law required a succession of human priests all descending from Levi. But Jesus comes from a different tribe. So if the priesthood is changed, then the law concerning the levites has changed. The levitical system is no longer in effect. The levites are no longer necessary.
13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
Jesus is from another tribe, not the tribe of Levi, but the tribe of Judah. A different tribe from which no person from Judah ever officiated or served at the altar, or as a priest.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
Explain. Different place. Picture over here on a linear level, the human priestly system of the levites. You have to be from the tribe of Levi to serve as a priest.
But Jesus comes from a different place. The tribe of Judah. The reason He qualifies as high priest because he is also the Messiah who comes from this family line of David. He is the long-awaited, much anticipated Davidic Messiah. He is Lord, King, and Priest.
NKJV has “arose” the word for sun rise; “son” rise. Fitting!
15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest
16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
So here comes someone in the likeness of Melchizedek (this order over here; use hands). Here comes another priest. Not according to the “fleshly commandment,” a human legal system required of levitical priests—mother a Levite, dad a priest before you, serve till 50 or die first—but “according to the power of an endless (or indestructible) life.” Permanence.
17 For He testifies (Psalm 110:4):
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment (the law about human priests) because of its weakness and unprofitableness,
19 for the law made nothing [al]perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
The Mosaic law was never given as a means to make men perfect, to put them in a position to stand before God. The law was not able to save. In that sense it is weak and unprofitable.
The writer says the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope—Jesus Christ—through which we draw near to God. Jesus Christ’s work on the cross brings sinners to God. His work as our great hight priest allows us access to God, approval from God, fitness to stand before God and fellowship with God.
20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath
21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
“The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest [am]forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”),
Psalm 110:4. The Lord “has sworn and will not relent.” Promise. Unchangeable. God will not go back on His promise.
22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety (guarantee) of a better covenant.
Jesus guarantees the success of a better covenant, the new covenant, namely the gospel of our salvation. That we can be accepted by God and draw near to God because of Jesus Christ.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.
There were many! Thousands of levitical priests and no fewer than 80 high priests according to some tabulations. They served from the time of Aaron until the temple was destroyed in AD 70.
They were prevented by death from continuing. They died. Even though they strived to be the most holy of men. Another qualification required—unblemished. According to the literature of the time there were some 142 blemishes could disqualify a man from serving in the levitical priesthood. Still, they were sinners and died!
24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
“unchangeable” in verse 24 also translated permanent, non-transferable.
Think of the changeable occurrence of pastors here at HFBC. Changing over time, one has one ability, another has a differing ability, but over time each comes and goes. But Jesus is the only one and He is perfect. Perfection. Permanence.
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
“to the uttermost” probably refers to both extent and time. Completely and permanently saved.
He always lives to make intercession, acting as a go-between, praying for those who come to God through Him.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless (or innocent), undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
Perfection! All these words describe the sinlessness of Jesus Christ.
27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
When the levitical High Priest entered into that model of the heavenly glories, the holy of holies in the Jewish temple, that sacred place behind the curtain, he was merely a human being and thus a sinner. So before he went in that high priest had to offer up sacrifices for his own sins and then for the people. But not Jesus! He had no sin.
Furthermore, He offered up Himself as the perfect spotless sacrifice. Not an animal sacrifice, but the sacrifice of Himself for us. Just once. One sacrifice for all who believe. One time for all time. Once for all. No need to repeat. Done deal.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
A summary statement here of all the writer has been saying. The old covenant law appointed human, sinful, mortal men as high priests, “men who have weakness,” but the word of the oath, God’s promise, which came in Psalm 110:4, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Three practical takeaways for us based on the themes perfection and permanence. Because He is perfect, we are perfect in Him.
- We have perfection in Him
Because you are imperfect, you need someone who can help you draw near to God! You need someone who can bring you before the One True and Living God, all holy, all wise, all perfect. You need a strong Advocate who can represent you.
Parole officer. Some folks would be their own lawyer. Disastrous! Never go before the judge alone! You need an advocate!! Your advocate will make or break you. What your advocate does applies to you.
Union with Christ is to be IN Him! Payment is made. Jesus paid it all. And what He does, applies to us.
- We have permanence in Him
The levitical system could never atone for sin. Just a temporary forgiveness. Doesn’t clear or cleanse our conscience (chapter 10). It’s always weighing us down. Just a temporary means of getting by.
Like paying the minimum balance due on our monthly credit card bill. We enjoy benefits of the purchase but we still owe on it and the debt is always weighing us down. Paying the monthly bill. Just getting by. Just trying to go on living. But the day will come when the balance is due. Jesus pays it all. We enjoy all the benefits and there’s no longer a debt.
He always lives! And He always lives to make intercession for us (verse 25). He’s always praying for us, always standing there as our great High Priest.
It’s not like Jesus is begging the Father for mercy. It is already granted once for all. It’s just a continual, “He’s with Me.”
He holds his children with one hand, and with the other hand he holds on to his Father and says, “Father, here I am, and the children you have given to me.” (cf Hebrews 2:13).
- We have pleasure in Him
The high priest was beautiful. Ephod. Gold. splendor. Jesus is the great high priest. Beautiful in Him. In Him I am beautiful!
Find life, meaning, confidence, worth, purpose in your great High Priest not in your job, your family, your boyfriend, your kids, your girlfriend, your money. Stephen dying in Acts sees his advocate standing at the right hand of the Father.
17th-century Anglican Church leaders put John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, in prison for preaching the gospel. They said that when the fear of punishment was removed from preaching, people would go wild and do whatever they wanted. Bunyan said to the contrary, “If people really see that Christ has removed the fear of punishment from them by taking it himself, they won’t do whatever they want, they’ll do whatever He wants.”—appropriated from Bryan Chappell.
O, to know that Jesus has removed the fear of punishment! Remember that when Satan tries to discourage you.
Verses 3-4:
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him—and pardon you.
Let’s pray.
Response: Before the throne of God above…
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