Hebrews 7:23 Moreover, the present cohanim are many in number, because they are prevented by death from continuing in office. 24 But because he lives forever, his position as cohen does not pass on to someone else; 25 and consequently, he is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him; since he is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
26 This is the kind of cohen gadol that meets our need — holy, without evil, without stain, set apart from sinners and raised higher than the heavens; 27 one who does not have the daily necessity, like the other cohanim g’dolim, of offering up sacrifices first for their own sins and only then for those of the people; because he offered one sacrifice, once and for all, by offering up himself. 28 For the Torah appoints as cohanim g’dolim men who have weakness; but the text which speaks about the swearing of the oath, a text written later than the Torah, appoints a Son who has been brought to the goal forever. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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Yeah, when will that tension between "right Twix" and "left Twix" be resolved? Those words are loaded with much more than chocolate. No, I'm not talking about the Twin Twix candy bar. I mean those words "right" and "left." "Can't we all just get along?" Maybe using different words will help--let's try it. No longer shall there be right or left; instead there shall be "on the one hand" and "on the other." Perhaps that works.
But still, there's no "maybe" in the end of all tension that seems to flow for us in these words from Hebrews. For this writer, law and gospel are no longer at war. It is no longer many high priests subject to human weakness versus the one high priest "separated from sinners." There is no grand victory match still to be decided with our fortunes still in the balance. Here and now--today--our hope is made perfect in the one eternal Christ who sacrificed once, for all times, for all.
Thanks for everything, Sweet Jesus! You are my rock and my salvation--permanently, eternally, forever and ever. Amen!
Keith Muschinske, '89
Chaplain, USAF, Retired, Eagle River, Alaska
Hebrews 7:23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.
28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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