Why the Old Priesthood Had to Go: Hebrews 7 Explained
- Thad DeBuhr
- Aug 10
- 11 min read
Updated: Sep 3
Hebrews 7
The Main Message: Building on the mysterious priesthood of Melchizedek, this study guide reveals how Jesus' eternal priesthood and perfect sacrifice completely replace the corrupt and temporary old system, granting us full and permanent access to God.
Welcome to YourJesusJourney.com! 👋 We're so glad you're here. If you've been on this journey for a while, you know that sometimes the Bible can throw you a curveball. Hebrews 7 is one of those passages that might make you scratch your head and ask, "Who is this Melchizedek guy, and why is he suddenly so important?" And what's up with all of this talk about priests? Don't worry, you're not alone! Let's dive in and see what we can uncover together.
Before moving on, pause and read through Hebrews 7 in a couple of different translations. Choose two from this selection: NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, NKJV
Setting the Scene: Hebrews Explained (at least chapter 7)
Hebrews chapter 7 can be a bit confusing, but the main idea is actually pretty simple. The writer of this letter wants to prove that Jesus is the best possible priest—better than all the old priests from the Old Testament. To do this, he compares Jesus to a mysterious king-priest from way back in the book of Genesis named Melchizedek.
If you want to dig deeper into the Old Testament priesthood and who Melchizedek was, be sure to check out our previous guide number 566, The Old Testament Way vs. The Jesus Way.
This argument was a huge deal for the first readers of this letter because they were Jewish believers who were being tempted to go back to their old religious traditions and temple rituals.
This sets the stage for the main point. The Levitical priests were appointed based on a temporary, earthly law and had to offer continuous animal sacrifices because their work was never finished. Jesus, however, is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek. His priesthood is based on "the power of an indestructible life" (Hebrews 7:16). He offered a single, perfect, and eternal sacrifice for all time, and because he lives forever, he can continuously intercede for us. The old system was a temporary shadow, but Jesus is the permanent reality.
BE SURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO PODCAST THAT GOES DEEPER INTO THIS SECTION OF HEBREWS
See viewer comments and questions on screen at the end of the podcast.
Rabbit Trail: The Corruption of the Priesthood 💰
To fully appreciate the radical message of Hebrews 7, we have to understand the deep corruption of the priesthood at the time of Jesus. By the first century, the original purpose of the priesthood had been largely forgotten, replaced by a system of political power and personal enrichment.
God’s original design for the priesthood, outlined in the Torah, was for a holy, hereditary class from the tribe of Levi to serve as mediators between God and the people. Their role was to teach the Law, offer sacrifices, and maintain the holiness of the Temple. It was a position of service, not power.
However, over time, the priesthood became a corrupt institution in several key ways:
Political Appointments and Bribery: As historical sources like Josephus record, the high priesthood—which was meant to be a lifelong position passed down through a specific lineage—became a political football. The office was frequently sold to the highest bidder or appointed by foreign rulers like Herod and the Romans. This meant the High Priest was often a puppet, more loyal to Rome than to God or the people. The notorious family of Annas, for instance, held the high priesthood for years through a succession of his sons and son-in-law, Caiaphas, maintaining power like a mafia family.
Financial Exploitation: The Temple became a hub of immense wealth and commercial activity, much of which was funneled to the priestly aristocracy. This included the infamous "Booths of Annas" and the money changers who charged greatly inflated prices and extorted money from the people.
Moral Decay: Instead of being examples of holiness, many priests lived extravagant, Hellenized lifestyles and flouted the laws of Moses. The Talmud records a lament against the house of Boethus (one of the priestly families) that their servants would beat the people with staves.
The sheer opulence of this priestly class is a shocking detail that archaeology has confirmed. The ruins of the House of Caiaphas, for example, sit on the highest and most exclusive part of Jerusalem. Its sprawling size, ornate mosaic floors, private kitchens, and ritual baths (mikva'ot) stand in stark contrast to the humble, one-room stone dwellings of an average Jewish family. This physical evidence of immense wealth makes the accusation of financial exploitation and moral decay tangible and undeniable.
Scroll through the pictures I took inside the preserved ruins of the High Priest Caiaphas' elaborate home.
The corruption was so widespread that it led to significant division among the Jewish people. This is where the Essenes, a highly conservative and separatist group, come into play. They believed that the Jerusalem Temple and its priesthood had become irredeemably corrupt and illegitimate. As a result, they separated from the religious establishment in Jerusalem, retreating to desert communities like Qumran near the Dead Sea. Their writings, which we now know as the Dead Sea Scrolls, show their complete rejection of the corrupt priests and their system. They saw themselves as the "sons of light," living in a temporary spiritual temple in the wilderness, waiting for God to restore a righteous priesthood in Jerusalem.
(Scroll down to see pics from a hike in the Qumran mountains to actually go into some of the caves where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found)
Jesus's entire ministry was a direct challenge to this corrupted system. The famous scene where Jesus overturns the tables of the money changers was a dramatic protest. He wasn't just upset about a mess; he was quoting Jeremiah and Isaiah, calling the Temple a "den of robbers" (Matthew 21:13) and accusing the priests of turning God's house of prayer into a place of exploitation. This action was a prophetic judgment against the system itself. Jesus' solution wasn't to reform the old system, but to replace it entirely with his own perfect, eternal priesthood. His death tore the Temple veil, symbolizing that the barrier between God and humanity was gone. Through him, we have full and direct access to God, without the need for any earthly mediator.
Take a look at these pictures from my hike in 2019 through the Qumran mountains, where shepherds first discovered the caves containing the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls.
Questions for you to chew on and discuss:
How does knowing the old way was temporary make you appreciate Jesus' permanent sacrifice even more?
The High Priests' elaborate homes and wealth stood in stark contrast to Jesus's humble life. How does this contrast challenge our own ideas about what spiritual authority and success should look like?
What "old ways" or habits in your life are keeping you from fully embracing the new way Jesus offers?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
What is one 'old way' of doing something—a habit, a belief, or a process—that you've had to let go of in your life, even though it was familiar and comfortable? And what was it about the 'new way' that made the change worth it?
How to Apply This Today: Learning to Relate to Jesus as our high priest
The main point of Hebrews 7 is that Jesus is our superior and eternal high priest. This is great news for us! It means we no longer need an earthly "middleman" to get to God. Instead, we can come to God directly, with full confidence, because Jesus' one-time sacrifice has made us right with God forever. This should remove any feelings that we need to "earn" our way to God through good works or religious rituals. Here’s what this can look like in your everyday life:
1. Rely on Jesus' Intercession (He's on your side!)
What it means: The Bible says Jesus is at the right hand of God, and He "always lives to make intercession" for us (Hebrews 7:25). Think of "intercession" as a powerful and constant prayer. Jesus isn't just a historical figure; He is alive and actively praying for you, right now. He knows what you're going through, and He is representing you before God the Father.
In real life: Imagine you're about to have a difficult conversation with a family member or go into a high-stakes meeting at work. You might feel anxious and alone. Applying this truth means you can pause, take a breath, and remember that Jesus is already there with you. He is speaking on your behalf, and His presence gives you peace and strength. It's like having the most powerful advocate in the universe in your corner, and that changes everything.
2. Walk in Confidence (The work is finished!)
What it means: Before Jesus, the priests' work was never done. They had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, which showed that the problem of sin was never truly solved. But Jesus' sacrifice was perfect and final. The work is finished! This means you don't have to live in fear of judgment or feel like you have to be perfect to be loved by God. You can walk in a confident assurance that you belong to Him.
In real life: Maybe you made a mistake at work, failed to keep a promise, or said something you immediately regret. In the past, you might have felt a wave of guilt and shame, believing you had to "make it up" to God. Walking in confidence means you can confess that mistake, know that you are forgiven, and move forward without that burden. You don't have to earn back God's love—you are already loved, because of what Jesus has done.
3. Let Go of the Old (Embrace the better way!)
What it means: Just as the first Christians were tempted to go back to the old, complicated religious system, we can be tempted to rely on rules, traditions, or habits to feel closer to God. This could be anything from a specific prayer ritual to a rigid list of do's and don'ts. Hebrews 7 reminds us that Jesus has provided a new, simpler, and infinitely better way: a direct, personal relationship with God.
In real life: Consider someone who grew up believing that they had to go to church every Sunday, volunteer for a certain number of hours, and read their Bible for a specific amount of time each day to be "a good Christian." If they miss a day, they feel immense guilt. Embracing the new way means they can let go of that crushing weight of performance. Instead, they can find rest in the truth that their relationship with God isn't based on what they do, but on what Jesus has already done for them.
Join a Journey Group!
Hebrews is a book that's best understood in community, where you can hash out these complex ideas with others. It's a great book for a group to chew on and process together. So, don't try to navigate the weird parts of scripture, or life, on your own. It's kind of like trying to figure out your tax returns without an accountant—you can do it, but you're probably going to miss a bunch of stuff and end up a little worse off than when you started. Instead, join a journey group! You can learn more about joining or even starting a group by heading over to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups.
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EXCITING DREAMS TAKING SHAPE
From road life to dream home base! 🚚➡️🏡 After years of traveling, God led us to an incredible spot in Arizona to build a ministry hub & bless others. You won't believe how it happened! ✨ Watch our new video to see the first glimpse! 👇
For the past three years, Kaila and I have been living life on the road, exploring and serving wherever God leads us. It's been an incredible journey, but carrying everything we own and constantly navigating started us dreaming of something more: a home base. A place to lighten our load, simplify, and most importantly, create a space where we can truly bless others. This video is the first glimpse of that dream!
As full-time traveling missionaries and founders of YourJesusJourney.com, we live on a modest income, relying on the generosity of others to support our three-fold ministry vision: helping people understand the Bible in context, finding Christian friends, and equipping disciple makers. So, you might be wondering, how are we able to pursue something this ambitious? About a year and a half ago, Kaila’s beloved dad passed away. With his passing, Kaila inherited their expansive family home and horse property on the breathtaking North Shore of Lake Superior, in beautiful Ontario—the place she grew up, where she rode her first bike and horse, and learned to drive. After much prayer and seeking God’s guidance, we decided to sell the property. What you see here came as a result of that incredible blessing, and all the work unfolding in the next year or two will also be funded by it.
Ultimately, it’s all God’s money, God’s land, and God’s resources—we simply want to be faithful stewards, investing what He’s entrusted us with to serve our family, friends, and help countless others experience God and the lessons of the Bible in a whole new way. We prayed and searched high and low, from Texas to Idaho, and God consistently drew us back to this breathtaking location in Northwest Arizona. Imagine: a spot overlooking the world's densest Joshua Tree forest, just minutes from the Grand Canyon, with epic mountains in our backyard! Our deepest desire for this place is to be a haven for renewal. A spot where our kids can visit, Kaila's mom can stay, and friends can gather. But even bigger than that, it's a launchpad for new ministry—a place to invite people to rest, recharge, share meals, grow friendships, and truly be renewed in the desert sun. We're already dreaming of leading hikes, teaching Bible lessons, and hosting retreats.
There’s a lot of exciting work ahead, but we're stepping out in faith, trusting God every step of the way. We’re so excited to share this new chapter with our family, friends, and all of you! If you want to learn more about our ministry, please visit YourJesusJourney.com. And if you have any questions, or just want to send your prayers or encouragement, please fill up that comment section or reach out directly at YourJesusJourney@gmail.com.
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