Explore: Only Jesus saves

• The Explore the Bible lesson for Oct. 19 focuses on Hebrews 7:23-28.

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• The Explore the Bible lesson for Oct. 19 focuses on Hebrews 7:23-28.

In this section, the Preacher further develops his exposition on Jesus as the high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is mentioned only twice in the Old Testament—Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalm 110:4—and in the New Testament only in Hebrews.

Melchizedek, King of Salem (Jerusalem), met Abraham after returning from defeating Kedorlaomer and his allies. He blessed Abraham and praised “God Most High,” and Abraham gave him a tenth—a tithe—of his possessions. His name means “king of righteousness,” and the Preacher interprets the blessing and tithe to indicate Melchizedek’s spiritual superiority to Abraham.

An illustrative comparison

It is important to understand the Preacher likens Jesus to Melchizedek in a rhetorical sense, not in the historical, critical sense we would expect today. Rabbinical interpretation held only what was mentioned in the biblical text was true. In other words, if it wasn’t mentioned, it didn’t happen.

Based on this understanding, since Melchizedek’s ancestry, descendants, birth and death are not mentioned in the text, he is understood to be eternal. He thus becomes a convenient allegory for Jesus’ high priesthood. The factual details of the Old Testament accounts mean less than the illustrative power of the comparison.

The Preacher can thus establish a distinction between the priesthood of Jesus “in the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4) and the Levitical priesthood. The Levitical priesthood was passed down in genealogical succession, with the priestly term being limited by the priest’s mortality.

Jesus’ priesthood

In contrast, Jesus, like Melchizedek, “has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life” (v. 16). Levitical priests were required to offer regular sacrifices on behalf of the people and for their own sin as well, “for the law made nothing perfect” (7:19). However, Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice was able to atone for the sins of humanity once and for all.


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Finally, Jesus’ Melchizedekan priesthood was established on oath from the Lord, which makes him “the guarantor of a better covenant” (v. 22). In contrast to the many priests in the line of Levi, Jesus’ priesthood is eternal.

Jesus’ permanent priesthood thus opens a pathway for us to have a relationship with God. Jesus “is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (v. 25). Jesus Christ is the only way to God, the only path of eternal salvation. Not only did Jesus’ sacrifice atone for our sins once and for all, but also he continues to demonstrate his great love for us as he advocates on our behalf.

At the right hand of the Father

The exalted Jesus sits eternally at the right hand of the Father and makes intercession for us, his wounds a constant visual reminder of human suffering and pain and his triumph over it.

Like the ineffectuality of the Old Testament sacrificial system has revealed, we are helpless to save ourselves, to do enough, achieve enough, love enough, give enough, have enough, be noticed enough.

As Tom Long notes in his Interpretation commentary: “Someone is always standing in judgment over us—parents, teachers, employers, strangers, our inner selves—putting us on trial, deeming our efforts to be unacceptable. So, day after day, we are condemned to trudge to life’s altar with a new offering, but it is never satisfactory.“

No matter what we accomplish, no matter how good we are, we cannot be made perfect—complete—apart from Christ. Jesus wraps up our life—our humanity—in his own, and places it on the altar before God. Our Savior, our great high priest, bridged the gap of sin between humans and God as he offered himself on our behalf. Jesus is the only perfect priest, and salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone.

A better hope

Rather than continually having to atone for our sins, Jesus’ eternal priesthood introduces “a better hope … by which we draw near to God” (v. 19). We can live in this better hope, and share this better hope with others, with confidence in the “one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (v. 26).

We can have faith in “the Son, who has been made perfect forever” (v. 28). We can have faith Jesus saves us from our mortal and sinful selves, and faith Jesus makes possible a relationship with the Father that never can be broken. And so, as the Preacher will say a few chapters later, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (10:22). May we draw near to our Savior today.


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