Hebrews 7:23

23 There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve.

Hebrews 7:23 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 7:23

And they truly were many priests
There were many common priests at a time; and though there was but one high priest at a time, yet there were many of them in a line of succession from Aaron down to the apostle's time. The Jews say ^F21, that under the first temple eighteen high priests ministered, and under the second temple more than three hundred: this shows the imperfection of this priesthood, since it was in many hands; no one continuing and being sufficient to execute it; but Christ is the one and only high priest; there is no other, nor is there any need of any other: the reason why there were so many under the law was,

because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death;
death has a power to forbid a long continuance in this world, and no man does continue long here: death puts a stop to men's works, and to the exercise of their several callings; no office, even the most sacred, exempts from it; no, not the office of high priests: these were but men, sinful men, and so died; and their discontinuance by reason of death shows the imperfection of their priesthood: there was another reason besides this which the apostle gives, why the high priests were so many, and especially about this time; and that is, the office was bought for money, and men that would give most were put into it: hence there were frequent changes; the Jews themselves say, they changed every twelve months ^F23.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 9. 1. Piske Tosephot Zebachim, Art. 72.
F23 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 8. 2.

Hebrews 7:23 In-Context

21 but Jesus became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever."

22 In this way Jesus has become the guarantee of a better promise.

23 There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve.

24 But Jesus lives forever, so he serves as a priest forever.

25 That is why he is always able to save those who come to God through him. He can do this because he always lives and intercedes for them.