Hebrews 7
Hebrews 7:23-25: The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
|
|
There is a depth to these verses that is often missed. The basic truth is clear, in the Old Testament, though there was only one high priest at a time, there had to be many of them because they were prevented from continuing in the office by death, but think about this a little deeper. The priesthood under the old covenant was a wonderful picture or shadow of the reality that Christ would fulfill. Some people, including the original readers of the book of Hebrews were tempted to go back to the old system for several reasons, but one of the benefits was that it was tangible. You could see the sacrificed animal, you could smell the incense burning, and hear the priest make intercession for you. This was undoubtedly a comfort, but in this picture of our true salvation in Christ there was a gaping hole. The priests kept dying. The role of the priest was to mediate between God and man, and they would illustrate atonement from sin, but the wages of sin is death and even the priests continued to die. If you are in desperate need of salvation and you understand that death is part of what you need to be saved from, how much hope could you receive from priests who continue to die? You could only gain hope if you understood that it typified something greater that God was going to provide. Every one of us, unless Christ returns, is going to face death. Some of us may already be feeling its effects. We are unable to do many of the things we used to do, and the older we get the more illnesses and health issues we have to deal with. When death becomes more of a reality for us, to whom are we going to turn and place our hope? To priest who still die? Your own goodness or heath regimens? Since none of these have defeated the enemy of death, there must be something greater in which we can place our trust. |
Hebrews 7:25:
“Therefore he [Jesus] is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” This scripture teaches that Jesus “lives forever to intercede.” |
Jesus interceded to bring us salvation because we did not have the ability or strength to save ourselves.
|

When we practice intercessory prayer, we imitate our Lord. While on Earth, Jesus prayed for others, and he continues to be an advocate for us in heaven. As Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “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.”
Not only does Jesus intercede for us, but he also responds to our intercessory prayers for others. In Luke Chapter 5, we see what happens when people bring the needs of their friends to Jesus.
The crowds are beginning to follow Jesus because they hear of his healings. Several men carry their paralytic friend up to be healed by Jesus, but they can’t reach him through the crowds. Unwilling to be stopped, they decide to lower their friend down through the tiles in the roof. What happens next tells us something incredibly important about the power of intercessory prayer: “And when [Jesus] saw their faith he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven’” (Lk 5:20). Notice how Jesus forgives the man because of the faith of his friends. -St Padro Pio
Not only does Jesus intercede for us, but he also responds to our intercessory prayers for others. In Luke Chapter 5, we see what happens when people bring the needs of their friends to Jesus.
The crowds are beginning to follow Jesus because they hear of his healings. Several men carry their paralytic friend up to be healed by Jesus, but they can’t reach him through the crowds. Unwilling to be stopped, they decide to lower their friend down through the tiles in the roof. What happens next tells us something incredibly important about the power of intercessory prayer: “And when [Jesus] saw their faith he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven’” (Lk 5:20). Notice how Jesus forgives the man because of the faith of his friends. -St Padro Pio