Tag: Psalm 110:4
The Eternal High Priest
Scripture reading for October 22: Hebrews 7
“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. 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. 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 the sins of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priest, but the Word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son Who has been made perfect forever.” Hebrews 7:23-28
Most of us are not Jews and have not lived under the law and priesthood. The Bible records the story of the priesthood and the position of high priest in the Bible. Aaron, the brother of Moses and a Levite was appointed by God as the first high priest. God appointed the priesthood as an aid to His people in having a relationship with Him and as a way that He could dwell with His people. There were many high priests as they were also sinners and suffered death. As they offered sacrifices for the people, they also sacrificed for their own sins as well. In their weakness, they had to make sacrifices year after year.
But Jesus was not a Levite, but was of the tribe of Judah. He was the Son of God and humbled Himself to come identify with lost sinners by becoming a man. He suffered temptations as we did, but was without sin. According to God’s loving plan, He offered His own body and blood as the final, once for all, sacrifice to God on behalf of sinners. God declared on an oath, “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a Priest forever.'” (Psalm 110:4)(Hebrews 7:17,21) Jesus is the perfect High Priest, as He lives eternally and is able to make intercession for all who come to Him throughout history. He alone is holy and unstained by sin. He is separated from sinners and exalted to God’s right hand above the heavens.
Do you feel like you need an intermediary like a priest who could stand before the Holy Father on your behalf? Can you now list some things that make Jesus the only High Priest that we need?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your appointment of Jesus Christ, Your Son, as our High Priest eternally. I am comforted to know that Jesus knows my every weakness and temptation and willingly intercedes for me. Use me to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and High Priest to those needing a Savior. Amen.
Abundant grace and mercy!
Scripture reading for February 21st: Leviticus 8-11, Psalm 110, Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest Who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Under the Law in Leviticus, the priests had to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people. The only sacrifice acceptable was a spotless animal who gave up his life to cover the sin. But we have a new High Priest, Jesus Christ, Son of God Who after visiting earth as a man and then dying on a cross, offering His own blood as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is seated at God’s right hand, able to sympathize with our weakness, and intercedes for us granting a cleansing from sin, not just a covering, to all who come in faith. Jesus is not of the lineage of the Levites and Aaron but of the order of Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God and King of Salem (Jerusalem). He is a type of an eternal priesthood because there is no record of his birth or his death. Jesus, like him, lives forever and is able to meet our every need for help. He is God’s appointed High Priest!
Leviticus 9:7-8 “Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them as the Lord has commanded.” So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering which was for himself.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being appointed our High Priest forever! I am comforted to know that You are able to sympathize with my weakness and come to my aid with grace and mercy. Thank You for cleansing me from sin and sin’s power.
Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”