Hebrews 7:20-22 (NIVUK)
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
‘The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest for ever.”’
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
Psalm 110:4 describes God as swearing an oath over the Messiah, declaring that they will be a priest for ever. This eternal ‘reign’ and priesthood explains why God’s covenant with us through Jesus is better than the old covenant. God is declaring that an alternative or successor to Jesus won’t be needed, he is the perfect person for the job and will do the job perfectly. The use of the language of oaths and covenant is evocative, reminding us of God’s promise to create a people for himself that will bless the world through Abraham (a promise that is coming true through Jesus) and of marriage where two people make oaths to each other as they enter their covenant relationship (marriage being one pointer towards the relationship God seeks with us).
Thank you Father for your Son, Jesus, who has made a way for us to become part of your family.
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