Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. (24) But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. (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. (26) For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; (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. (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.

The author of Hebrews is unknown. He/she wanted the original reader – written to Christian Jews – to NOT return to Judaism because of persecution and in our verses today he/she is contrasting Jesus as our once for all High priest as superior to the Levitical priesthood with its temporary and sacrificial system. Because of the Fall, man is born dead in sin – hopeless and helpless and by nature children of the wrath of God who cannot save themselves. The perfect justice of God demands payment for sin and the eternal plan of God – in perfect love – sent His own Son to be the sinless and forever High Priest offering Himself as sacrifice as satisfaction for sin in God’s perfect justice. The Levitical priests had to be replaced because of death; they first sacrificed for their own sins and then represented the people. The Jewish priests were an earthly priesthood who by themselves and by the law could make nothing perfect. The law was without power to save. Jesus didn’t need a sacrifice because He is without sin. He became the sacrifice for others. He lives forever and is exalted to above the heavens. In His resurrection, ascension and glorification, Jesus is the supreme perfection of the perpetual High Priest. He is the same today as to the first century Christians.

The priesthood of Christ is not a thing of time or change – He is not of the world like Adam. His is a priesthood not on earth and a priest who has no end of days. All before Christ was imperfect and could not bring atonement or bring us close to God which is the eternal purpose of Jesus. The priesthood of Christ was established by oath of God while Aaron’s was not; Jesus became the guarantee of the better covenant. He will live forever, saves completely and KEEPS His own by His priestly intercession. His acceptable sacrifice accomplished all. He stands alone – has no predecessor, no successor – and is the perfect High Priest who is able to save. In Him we can draw near to God in boldness. Atonement has been made for our sin and no other offering is needed.

In Christ the obligation of the law was dissolved and the faithful, saved in Christ by grace, are partakers of the heavenly calling. Amen.