Hebrews 7
Jesus, Our Perfect High Priest: Reflections on Hebrews 7
When we sat down to talk through Hebrews 7, it felt a lot like the way many of us open the Bible at the dinner table—flip a few pages, ask questions, and let the conversation flow. And in this chapter, we found ourselves diving deep into a mysterious figure, Melchizedek, and what he reveals about Jesus.
The big theme of Hebrews continues here: Jesus is better. Better than angels, better than Moses, better than the high priests of old. And in chapter 7, we get a clearer picture of why Jesus is the only high priest we’ll ever need.
Meeting Melchizedek: A Mysterious Priest
Hebrews 7 introduces us to Melchizedek, a priest-king who first appears back in Genesis 14. Abraham meets him, honors him, and gives him a tenth of his spoils—an offering of respect and recognition. What's wild is that the author of Hebrews tells us Melchizedek had no recorded mother, father, or genealogy. He just... appears. A king of Salem (later Jerusalem), and his name means “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace.”
Naturally, we wonder—who is he? Is Melchizedek a pre-incarnate Christ? A symbol pointing to Him? Either way, the point is clear: he represents a higher priesthood, one that supersedes the Levitical line of Aaron. And that’s where Jesus comes in.
Jesus doesn't come from the line of Aaron or Levi. He comes from a greater line—the line of Melchizedek. He didn’t inherit His priesthood through ancestry. He was appointed by God's own oath, and His priesthood is eternal.
A Better Covenant, A Better Way
The old covenant—with its sacrifices, rituals, and high priests—was never meant to be the final solution. It served its purpose in its time, but it was always pointing forward to something greater. As Hebrews 7:18–19 puts it:
“The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.”
That’s what we now have in Jesus—a better hope, a permanent way to draw near to God. No more ropes tied to priests, no more yearly sacrifices. Through Jesus, we have access. We have forgiveness. We have direct relationship.
And more than that—Jesus is interceding for us. Right now. Continuously.
Jesus Saves Completely and Forever
One of the most powerful lines in Hebrews 7 comes in verse 25:
“Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”
Jesus doesn’t save us halfway. He doesn’t hand us a rulebook and say, “Good luck.” He saves completely. Forever. And that gives us peace in a world where everything else seems to shift—health advice, political trends, even cultural values. But Jesus? He’s unchanging.
He is the guarantor of a better covenant (verse 22). That means our hope isn’t wishful thinking—it’s secured in who Jesus is and what He’s done.
The High Priest Who Stands for Us
As we reflected on this together, we couldn’t help but think of Luke 22, when Jesus tells Peter, “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you.” That’s what Jesus is still doing today—for us.
If we are living out our faith—making disciples, staying faithful, not staying on the sidelines—we will face opposition. But we have a high priest who is interceding for us. Our souls are covered, our lives are guided, and our hope is secure.
It doesn’t mean life will be easy. But it means we are never alone, and that’s the good news we carry into every day: Jesus is the high priest who saves, stands for us, and never changes.
