Bobservations Column
Titled - "Faithful High Priest"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
As the scribe of Hebrews continues, we are reminded that his identity does not have to be assigned to any Epistle. 2 Timothy 3: 16 tells us that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Peter 1: 20 says, “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The inspired word of God is identified clearly as the source of these verses. We take it somewhat for granted, because “by two or three witnesses, a thing is established." As these two verses follow the standard of proof, what might more than a dozen cross references do for our belief that The Word written, or verbally shared, is inspired by God the Holy Spirit? While the Word is breathed into us, a dozen references should take our breath away!
2 Samuel 23: 2 quotes King David’s final words: “The Spirit of the Lord (spoke) by me, and His Word was in my tongue.” This is a most interesting verse from the end of King David’s life. Not only was God’s Word spoken to David, but it was in his own tongue, to be clearly understood.
Verse 3 continues, “The God of Israel said, ‘The Rock of Israel (spoke) to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’”
King David has said the Spirit of Jehovah (Lord) spoke to him; The Rock of Israel (spoke) to him saying, “And He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.”
The Rock of Israel became the Rock of Offense as Israel rejected Jesus. One day their eyes and ears shall be opened, and on that clear, shining morning, Israel shall know Him, just as we do. But in this passage in this verse from 2 Samuel, as Jehovah spoke, of the Rock of Israel, it is the Father speaking of the Son, as given by the Holy Spirit, the unified work of the Holy Trinity.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” - Genesis 2:7
[2 Sam 23:2; Mat 21:42; Mat 22:31,32,43; Mat 26:54,56; Mar 12:24,36; John 10:35; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Rom 3:2; Rom 15:4; Gal 3:8; Heb 3:7; Heb 4:12; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19-21]
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
Sunday Morning Message:
Hebrews 7:13-28 - "Faithful High Priest"
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
The idea of a priest, in the biblical sense, is not something we see or experience in our daily lives. But this idea of Jesus as our Great High Priest is essential in understanding his sacrifice on our behalf. Hebrews 5:7-9 says:
"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
The job of the priest, before the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, was to intercede on behalf of the people with God. The priests made atonement for the sins of the people by sacrificing a lamb, symbolically placing the people’s sin upon a lamb. The problem with this system is that it could never totally satisfy the wrath of God because they were temporary and repetitive. They were only a shadow not realistic. The Old Covenant sacrifices were largely external rituals that could not transform the inner person. While they provided a means for ceremonial cleansing, they did not address the deeper issue of the human heart. The prophet Jeremiah highlighted this limitation, foretelling a new covenant where God's law would be written on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This internal transformation was something the Old Covenant could not achieve, as it focused on outward compliance rather than inward change. The Earthly priests were also imperfect people themselves, so they had to also make atonement for their own sin.
The priesthood of Jesus, while comparable to an earthly priest, was different because:
Jesus priesthood was better because He was made High Priest in an oath, "(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)" (Hebrews 7:21), whereas the Levites were priests because of their lineage (Hebrews 7:11–22).
Jesus' sacrifice was better because He lives forever, allowing Him to continually make intercession for His people, but the Levitical priests' ministry ended when they died and had to be replaced (Hebrews 7:23–25).
Jesus' sacrifice was better because He was sinless and did not have to atone for His own sins, unlike the Levitical priests, who first had to offer sacrifices for their own sins (Hebrews 7:26–27).
Jesus’ priesthood was final. His priesthood was final because the sacrifice that he made on behalf of us was perfect. It was final because the sacrifice he made on our behalf didn’t stay dead. It was final because the sacrifice that he made on our behalf was himself. He, the eternal lamb of God, sacrificed himself, rose from the grave, and then sat down at the right hand of the Father continuing to intercede for us, his followers.
Understanding the self-sacrifice of Jesus, our Great High Priest, should give us a greater love and affection for Jesus, because his self-sacrifice was the greatest act of love ever displayed. We had nothing to offer Jesus except our broken selves. We didn’t deserve his life, we deserved death in the form of eternal separation from. But thanks be to God, Jesus, our Great High Priest has done everything necessary to save us from our sin. We couldn’t earn salvation, we don’t deserve salvation, but have salvation in the name of Jesus Christ.
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
Another (7:13, 15) - In both cases, the term is "another of a different kind" (heteros), emphasizing the contrast with the Levitical priesthood.
Sprang (7:14) - "Sprang" means "rose" - that is, like the sun. As the light of the world, Christ rose up out of Judah, but He was not actually descended genetically from Judah, for He was miraculously conceived by God in Mary's Womb.
Carnal (fleshly) Commandment: (7:16) -The law dealt only with the temporal existence of Israel. The forgiveness which could be obtained even on the Da of Atonement was temporary. those who ministered as priest under the law were mortals receiving their office by heredity. the Levitical system was dominated by matters of physical existence and transitory ceremonialism.
Carnal (fleshly) Commandment: (7:16) -The law dealt only with the temporal existence of Israel. The forgiveness which could be obtained even on the Da of Atonement was temporary. those who ministered as priest under the law were mortals receiving their office by heredity. the Levitical system was dominated by matters of physical existence and transitory ceremonialism.
Power of an Endless Life (7:16) - Because He is the eternal second person of the Godhead, Christ's priesthood cannot end. He obtained His priesthood, not by virtue of the law, but by virtue of His deity.
Disannulling (7:18) - The law was weak in that it could not save or bring about inward change in a person (cf. Romans 8:3; Galatians 4:9).
The Law Made Nothing Perfect (7:19) - The law saved no one (cf. Romans 3:19, 20); rather, it cursed everyone (cf. Galatians 3:10-13).
A Better Hope (7:19) - This hope rests in Christ Himself, whose redemptive work has accomplished our salvation (Romans 5:1,2).
Draw Nigh (Near) unto God (7:19) - This is the key phrase in this passage. Drawing near to God is the essence of Christianity as compared with the Levitical system, which kept people outside His presence. As believer-priests, we are all to draw near to God - that is a characteristic of priesthood.
Oath (7:20, 21) - God's promises are unchangeable, sealed with an oath (cf. :17). The Melchizedeken priesthood of Christ is confirmed with God's oath in Psalm 110:4. God's mind on this matter will not change ("relent," v. 21).
Surety (7:22) - This is the only use of the Greek term in the NT and could also be translated "guarantor." Jesus Himself guarantees the success of His New Covenant of salvation.
A Better Testament (Covenant) (7:22) - The New Covenant (8:8, 13; 9:15). The first mention of covenant in this epistle is coupled with one of the key themes of the book ("better," cf. verse 19. This covenant will be more fully discussed in chapter 8.
Many (7:23) - It is claimed that there were eighty-four high priests who served from Aaron until the destruction of the temple by the Romans in A.D. 70. The lesser priests' numbers were much larger.
Uttermost (7:25) - Virtually the same concept was expressed in perfection (v. 11) and make perfect (v. 19). The Greek term is used only here and in Luke 13:11 (the woman's body could not be straightened completely).
Intercession (7:25) - The word means "to intercede on behalf of another." It was used to refer to bringing a petition to a king on behalf of someone. The writer makes it clear that only Christ is the intercessor (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5).
Daily (7:27) - Whenever the Levitical high priest sinned, he was required to offer sacrifices for himself (leviticuls4:3). Whenever the people sinned, he also had to offer a sacrifice for them (Leviticus 4:13). These were daily occasions. Then, annually, on the Day of Atonement, he had again to offer sacrifices for himself and for the people (Leviticus 16:6, 11, 15), Christ had no sin and needed no sacrifice for Himself. And only one sacrifice (by Him) was needed- one time only, for all people, for all time.
Once (7:27) - This is a key emphasis in Hebrews. The sacrificial work of Christ never needed to be repeated, unlike the Old Testament priestly sacrifices.
Word of the Oath (7:28) - God confirmed Christ as High Priest. God's word is eternal!
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