A Priest Forever

The sermon text will be Hebrews 7:1-10.

In Hebrews 4:14, the author begins to encourage the Hebrews by explaining why Christ is our Great High Priest. However, by Hebrews 5:11 he pauses his explanation because he is concerned that they do not understand the full significance of the doctrine he is teaching them. Now with the beginning of chapter 7, the writer again takes up the subject of Christ’s priesthood in earnest, showing why Jesus is superior to the Older Covenant priesthood. This is an important teaching considering the Hebrews’ temptation to return to the safety and familiarity of Judaism. While our temptation is not necessarily to become Jews, we are similarly tempted to doubt Christ’s power to save us to the uttermost and to turn to other sources of comfort and assurance. And so we, like the Hebrews, need to pay much closer attention to what Scripture teaches us about our superior Savior. He is the one who was revealed to the Older Covenant saints by types and shadows and who came in the fullness of time according to God’s purpose and plan to redeem his people.