Commentary - Hebrews 7:23-25

Bird's-eye view

In this potent section of Hebrews, the author is driving home the absolute and final superiority of Christ's priesthood over the old Levitical order. The argument is devastatingly simple and rests on the unshakeable reality of Christ's resurrection and eternal life. The old priesthood was a relay race of dying men; one would take the baton of ministry and run his lap until death took him off the track, and then another would take his place. It was a system characterized by succession because it was a system characterized by death. But Christ's priesthood is not a leg in a relay. It is the entire race, run and won by one Man who cannot die.

This permanence is not just a theological curiosity; it is the very engine of our salvation. Because Jesus lives forever, His priesthood is untransferable and His work is unending. This leads to the glorious conclusion of verse 25: He is able to save completely, to the uttermost, all who draw near to God through Him. The security of the believer is not found in his own grip on Christ, but in Christ's unending grip on him, a grip maintained by His perpetual, living intercession at the right hand of the Father. The argument is a crescendo: the old priests were many because of death; Christ is one because of life, and therefore His salvation is total and eternal.

Outline

Context In Hebrews

This passage is the heart of the central argument of the book of Hebrews. The author has already introduced Jesus as the great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:10, 6:20). Chapter 7 is the full exposition of this point. He has shown how Melchizedek was superior to Abraham and, by extension, to Levi who was still in Abraham's loins (Heb 7:1-10). He has argued that the introduction of a new priesthood signifies the obsolescence of the Levitical law (Heb 7:11-19). Now, he moves to the practical superiority of Christ's personal ministry as priest. This section contrasts the fundamental weakness of the old system, which was its mortality, with the fundamental strength of the new, which is Christ's indestructible life. This argument directly sets the stage for the discussion of the new and better covenant in chapter 8 and the once-for-all sacrifice in chapters 9 and 10.

Key Issues

Death and the Priesthood

The central problem with the Aaronic priesthood was not the character of the men, though that was often a problem. It was not the sacrifices, though they were insufficient. The central, structural problem was death. Death is the great disrupter, the final enemy. Every priest, no matter how faithful, eventually had to hang up his ephod and die. His ministry was, by definition, temporary. The entire system was a constant reminder of the reign of sin and death. The sheer number of priests testified to the power of the grave. A long line of tombstones marked the succession of the high priestly office.

But the gospel is the news that death has been defeated. Jesus Christ did not just live a perfect life and die a substitutionary death; He rose again from the dead, demonstrating that He has an indestructible life. The author of Hebrews seizes on this fact. A priest who cannot die is a priest who can finish the job. A priest who has conquered death can offer a salvation that death cannot touch. The contrast is absolute. The old system was a revolving door of priests because of death. The new covenant has one priest forever because of resurrection life.

Verse by Verse Commentary

23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

The author begins with a plain statement of fact, a fact his readers would have known intimately. The Levitical priesthood was a crowd. Why so many? Was it because the work was so vast it required a multitude? No, the reason was grimly simple: death kept getting in the way. The verb prevented here means to be hindered or forbidden. Death was the great prohibition. It put a hard stop on every priest's term of office. Think of it like a leaky bucket. No matter how much water you pour in, it keeps draining out. The Levitical priesthood was a leaky institution because it was populated by mortal men. The sheer quantity of priests was not a sign of strength, but a profound statement of weakness. It was a constant, visible sermon on the fact that the wages of sin is death, and that this system, operating under the shadow of death, could never finally deal with sin.

24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

Here is the great "but," the hinge on which the argument turns. The contrast is stark. On the one hand, a multitude of dying priests. On the other hand, one living Priest. The reason for the difference is His eternal nature. He continues forever. Because His life is endless, His priesthood is likewise. The word for permanently here is fascinating. It is the Greek word aparabatos, which means "untransferable" or "not passing to a successor." There will never be a priest to take Jesus' place. There is no need for a successor because the incumbent is immortal. His is not a temporary appointment. He holds His office in perpetuity. All the authority, all the functions, all the blessings of the high priestly office are His and His alone, forever. This is the rock-solid foundation of our faith. We are not dealing with a temporary administration that might be replaced, but with an eternal King-Priest whose term never expires.

25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

This verse is the glorious conclusion, the "therefore" that cashes the check of the previous verses. Because Christ's priesthood is permanent, His power to save is total. Let's break this down. He is able to save forever. The Greek is eis to panteles, which carries the idea of "to the uttermost," "completely," "perfectly." This is not a partial salvation, a temporary reprieve. This is a salvation that goes all the way, covering every sin, conquering every enemy, and lasting for all eternity. Who receives this salvation? Those who draw near to God through Him. He is the sole access point to the Father. And what is the basis for this complete and eternal salvation? The final clause gives the reason: since He always lives to make intercession for them. This is breathtaking. Jesus' saving work did not end at the cross. The cross was the definitive victory, the place where sin was paid for once and for all. But His work continues at the right hand of the Father. His very presence there, as our resurrected High Priest, is a constant plea on our behalf. He is always living, and therefore He is always interceding. His intercession is not a desperate begging of an unwilling Father. It is the presentation of His own finished work. He is our lawyer, our representative, our advocate, and because He lives, He never loses a case.

Application

The truth of these verses ought to be a fortress for the soul of every believer. Our assurance of salvation does not rest on the flimsy foundation of our own feelings, our own performance, or our own ability to hang on. It rests on the indestructible life and untransferable priesthood of Jesus Christ.

When you are tempted to doubt your salvation because of your sin, remember that He is able to save to the uttermost. His salvation is bigger than your sin. When you feel weak, spiritually exhausted, and unable to continue, remember that He continues forever. His strength is not contingent on yours. When you feel that your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, remember that He always lives to make intercession for you. Your access to God is not based on the eloquence of your prayers, but on the efficacy of His. He is praying for you, right now, with perfect knowledge and perfect love.

The contrast between the many priests and the one Priest is the contrast between every other religion and the Christian faith. Every other religion is a do-it-yourself project, a system of human effort that is ultimately cut short by death. Christianity is not a system, but a person. It is not about what we do for God, but about what a living High Priest has done, and is doing, for us. Therefore, we are not to come to God timidly, wondering if we will be accepted. We are to draw near with confidence, because the One who represents us before the throne is the immortal Son of God, and His work on our behalf never, ever ends.