Hebrews 7:23-25

Bringing the sermon home:

You’ve read about His earthly life, death, and resurrection, and you’re awaiting His return, but what is Jesus doing right now? In short, He is praying for His people, interceding before the Father on our behalf.

• We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 6:19-20)
  
  
• For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Heb 9:24)
  
  
• 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. (Heb 7:23-24)

This passage emphasizes the superiority of Christ’s ministry of intercession in comparison to that of the Levitical priests of the Old Covenant, for while every priest eventually died, Christ’s ministry is eternal and thus never ceases.

This passage emphasizes the success of Christ’s ministry of intercession. Because His appeal before the Father is on the perfect basis of His own finished work on earth and not on the imperfect basis of the blood of animals and the prayers of sinful men, His appeal is always heard and thus actually saves and sanctifies His people.

Finally, this passage emphasizes is the steadfastness of Christ’s ministry of intercession, for “He always lives to make intercession” for those who draw near to the Father through Him. Be encouraged by your knowledge of His prayers on your behalf, and seek to further align your heart with His by drawing near to the throne of grace in prayer.

(Special thanks to our guest preacher, William Beckham, for faithfully unpacking God's Word for us on Sunday.)