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Ordinary Time · Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year B

Hebrews 7:23-28

Jesus the Permanent High Priest

October 31, 2027

The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, Peter Paul Rubens
The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1625National Gallery of Art, Washington
A design for the tapestry cycle Isabella of Spain commissioned for the Descalzas Reales in Madrid. Melchizedek brings out bread and wine from a doorway above, and Abraham's soldiers crowd the steps.Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7 both reach back to Melchizedek as a priest of a different order, and this is the one scene they are reaching back to.Peter Paul RubensRubens (1577-1640) ran the busiest workshop in Europe from Antwerp and was a working diplomat besides. His religious painting carries the same physical energy as his hunts and his mythologies.National Gallery of Art, WashingtonGiven to the United States by Andrew Mellon in 1937 on condition it carry no founder's name, so that others would give to it too.National Gallery of Art, Washington
Roman Lectionary
GospelMark 12:28b-34Mk 12:28b-34
Second ReadingHeb. 7:23-28Heb 7:23-28
First ReadingDeut. 6:2-6Dt 6:2-6
Responsorial PsalmPs. 18:2-3, 3-4, 47+51 (2)Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47+51 (2)

Overview & Insights

"Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)

Unlike the many priests who died and had to be replaced, Jesus holds his priesthood permanently because he lives forever, and as a holy and perfect high priest he needs no daily sacrifice, having offered himself once for all.

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Take it further: Hebrews 7:23-28

Commentary

Hebrews 7: A Priest Like MelchizedekHeb 7: A Priest Like Melchizedek Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the chapter.

Hebrews CommentaryHeb Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of word studies and cross references on the priesthood of Christ.

Hebrews 7:23 CommentariesHeb 7:23 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the permanent priesthood in one place.

Hebrews 7, Expository NotesHeb 7, Expository Notes StudyLight

Thomas Constable's expository notes on the priest who lives forever to intercede.

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre opens the second reading on Christ the everlasting high priest who saves completely.

Background & Word Study

Book of Hebrews OverviewBook of Heb Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Hebrews and its portrait of Jesus as high priest.

Hebrews 7:23 Greek InterlinearHeb 7:23 Greek Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing for the passage on the permanent priesthood.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Hebrews 7Catena on Heb 7 Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the priest after the order of Melchizedek.

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