Death Overcame the Priests Hebrews 7:23

“Jesus made a surety of a better testament” according to the writer of Hebrews which allowed those who believe in Him to have access God. In chapter seven and verse twenty-three of Hebrews the writer shared how the “priests” “were not suffered to continue” where we read:

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

The verse begins, “And they truly were many priests,...”. The writer began with the word, “And they truly” which means “and the priests that came before verily and indeed”, “were many priests” or “a great number and quality, superior, more in excellence and in part ones who offered sacrifices and in general in were busied with sacred rites”. There were “many priests” who belonged to the tribe of Levi.

The verse continued, “...because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:”. The writer added the word, “because they were not suffered” which is all one Greek word “kōlyō” and means “were not hindered, prevented, forbidden, denied and refused” “to continue” or “abide, remain, survive and be always near” “by reason of” which means “through, with, for the sake and cause of” “death” or “that separation, whether natural or violent, of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended”. These Levitical “priests” were not allowed to continue in their office because they died.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we see how temporary the office of “priesthood” was for the Levitical priest. They were not able to continue being “priests” because they died, and therefore gave up their positions. Jesus Christ, however, is “our eternal priest”, and though He died for our sins while on the earth, He rose again from the grave and shall never die again. We have an “everlasting high priest” who makes intercession for all who believe in, trust in, rely upon and cling to Him. May all who read these words submit their lives to the “eternal and never ending priest” Jesus Christ.

Next time the writer shares how Jesus “has an unchangeable priesthood”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.