High Priest Forever

Jesus inaugurated the vastly superior new covenant in his death, rendering the old one obsolete . The “ word ” that God now speaks “ in the Son ” surpasses all the past revelations made in “ the prophets .” Jesus went beyond them, “ having achieved the purification of sins .” Consequently, he “ sat down ” at the right hand of God and inherited “ all things .”

The new priesthood after the order of Melchizedek inaugurated in Jesus means a CHANGE OF LAW . T he letter to the  Hebrews  is structured around comparisons that demonstrate the superiority of the “ word spoken in the Son ” over past revelations “ spoken in the prophets ,” including Moses. Jesus surpasses even the Great Lawgiver .

Jesus intercedes without ceasing for his people in the true heavenly Tabernacle, one not made with human hands .  In the gospel of  John , Jesus is the true Tabernacle where God dwells. Unlike the ancient structure with its inner sanctuary that only the high priest could enter, now, in Christ, His glory is visible for all men to see. No longer is His presence limited by physical walls and geographic boundaries.

Disciples must hold fast to their confession and approach Jesus in boldness, especially in times of great need .  After urging believers to enter God’s “ rest ,” the section concludes with a description of the powerful word of God, then returns to the subject of Christ’s priesthood. Believers must strive to enter His “ rest ” while the opportunity remains - “ TODAY, hearken to His voice .”

The letter continues using the example of Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness to summon believers not to make the same error of unbelief and thereby fail to enter God’s “ rest .” In the desert, Yahweh decreed that the generation of Israelites freed from Egyptian bondage would not enter the promised land. And so, disciples who fail to “ hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end ” will face a similar fate.