The Treasures of HebrewsSample

“The Bible speaks about him as a priest like this: ‘You will be a priest forever, in the same way that Melchizedek was God's priest.’” (Hebrews 7:17 EASY)

Jesus is the High Priest. But why? How do we know that? What is the basis for the promise that we can enter heaven because Jesus, our high priest, entered there first?

This is explained in Hebrews 7 using Psalm 110:4, one of the key texts on which the entire Bible is based. Melchizedek was a priest and king who lived during Abraham's time. This was long before the priestly service in Israel was carried out by the Levites. So Melchizedek belongs to a different order, and Jesus belongs to that order. Levitical priests are ordinary, mortal, and imperfect people. But Jesus belongs to a kind of priesthood whose origins are unknown. Their family line is not important. Unlike Levitical priests, this priest did not live by compulsory taxation, but by the tithes that Abraham voluntarily donated.

Jesus belongs to the order of Melchizedek. He is the perfect priest, not subject to human institutions. He is an eternal priest. This is why He is perfect. He entered the priesthood by divine decree. This makes Him holy. He is innocent, and He is unstained by sin. Unlike the normal high priest, Jesus did not have to make a sacrifice for Himself.

This is the real reason for hope in heaven. Jesus can save everyone completely. Anyone who turns to God will be saved. He lives in heaven, where He intercedes for us.