Hebrews 7:24-26
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away.(A) 25 [a]Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.(B)
26 (C)It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:[b] holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens.[c]
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- 7:25 To make intercession: the intercession of the exalted Jesus, not the sequel to his completed sacrifice but its eternal presence in heaven; cf. Rom 8:34.
- 7:26 This verse with its list of attributes is reminiscent of Hb 7:3 and is perhaps a hymnic counterpart to it, contrasting the exalted Jesus with Melchizedek.
- 7:26–28 Jesus is precisely the high priest whom the human race requires, holy and sinless, installed far above humanity (Hb 7:26); one having no need to offer sacrifice daily for sins but making a single offering of himself (Hb 7:27) once for all. The law could only appoint high priests with human limitations, but the fulfillment of God’s oath regarding the priesthood of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4) makes the Son of God the perfect priest forever (Hb 7:28).
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