December 10, 2014
Hebrews 5-7 Jesus is Better than High Priests!
Toward the end of Hebrews 4, the author states, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” (4:14)
Then, in today’s chapters, he takes time to explain how Jesus is the High Priest of a different order than the priests of the Old Testament Law; that Jesus both precedes and supersedes the priests descended from Aaron. Jesus, he says, was “designated a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” He mentions this in Hebrews 5 and explains this in depth in Hebrews 7. His explanation is based on Genesis 14:17-20 and Psalm 110.
Who was this shadowy figure? Was this Jesus in a pre-incarnate form? Was he just a real priest/king who foreshadowed Jesus? Melchizedek’s name means “King of Righteousness.” He was King of a town named “Salem’ (the future Jerusalem?); Salem means “peace.” He was king, but also “a high priest of God.” He spoke for God, and, without complaint, allowed Abraham to tithe to him, as God’s representative. Now, see what the writer of Hebrews has to say about him.
In Hebrews 5:11—6:12, the writer goes off on a bit of a tangent concerning his readers’ need for deeper teaching and his desire that they “show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.” (6:11) May God grant us the grace and strength to do just that!
Tomorrow, we read that Jesus serves a better covenant that that which the Old Testament priests served.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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