So, why does it matter so much that Jesus is much better than the Old Testament priests? Well, think about what those priests were supposed to do. The Temple where they served symbolized the presence of God among us, but because of the sin in all of our lives, they were the only ones who were allowed to go inside. Now, that doesn’t mean they were sinless – every day they had to offer bloody sacrifices, to atone for their own sin as well as the sins of the rest of the people (7:27). And since none of them lived forever, there had to be a regular succession of priests throughout the years, so that the rituals could continue to be performed as God had prescribed.

But Jesus transcends all those rituals. Indeed, He fulfills all of them, moving them from mere symbolism into the realm of reality. For He hasn’t just gone into an earthly Temple, but has ascended into the real presence of the Father (8:1-2). And He doesn’t have to offer up sacrifices to atone for His own sins, because He is “holy, innocent and unstained” (7:26). And the sacrifice that He has offered for all the sins of all His people never has to be repeated. Instead, on the cross, He offered up Himself “once for all” (7:27).

And because Jesus has risen from the dead, He will never die, so He never has to find a replacement for Himself (7:24). And because He has ascended into Heaven, He is able to pray for all His people directly in the presence of the Father – indeed, as we trust in Him, we can enter the true presence of God by faith any time we pray (7:25).

So, why does Jesus’ priesthood matter so much? Because all who trust in Him can be sure that our prayers are heard. We can be sure that we are welcome and received by God Himself. And we can be sure that none of that will ever change. Isn’t that good news?

Hebrews 7:22-8:7 (ESV)

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 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 to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.
4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.
5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.