사귐의 소리 2025

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Hebrews 7:20–28 “Completely, Eternally, and Always!”

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4–7 minutes

Hebrews 7:20-28 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

*Parents/Guardians, please check the lesson video before the worship and see which video would be appropriate for your child(ren).

Explanation:

Among the tribe of Levi, the descendants of Aaron were automatically designated as priests by law. In contrast, God swore an oath in Psalm 110, promising to establish an eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek—and He kept that promise (vv. 20–21). As a result, Jesus became “the guarantor of a better covenant” (v. 22).

God made a covenant with Israel through Moses, but that covenant was broken due to Israel’s unfaithfulness. Through Jeremiah, God prophesied that He would one day make a “new covenant” (Jer. 31:31), and in the prophecy given through Isaiah, He referred to it as an “everlasting covenant” (Isa. 55:3; 61:8). The old covenant was conditional and therefore ultimately broken, but the new covenant is unconditional and thus eternal.

The Levitical priests served under the old covenant. They carried out their duties generation after generation (v. 23). In contrast, Jesus lives forever and serves as priest eternally, so there is no need for any other priest (v. 24). He “is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (v. 25). The word “completely” here can be interpreted temporally as “forever” or qualitatively as “fully.” It is best to understand it as encompassing both meanings.

Jesus is fully qualified to be the eternal high priest—by his character, by his actions, and by his very identity (v. 26). The priests in the line of Aaron had first to offer sacrifices for their own sins, and only then could they offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. But Jesus “sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (v. 27). Human priests, though flawed and sinful, became priests according to the law, but Jesus, being perfect, became the eternal high priest (v. 28). Therefore, there is no longer any need for another priest, nor any reason to return to the sacrifice of animals.

Meditation:

The first 39 books of the Bible are called the “Old Testament,” and the remaining 27 books are called the “New Testament.” “Old Testament” means “old covenant,” and “New Testament” means “new covenant.” The covenant God made with Israel is the old one, and the covenant made through Jesus Christ is the new one. In other words, the first 39 books were written within the context of the old covenant relationship, while the final 27 books were written within the context of the new covenant relationship.

These names were given because of the prophecies God gave through the prophets. God called Abraham and promised to make his descendants His chosen people, and He fulfilled that promise through Moses. Through Moses, God gave the Law and promised that if they lived according to it, they would become a kingdom of priests and serve as a channel of salvation to all nations. However, after settling in Canaan, Israel repeatedly disobeyed God’s will and ultimately faced destruction. Around that time, God spoke through the prophets, promising to establish a new covenant in the future—one that, unlike the old, would be unconditional and unbreakable for all eternity.

During the Last Supper (the Passover meal) with his disciples, Jesus said that the blood he would shed on the cross would be the “new covenant” (Luke 22:20). This meant that his death would be the “eternal atoning sacrifice” that would establish the new and everlasting covenant foretold through Isaiah and Jeremiah. Therefore, the sacrifice he offered “is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (v. 25).

Here, the author uses adverbs such as “forever” (vv. 21, 24), “always” (v. 25), “completely” (v. 25), “once for all” (v. 27), and “forever completely” (v. 28) to emphasize that the atoning power of the cross is perfect and eternally effective. The author stresses this because some among the readers of Hebrews were wavering, tempted to return to the temple sacrifices, thinking that Jesus’ atonement might not be sufficient.

For those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord, no further sacrifice or additional mediator is needed. Through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we have been granted the right to approach God. If we truly understand how amazing a gift that privilege is, we will serve God with the deepest reverence and awe.

Prayer:

O our eternal High Priest, Lord who intercedes for us at the right hand of God the Father—who are we that You would grant us such privilege and grace? We had no merit, no qualification, and yet we have received this costly grace. Please hold our hearts so that this precious grace does not become cheap within us. Help us to live in a manner worthy of that grace. In your name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus is our forever High Priest. We don’t need to earn God’s love or go through anyone else to be close to God. Because of Jesus’ perfect and eternal sacrifice, we can approach God with confidence and gratitude.

  • For Preschool-Lower Elementary
    • Who do you talk to when you’re scared or need help?
    • Did you know you can talk to Jesus anytime? How does that make you feel?
  • For Upper Elementary-Middle School
    • Why do you think God wanted to make a “new” and “eternal” covenant through Jesus?
    • In your daily life, what helps you remember that Jesus is always with you
  • For High School
    • How does knowing that Jesus saves “completely and forever” affect your view of your relationship with God?
    • If someone told you they weren’t sure Jesus’ sacrifice was enough, what would you say?

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