Hebrews 7 Main Point

January 17th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 8:1-3 The main point in what we are saying 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, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that he too have something to offer.

Hebrews 7 makes the argument from the OT that Jesus is the superior High Priest, from the line of Melchizedek. It is He who intercedes on behalf of all believers. This is the “main point” (Gr. kephalaion) in 8:1, or summary. In this, the author models an effective pattern for arguing truth and application in his epistle. He first makes his point through the OT Scriptures, then he summarizes his point to make application. So, what the Scriptures teach is of primary importance to the author. For him, as must be for all Christians, Scripture has the final say in all matters.

The summary of the author’s teaching for his immediate audience was that they would benefit nothing by abandoning their faith in Jesus and going back into Judaism. Since the temple in Jerusalem was still functioning at the time the author was writing (circa AD 66), they were pondering a return to their former priesthood. The author explained to his audience that they already had a High Priest in Jesus Christ. His dwelling place, though not in Jerusalem, was in a far superior place: “at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Whereas the Jewish high priest sought God’s forgiveness on behalf of his own sins and of the sins of his people in Israel on earth in a temple made with human hands, Jesus—having died once-for-all, was always interceding for God’s forgiveness on man’s behalf in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. The author is thus asking his fickle audience, Now which do you think is better?

Of course the Jerusalem temple had been built by human hands. It was a beautiful structure by all accounts, and since its dimensions were God-given, its Author is perfect. In spite of this, humanity is imperfect and sinful. Any priest who serves in such an imperfect temple is also sinful and weak. Jesus, however, does not intercede on man’s behalf from an imperfect temple made by human hands. He intercedes as Priest while sitting at the right hand of “the Majesty in the heavens”—God the Son sitting next to God the Father. His “sanctuary,” or holy place, is heavenly where He is a “minister” (Gr. leitourgos)—a term that refers to one who cares for others. Unlike man-made temples on earth, God’s realm is perfect and in the “heavens.” Jesus Christ “sat down” there, meaning that His work of redemption was complete. This stands in stark contrast to earthly priests who never sat, for their priestly work was never finished!

Whereas the Jewish priests offered “both gifts and sacrifices,” Jesus, as Priest, must “also have something to offer” (v. 3). Now Jesus’ sacrifice and atoning work for sin is fully complete through His perfect blood sacrifice. But since He can do no less than the Jewish high priest who always offered something, Jesus too is a ministering priest. What does He offer? Since He has no need to offer blood sacrifices, He is only offering “gifts,” vital for believers. Priests in Israel offered gift offerings (grain offerings) that represented loyalty, commitment, and praise to God. Christians do no less when we offer our worship to God through the sacrifice of praise, which includes our monetary tithes. Jesus then ministers these offerings to God on our behalf. What was once the role of Jewish priests, is now the role of our superior High Priest—Jesus.

Food For Thought
“There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5). He is our Great High Priest who accepts our worship and mediates it before our Father. No other can do so, only Jesus, for He alone is qualified. So offer up your life as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2). It is worship that is mediated by Jesus the Son then received by God the Father.