Read Hebrews 7:26. What are the five characteristics of Jesus in this passage?

Jesus was “holy.” This means that Jesus was without fault in relationship to God (Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:7-8, ). The Old Greek translation of the Old Testament used the same Greek term to designate those who maintain their covenant relationship with God and with others.

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Jesus was “undefiled.” He remained pure and untouched by evil, despite being tempted in “all points” (Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 2:18). Jesus’ perfect sinlessness is important for His priesthood. The old covenant stipulated that sacrificial victims had to be “without blemish” to be acceptable to God (Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 1:10, etc.). Jesus’ perfect obedience during His earthly life made it possible for Him to offer Himself as an acceptable sacrifice to God (Hebrews 9:14).

Jesus was “separated from sinners” when He ascended to heaven. The Greek verb tense suggests that this is a present state for Jesus, which began at a specific point in time. Jesus endured hostility from sinners during His earthly life, but He was victorious and was then seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2-3, ). Jesus is also “separate from sinners” in that He was perfectly sinless (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus was “exalted … above the heavens” (ESV). It means that Jesus has been exalted above everything there is and, therefore, He is one with God. In the Psalms, God is the one who is “exalted above the heavens” (Psalm 57:5, ; Psalm 108:5).

Jesus was fully human, but He was not a sinful human being as we are (Hebrews 2:14-16, Hebrews 4:15). Jesus is perfect, not simply because He never sinned but because He was not corrupted by sin as we are.

Yet, because He was also fully human, He is also our example. He shows us how to run the race of life (Hebrews 12:1-4). He is the example that we must follow (1 Peter 2:21-23). Because He is “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26, ESV), He is our Savior, and we too can reflect His character.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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You can view an in-depth discussion of Jesus, The Faithful Priest in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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This video is produced by the South Pacific Division Discipleship team.

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Read Hebrews 7:16. On what basis did Jesus become priest?

Jesus received the priesthood on the basis of an indestructible life and because He holds an eternal ministry. The implications of these facts are astounding. It means that Jesus’ ministry will never be surpassed or outclassed. Jesus saves completely, eternally, “to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25). The salvation that Jesus provides is total and final. It reaches the innermost aspects of human nature (Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:1-4). Jesus’ intercession before God involves all the benefits granted under the new covenant.

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It includes much more than the forgiveness of sins, too. It implies putting the law in our hearts, making us new people in Him, and leading to the dissemination of the gospel to the world (Hebrews 8:10-12). As One with God and with human beings, He represents us before the Father. As One who offered His life as a sacrifice, Jesus has unwavering favor before God.

Read Hebrews 7:22. What is Jesus in relation to the new covenant?

Jesus is the surety of the new covenant because God swore an oath that Jesus would be a priest “forever” (Hebrews 7:21). It is very easy to fail to understand the importance of this oath. Paul had already referred to the oaths God made to the desert generation and to Abraham (Hebrews 3:7-11, Hebrews 6:13-15). The difference between those oaths and the oath that God has sworn to the Son is that those oaths were made to mortal human beings. Oaths stay in force as long as the beneficiaries are alive. God’s oath to the desert generation and to Abraham were binding as long as there was a desert generation and descendants of Abraham (see Galatians 3:29).

In the case of the Son, however, whose life is “indestructible,” the oath God made to Him will be binding forever. A person who stood in surety or guarantee of another was liable to the same penalties as the person for whom he stood in surety, including death. Yet, the Father established Jesus as a guarantee to us that He will not default on His promises. That’s how certain we can be of the salvation that we have been given in Jesus.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Key Thought: Hebrews Chapters 5-7 provide a close explanation of Jesus’ priesthood, its characteristics and implications for God’s relationship with believers.
February 5, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 5:1-10.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What is the role of the priesthood and how does Jesus fulfill that role?
3. Personal Application: If we are His royal priesthood, what should our relationship be with other people? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why do we need someone arguing on our behalf? Jesus died for our sins and everything ended at the cross with the ultimate sacrifice/ Nothing else was needed.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 7:11-16.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why was there a need to change the Levitical law?
3. Personal Application: Why couldn’t the animal sacrifices truly pay for our sins? Why could only the death of Jesus pay for them? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Is there ever a place in our spiritual journey when we need to be accountable to a third party beside God for our progress or regression?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 7:16,22.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. On what basis did Jesus become a priest?
3. Personal Application: What does it mean to you that Jesus argues on our behalf?? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “If Jesus was a human being like us, how could He never sin? What do you think His life and interactions was like and how does it compare with yours?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 7:1-3.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Who was Melchizedek and how did he prefigure Jesus?
3. Personal Application: Should Christians have a place for a spiritual authority to hold them accountable, as Paul held the Corinthians accountable? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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