Hebrews: Heirs of the Promise

 

        

        This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

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 those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men ^sin their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.  Hebrews 7:22-28

Recently, my husband and I switched financial advisors.  As part of onboarding us with a new company, we had a checklist of things to take care of to put our financial affairs in order.  Many of the tasks given to us had to do with our beneficiaries, those who would receive our assets as an heir if something were to happen to us.  Making sure our life insurance polices are up to date, we have a will in place, and that our retirement policies are up to date so we can determine who receives our money, not a state court.  In the day-to-day business of life, these tasks often don’t seem important but when the worst happens, ensuring these things are completed can be a way to love your family and give them peace in their grief.  

Today’s section describes and inheritance all who trust in Christ receive as an heir to God’s kingdom.  He planned to provide for the spiritual children of the promise when He swore by Himself to bless and multiply Abraham.  At the end of chapter six, we read about the guarantee that we will gain spiritual blessings, as Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek.  

Many people are unfamiliar with this character of the Old Testament as he only shows up in Genesis 14, which is summarized in the first 3 verses of chapter 7.  Melchizedek and Abram have a meeting after a battle, and Abraham gives this king a tenth of his spoils.   As Melchizedek recieves from Abram, that indicates he had the greater authority between the two—“it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior (7:7). 

So what does this have to do with Jesus?  Hebrews 6:20 explains that Jesus has become a priest like Melchizedek, instead of Aaron’s order.  Priests from Aaron’s line (Aaron, brother of Moses, first priest after God’s deliverance from Egypt), descended from his lineage and were part of keeping the law.  They performed the temple duties that God had described as a measure to separate sinful man from the holiness of God.  

Jesus was a different type of priest. He ministered after the likeness of Melchizedek because He wasn’t appointed as a descendent of Aaron.  He didn’t qualify based on a familial requirement but “by the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16).  Jesus, taking on human form and living a sinless life, when physically killed on the cross, was resurrected by the power of God as He didn’t deserve death.  Killed in our place, He took the consequences of our sin physically— His perfect nature could not be extinguished.  The former priesthood was not sufficient to deal with sin because death disqualified them.  

Yet Christ who lived forever holds his priesthood permanently because His ministry is not limited by death.  Melchizedek has no genealogy listed in Genesis 14.  We don’t know when he was born, who his parents were of when he reigned over Salem.  His reign is presented in scripture as beyond time as a symbol of King Jesus who reigns perpetually. 

Let us worship this King Jesus, who as verse 7:26 spells out is holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.  Let us be grateful, that as heirs of God, dependents by faith of the promise of God to Abraham, He will bless us in Christ.  As I do my estate planning, I am excited to bless my children with a rich inheritance.  Yet the thing I long to leave them is more than money to provide for their needs.  I want to leave them Christ, a High Priest who will live forever, interceding for their sin at the right hand of God the Father.  A Son who has been made perfect forever.  This is our sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19) and our inheritance always.  

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