DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Hebrews 7:18-25 (12/25) Epistle for the Friday of the
Twenty-Ninth Week after Pentecost
Our Surety: Hebrews 7:18-25, especially vs. 22: “...Jesus has become a surety of a better
covenant.” The term surety stresses the element of guarantee
especially against possible default.
Bail-bondsmen provide surety that an indicted person will appear in
court; since they put up money against the possibility of flight from prosecution. The denial of bail by a judge clearly
implies that there is no surety that can be imagined or provided to guarantee
than an accused will appear for trial except his continuing custody by the
court. Bankers extend large loans
to some prospective home buyers as long as they have surety by retaining the
deed of the property in question against default. Sometimes these money lenders demand
more collateral, for greater surety. Employees who handle money on the job
are required to give surety bonds against missing funds. Title companies give surety to buyers
when they issue title insurance, which includes an historical report of all
transactions involving the specified parcel, to give the new owner the comfort
of knowing that there are no liens or notes outstanding against the property.
In today’s Epistle, the Apostle declares that the
Lord Jesus Himself stands as “...surety of a better covenant” (vs.
22) - as the Guarantor of a solemn agreement between two parties: God and His
People, the Church. Jesus is surety
that the former covenant between God and His People, having human
limitations, is replaced by a Divine one (vss. 18,19). God stands surety that we can actually
draw near Him (vs. 19). God is our
surety because He Himself has solemnly sworn that He is our Priest forever
(vss. 20,21).
He is surety because, as a Divine Guarantor, He “...continues
forever...since He always lives...” as our Intercessor (vss. 24,25). He is surety and there can and will be
no change in the Covenant that Jesus Christ has inaugurated (vs. 25).
At the Last Supper, referring to the Eucharistic Cup in
which we share, the Lord Jesus clearly stated: “...'This
cup is the new covenant in My blood'” (1 Cor. 11:25; Lk.
22:20). Pay close
attention to the word new in the Lord’s declaration, for it
signals the superseding of the Old or former covenant, which was sealed with
the blood of calves and goats (Heb. 9:19-20). Christ Jesus sealed the New Covenant
with His own blood once and for all (Heb. 9:12), and the Old Covenant is
replaced, being superseded by God’s ultimate Covenant (Heb. 7:18).
God’s New Covenant, of which the Lord Jesus is
surety, provides a certain hope of being able to “...draw near to
God” (vs. 19), for He has drawn near us in an irrevocable manner, by
becoming one of us, although remaining fully God. When we stand still and meet God in
Christ, we discover “...that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, [so
that] He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18), having tasted
“...death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).
One expects of a surety that it have integrity,
reliability, and the capacity to deliver what is promised. God declares that Jesus of Nazareth
guarantees His agreement with us, therefore, do not fear that the Covenant God
has with us lacks validity, has lapsed, or is uncertain. How many people are looking for a sure
thing, and here He is - Jesus, our surety of God’s promise!
“'...“You are a priest forever According to the order of
Melchizedek”'...” (Heb. 7:21).
People often smirk about certain guarantees because they
are unreliable, not being worth the paper on which they are written. Of course, all paper and writing fade,
flake apart, and finally disintegrate.
However, Jesus, our surety, is eternal. Hear what the Apostle says -
“...He continues forever...” (vs. 24), “...since He always
lives to make intercession...” for us (vs. 25).
The Lord’s Resurrection assures us that His
priesthood and Covenant with us is unchangeable (vs. 24). Forget those human, variable agreements,
with built-in change clauses. Not
our Surety!
O God, Thou dost not change: save us
as Thou has promised in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Return to the December Calendar