"20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
Hebrews 7:20-25
The contrast is continued in these verses. In the old economy, priests were made without an oath (21); there was a long succession of them, since death necessarily brought changes in the priesthood; but this Priest, Jesus the Son of God, was consecrated by the oath of God (21) , and, Melchizedek-wise continues forever and has an unchanging priesthood, and therefore is able to save to the uttermost. A rather wonderful illustration of what this phrase 'save to the uttermost' means is found in the Old Testament picture of the high priest in Exodus 28. On the shoulders of the high priest's garments were two onyx stones which bore the names of the children of Israel, and it was said that 'Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial.' Also, on the breastplate of the high priest were twelve precious stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each bearing its name. The symbolism is surely clear: the high priest upholds the people before God, and bears them on his heart before the Father, and to Christ our great High Priest and Advocate with the Father this gleams and sparkles with blessing, for this is how He saves us - by exercising such special personal care over us in all the needs and concerns of our lives and upholding us in time of need. Well might Jude say in his epistle, 'He is able to keep you from falling' for with such upholding how could we not know an uttermost salvation!? He ever liveth to make intercession for us, and so His upholding is unchanging. Not only so. He is our Advocate with the Father, and the Holy Spirit is His advocate with us, and is the executor, so to speak, of His gracious and powerful intercession in our lives. Wonderful, wonderful salvation!