So far, we’ve learned that Christ is superior to the angels, the prophets, and even to great men in the Bible like Moses. He is uniquely God and Son of God, worthy of worship and praise. Now, we learn He is also the ultimate High Priest. We’ve transitioned to studying how Jesus is the final High Priest.
The high priest in the Old Testament would enter the holiest place in the temple once a year on behalf of the people, asking for their atonement. He and other priests were continually offering sacrifices, acknowledging that sin deserves death and substituting animals’ deaths on behalf of people. Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice and offered His own blood and death on behalf of us all. It was the ultimate and final sacrifice. But Jesus is not only the sacrifice, but also the One who offered it. The priest. Unlike animals, who had no choice in the matter, Jesus chose to be that sacrifice for us, and thus became – by God’s appointment – the final High Priest.
There’s a mysterious character in Genesis 14:18-20 named Melchizedek. He was called “a priest of God Most High” and he blessed Abraham. Abraham offered a tenth of all he had to this priest. We don’t know much more than that. He certainly wasn’t a Levite, as Levi had not even been born! He stands apart – unique – as Jesus does. So, Jesus is our ultimate High Priest and is like Melchizedek in His “apartness” from the Levitical priesthood.
If this sounds a bit confusing and mysterious, you are not alone. The people to whom Hebrews was written would have struggled with this, too. And yet, the writer says this is simple compared to other truths he wants to share! He urges them to move beyond the basics (the milk) and onto deeper things (the meat). We never ever stop growing in our faith journey. The goal is to know God better and love Him more and, according to verse 14, to be able to “recognize the difference between right and wrong.” Oh, how I want to know the right path each and every step of my journey! May God give us greater and greater understanding as we walk with Him!
My verse: Hebrews 5:7, “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.”
My response: Father, thank You for this reminder that You hear our prayers even when You answer “no” as You did to Jesus. Thank You that our High Priest – Jesus – knows the grief of submitting to Your will over His own and can sympathize with us when we have to accept what we did not want as well. SO thankful, Lord Jesus, that You accepted the will of the Father – the hard way of the cross – for me.
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Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Lord May I continue to train to distinguish good from evil. Thank you for the gift of your Word. May I consume it daily. May it settle on the tablet of my heart. May I constantly seek to please you and follow your Word. Lord grant me discernment, allow me to see the Truth.
I was struck by the “constant use” phrase in the verse. Your prayer responds to that beautifully. It’s a daily thing. I’m praying right along with you, that God would grant discernment to see the Truth. Amen!