---
title: Jesus Must Be a Man Now — The Melchizedek Priesthood
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/melchizedek-priesthood/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/melchizedek-priesthood.md
type: argument
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
topics: [Deity of Christ]
challenges: [Jesus Is a Created Being]
verses: [Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 2:17, Romans 8:34, Matthew 3:17, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 7:16]
strength: Strong
tone: Excellent
attribution: Matt Slick (CARM)
added: '2026-03-31'
last_reviewed: '2026-10-11'
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Jesus Must Be a Man Now — The Melchizedek Priesthood

*"He always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25)*

## Doorstep Question

> "Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus "always lives to make intercession" for us as our high priest. But your organisation teaches Jesus returned to being Michael the Archangel — a spirit creature. If Jesus is no longer a man, who is interceding for you right now?"

## JW Claim

After his resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven as a spirit creature —
Michael the Archangel. He is no longer human. His earthly body was
disposed of by God.

## Strategy

Walk through Hebrews 6:20–7:25. Jesus is a priest forever "according to the order of Melchizedek." A priest must represent the people before God. Hebrews 2:17 says he had to be made like his brothers "in every way" to be a merciful high priest. If Jesus is no longer human, he can no longer serve as priest. And if he's not a priest, he's not interceding. And if he's not interceding, JWs are still dead in their sins (Romans 8:34).

## Key Insight

This is one of the most logically tight arguments against JW Christology. It connects Jesus' current nature directly to the believer's salvation: no man = no priest = no intercession = no salvation.

## JW Responses & Counters

### Response 1

**JW says:** "Jesus can intercede as a spirit being"

**Counter:** Hebrews 2:17 specifically says he had to become like his brothers "in every way" to serve as high priest. Angels are not our brothers. The whole point of the incarnation is that our priest shares our nature. A spirit creature cannot represent humanity before God.

### Response 2

**JW says:** "He completed his priestly work at the cross"

**Counter:** Hebrews 7:25 says he "always lives" to intercede — present tense, ongoing. Romans 8:34 says Christ Jesus "is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" — right now. His priestly work didn't end at the cross; it continues in heaven.

## What to Avoid

Don't get sidetracked into debating what Melchizedek represents. Stay focused on the practical question: "Who is interceding for you right now?"

## Homework

Read from Hebrews 6:20 to the end of Hebrews 7 until you can follow the Melchizedek argument from memory, then read Hebrews 2:17 with the verses around it, and Romans 8:34. Fix two phrases firmly: made like his brothers 'in every way' and 'always lives to make intercession' (Hebrews 7:25). Check the NWT wording of both so you can point to their Bible. Practise the doorstep question aloud, 'who is interceding for you right now?', and keep returning to it rather than debating what Melchizedek represents. Expect 'Jesus can intercede as a spirit being'; rehearse the reply that angels are not our brothers, and our high priest must share our nature.

## Next Moves

- [The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/bodily-resurrection.md)
- [No Man Can Redeem — But Jesus Did](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/ransom-who-can-redeem.md)
- [The Last Adam — More Than a Man](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/1corinthians15-45-last-adam.md)