Bible In A Year | Read: Hebrews 7
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:25-28
Overview of Chapter
We return to the subject of Melchizedek. He is a mostly unknown person to us, but he was Abraham’s priest. Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, had a descendant named Levi, and God had commanded all priests to be descendants of Levi. When the writer claims Jesus acted as High Priest when he paid for their sin on the cross, the Jews objected because Jesus was not a descendant of Levi. The writer points to Melchizedek who was a priest before Levi was born. He argues that Melchizedek was greater than Israel’s priest because he was the priest of their father, Abraham. We know nothing of his ancestry, when he was born or when he died, yet he is a great priest because God appointed him. Therefore, Jesus is like Melchizedek in that he is a priest, not because he descended from Levi, but because God appointed him.
You may be thinking that you don’t care about all those Old Testament rules, so this doesn’t have anything to do with you. To an extent, that’s true. This was written to Jewish Christians who were having trouble making the transition from their former way of life following the Old Testament law to depending on Jesus alone for their salvation. However, it is good to note that the writer is treating the Old Testament with respect and showing the God of the Old is the same God as in the New Testament. God is always faithful to keep his promises!
Thoughts on the verses
Hebrews 7:27b But Jesus doesn’t need to do that. He offered only one sacrifice for all time. He offered Himself.
Normally people will separate the laundry into two groups. One is the white and light-coloured laundry and the other one is dark-coloured. The type of detergent used for both groups might be different. You might need to wash the clothes more than once to get rid of a very stubborn stain. There are times when moms (especially Little League baseball pants) hope for a super detergent that can get rid of all stains and clean all types of fabric once and for all!
Such super detergent does not exist. But there is a one-time super stain remover that washes away our sins. Jesus made one sacrifice that was powerful enough to wash away all our sins forever. Jesus cleansed us once for all when He offered Himself on the cross.
When we ask Jesus to come into our lives and commit to following Him daily, our sins are washed away and we are no longer separated from God. Nothing can cleanse us permanently other than Jesus’ sacrifice. His blood that was shed on the cross cleanses us forever.
Action Steps
Bible: What is God showing me? What am I going to do about it?
Bless: Serve one person through word, action, or gift today.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, cleanse my heart and mind from sins with Your precious blood. Amen.
Have you ever thought it would be cool to hear some C3 leaders discuss the daily verses, share about their lives and mostly just talk about nonsense? Of course not!…even though nobody has ever thought that we are still doing it. You can follow along with us each morning in a brand new podcast – Tuesday’s Therefore & Trent’s Wardrobe.
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