Once for All
by Hugh DeLong
"For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself" (Hebrews 5:1-3).
In Hebrews 5, we are instructed about our priesthood and sacrifices (see the text below). Things have changed under this New Covenant. The function of priests included offerings for sin repeatedly. Now, we have a new Great High Priest – Jesus. Notice what the Hebrew writer affirms in the coming chapters.
First: "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man" (Hebrews 8:1-2).
Second: "Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself" (Hebrews 7:27).
And Third: "But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).
Such a change in the priesthood required a changing of the very law pertaining to the priesthood: “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also” (Hebrews 7:12).
And in the change in priesthoods, “there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness“ (Hebrews 7:18).
This is a huge change involving the whole relationship between men (us – you) and God. We now have a new law or covenant, and a high priest who understands and knows what the darkest and strongest temptations are like; knowing this, He will deal gently with us as we continually approach God.
It is this change that allows us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Thank you, Lord. Increase our trust in Jesus!
