Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

‘Every pastor is an interim pastor.’

I read the above words in ‘Next’ – an excellent book on succession/pastoral transition. Sooner or later, every pastor will be replaced by another. Moses walks to the pavilion, Joshua comes in to bat.

The same could be said of the Old Testament priests: each one was interim. ‘Time like an ever rolling stream’ bore all these ‘sons’ away.

But ”Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.”

This has enormous implications for those of us who are trusting Him for salvation. Look at verse 25. The word ”completely” may also be translated ”fully” or ”absolutely.” Jesus does a proper job.

There is also the possibility of translating this:

”Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Because He is alive for ever, He is able to save for ever.

We are saved not only through His death but also by His life. We still need Him to represent us before the Throne of God, and because He is alive He is able to do this for us.

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:10).

Eugene Peterson expresses Hebs.7:23-25 like this in ‘The Message’:

Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.

Whichever way we look at this, true believers have every reason to take heart. We have a ‘defence Lawyer’ in heaven who does not lose a single case that is fully placed into His Hands.

”My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” (1 John 2:1,2).

Again, Peterson renders the above that: ”we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus.”

How good to know we have a ‘Friend in Court – the best Friend of all.