Sermon Breviary: Melchizedek | Hebrews 7:1-10

Jesus: Our Eternal High Priest

When life shakes us, our instinct is often to retreat to what feels safe and familiar. For the Hebrew Christians of the first century, that meant returning to Judaism's tangible rituals, its priests and sacrifices. Yet, Hebrews 7:1-10 points us unmistakably forward—to Christ, the eternal High Priest, whose priesthood far surpasses any earthly institution. The big idea is clear: How can we ever turn back? Jesus is our true and better High Priest—a Melchizedekian priest who anchors us in unshakable assurance.

First, Jesus’s priesthood is eternal (vv. 1-3). Melchizedek, the king of righteousness and peace, is introduced to us without genealogy, without beginning or end, resembling the Son of God whose priesthood endures forever. This figure, though mysterious, serves as a typological precursor—pointing us to Christ, whose priesthood truly has no end. Practically, this means our standing before God isn't fragile. It doesn’t rely on our inconsistent performance, but rather on Christ’s eternal and unbreakable intercession. Thus, when shame whispers condemnation, the gospel proclaims that Jesus stands permanently before God on our behalf.

Second, Jesus’s priesthood isn't bound by earthly lineage (vv. 4-6). Unlike the Levitical priests, who received their office by ancestry, Melchizedek was appointed directly by God. Similarly, Christ’s priesthood is divinely appointed, free from the constraints of human descent. As John Calvin emphasized, only Christ could fully deal with our guilt and intercede eternally. He alone secures our continual acceptance before the Father. The application here is clear and comforting: our relationship with God rests on Christ’s permanence—not our performance.

Finally, Jesus’s priesthood is superior to the Levitical and Aaronic priesthoods (vv. 7-10). Melchizedek’s greatness is highlighted by Abraham's tithe to him, signifying a priesthood superior even to Abraham’s descendants, the Levites. Yet Christ surpasses even Melchizedek, fulfilling perfectly what he only foreshadowed. Imagine leaving behind a frail hospital for one led by a perfect, unfailing physician who heals completely and permanently. That’s the difference Christ makes. His sacrifice doesn’t just manage symptoms—it cures sin’s root. His intercession isn't temporary—it's eternal.

Brothers and sisters, we cannot turn back. Christ’s priesthood is eternal, divinely appointed, and infinitely superior. This truth anchors us in grace, silences our guilt, and assures us of continual access to God. Let us rest confidently in Jesus, our eternal High Priest, who ever lives to intercede for us.