Articles
Dealing gently with the ignorant and misguided
Dealing gently with the ignorant and misguided
The people of Israel had a high priest. Yes, they had many such because they kept dying and were replaced, but at any given time they had ONE such high priest. Such were “taken from among men” and were “appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God” to ‘offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Heb. 5:1).
This they did offer, but 1st they needed to offer such sacrifice for themselves because they also sinned and needed atonement: “…because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.” (5:3).
The writer concludes this thought about high priests by stating: “(1) Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, (2) a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.” (8:1-2)
Jesus IS our High Priest, taken from among men (he indeed became a human, took upon himself flesh (John 1:14). He was tempted in all points like as we but without SIN. Through the resurrection he was raised to die no more and hence he abides his priesthood eternally and will never be replaced by another.
There is simply a great deal of information here that needs to be processed – believed and trusted. I always find such passages need to be outlined/listed, and then memorized and meditated upon. The more we realize what we have the greater our confidence as we face the judgment of God. Jesus WILL present us holy, righteous, forgiven, justified, cleansed. He is our perfect, eternal High Priest who occupies such a position in the very presence of God our Father.
I cannot state this needed conclusion any better than is already written: “ (19) Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:19-22).
He then adds: “(23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (24) and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,…” (10:23-24)
“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” He was our confession. He still is! Don’t ever turn back! Don’t ever waiver in your trust! Hold on to this, our hope – our ONLY hope!
Hugh DeLong
