By the Power of an Indestructible Life

Hebrews 7:11–25 – Jesus Is Better
Sixth Sunday in Epiphany – February 8th, 2026 (am)     

Perfection is the aim of our salvation (2:3). Being saved means being freed once for all from snare and stain of sin. Perfection was the standard set by the Law, even if that wasn’t understood from the start. Jesus Himself clarified this point in the Sermon on the Mount, as He taught how the Law should’ve been understood. Mat.5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

And perfection is intended outcome of Jesus’ saving work on our behalf, His high priestly work. We see that implied clearly right here in the opening question in our passage today (11). God intends to give us a perfect salvation, or a salvation that leads to perfection as He defines it (cf. 10:14; 11:40; 12:23). He’s gone to great lengths to provide it, lengths He wants us to understand and appreciate. So, He’s given us this letter to the Hebrews to explain many aspects of it that otherwise we may’ve missed. And today’s passage surely helps us as much as any. Let’s look at it under four headings.

The Priesthood and the Law of Moses – 11-14 

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? Answer: no need at all. Three observations here: (1) perfection is the aim of God’s great salvation (2:23). (2) It was under the priesthood of Aaron that the OT law was received by the people. So, (3) the priesthood is foundational to the law, not vice versa. Thus, 12 … when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. The priesthood facilitates relationship with God. The law then spells out the details of how this happens, what’s required from the priests and the people to maintain that relationship, that covenant, as it’s called.

Now, regarding 13 … the one of whom these things are spoken, Jesus, this new priest that arose after the order of Melchizedek, He belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. The priests came from Levi’s line, and the high priests from Aaron’s (Exo.28:1; 29:1-46 [Chapman]). But 14 … it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. There we have it: a new high priest so, necessarily, a change in the law as well (12). A new covenant must be cut, a new body of law given, new expectations. And yet, perfection was the intended outcome of the old; surely the new will aim at nothing less. True. In fact, the new came because the old couldn’t attain that perfection (11). We’ll get back to that in a few moments (22).

The Priesthood and the Life of Melchizedek – 15-19

For now, we see that the question of v.11 isn’t hypothetical. Melchizedek is greater than Aaron and Levi even though these two came later because he was greater than Abraham, their father (4-10). And he was introduced as he was (Gen.14) in order to stand as a model for a new kind of priest who would come later. 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest actually arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, Jesus, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. He becomes a high priest precisely because He demonstrates the ability to attain the perfection that’s the aim of God’s great salvation (11; cf. 10:14; 11:40; 12:23). He models the outcome such that it becomes evident that He can attain what the Aaronic and Levitical priests couldn’t. So, why not turn to Him, the One Who proves Himself a worthy high priest, not on the basis of… bodily descent, but by the power of [His] indestructible life?

After all, astute readers of God’s Word have been waiting for His arrival! 17 For it is witnessed of him in Psalm 110, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek,” King David reawakening memory of that unusual priest-king from back in Abraham’s day (Gen.14). 18 For on the one hand, meaning, when Jesus receives His high priestly role, a former commandment, the old covenant, is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, when that happens, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God, which is clearly the aim of His great salvation (2:3), the purpose for our attaining perfection as it’s mentioned here.

The Priesthood and the Oath of God – 20-22

But there’s an added dimension to this new high priesthood. We learned about oaths in the last chapter: 6:17 … when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath. At that point, God was promising to Abraham that He’d surely deliver the full and final salvation He promised, even though God knew that meant sacrificing His own Son, because Abraham [had] not withheld [his] son, [his] only son (Gen.22:16) from Him. Now, here, the swearing of an oath returns as an added affirmation of the superiority of Jesus’ high priesthood, known in advance both to be coming and to be superior to Aaron’s and Levi’s priesthood due to the prophecy of King David (Psa.110:4) which exposed the originally-intended meaning of that cameo appearance of the mysterious priest-king Melchizedek in his brief encounter with Abraham (Gen.14). As the author here writes: 20 And it (the elevation of Jesus to the role of high priest) was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by God Himself, the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”

And what do we know based on v.12? 12 … when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. So, new covenant stipulations must be adopted in keeping with this new priesthood. And due to the uniqueness of the high priest (the power of [His] indestructible life [16]), we can be sure that the desired perfection will now be attainable (cf. 11). 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. And we can be sure that this new covenant will drill right into the heart of the old and retain the skeletal structure on which it was hung (see 13:1ff.; cf. Mat.22:40) because even though it was weak and useless (18) in the effort to attain perfection (11), it was still good at its core (Rom.7:12), good in the standard it set (Rom.8:3-4).

The Priesthood and the Contrasting Priests – 23-25

23 The former priests were many in number, and not least because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. So, His life is above reproach in every way, even when evaluated by God’s standard of perfection, and it’s also unending in duration. So, there are absolutely no limits on His service! 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost, all the way to the end of this life, all the way to heaven and throughout all eternity, those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

This is the great salvation God has promised from the very beginning—to Adam & Eve in the Garden immediately after the fall (Gen.3:15), to Abram when he was first called (Gen.12:1-3), then again when he was willing to offer up his son (Gen.22:15-17), to David with regard to His forever throne (2Sa.7:16), and also to Israel through the prophets (Isa.53; 55:1-5; 61; Jer.31:31-34; Exe.36:25-28): restored relationship with Him, drawing near, renewed intimacy, but now on the other side of redemption—fallen creatures, image-bearers dead in their transgressions and sins but now made alive by the miraculous grace and mercy, the immense power and irrepressible love, of this God Who’d stop at nothing to provide a perfect salvation that would magnify the magnificence of His glory throughout all space and time and right on through eternity.

Conclusion

There’s the perfection He aimed to achieve. It’s not only about our perfection. Oh, we’re freed from sin and given resurrection bodies when we’re saved to the uttermost, but the perfection in view here goes well beyond that. God’s great salvation changes everything! Rev.21:5 … he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” … It’s about Him, we just get to come along and enjoy the ride!

When I think of this word perfection here, in the context of [salvation] to the uttermost, I recall God’s assessment of His work once He’d finished His original creation: very good (Gen.1:31). When we all arrive in heaven and His great salvation is fully and finally delivered, I believe His assessment will be: perfect (11, 18).

Three Summary Observations to Amaze and Challenge Us

1. If God’s salvation depended on human involvement at any point, perfection, salvation to the uttermost, could never have been offered.

2. God was willing to go to any lengths required to provide a great salvation, perfection, to all who would receive it.

3. God has gone to such lengths to provide His great salvation in Jesus to all who will receive it—to save to the uttermost (25) and fold them into His eternal perfection.

Believer, never cease to be amazed at God’s great salvation. Unbeliever, receive His salvation today; trust in Jesus as your great high priest who reconciles you to God.

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Resources

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                  , R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Hebrews, by David Peterson, 1321-1353. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

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Hughes, Philip Edgcumbe. 1979. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

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NEXT SUNDAY: Hebrews 7:26–28