Lesson Eleven
Overview: High Priest
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.
Hebrews 8:1-3
Introduction
- In the last lesson we saw that the Tabernacle imagery was the reason for the mention of the “Sword” as an image for Word of G-d.
- The Tabernacle imagery continues in this lesson as we look at the ‘High Priest’ passages and try to summarize them.
Kohen Gadol – Titles and Summaries
- 2:13-3:2: Summary or main points: Like the ‘children’ – flesh and blood – having suffered. Faithful in His house.
- Title: Like the Children: Flesh and Blood
- 4:14-5:10: Summary or main points: Like us. Appointed and called by G-d; according to the order of Malki-Tzedek.
- Title: Appointed by G-d in the Order of Malk-Tzedek
- 6:20-7:10: Summary or main points: Order of Malki-Tzedek – no genealogy. The order is greater/precedes that of Aaron.
- Title: Malki-Tzedek: Order Preceding Aaron’s
- 7:11-7:25: Summary or main points: No perfection under Aaron’s order. No priests allowed from the tribe of Judah; Yeshua was not made priest by the order of man, but after the power of an endless life. The Torah does not make perfect. Like Aaron, Yeshua was made priest by an oath. The reason for new High Priests was because the old ones died.
- Title: Eternally Alive – Eternally Kohen
- 7:26-8:6: Summary or main points: Yeshua is a sinless Kohen. Ps 110 appoints Him. Main point: as Kohen He offered Himself.
- Title: The Sinless Kohen – Offered Himself
- 9:15-9:28: Summary or main points: A death was needed; blood was needed. Cleansed with blood – His own.
- Title: Cleansed Eternally with His Blood
- 10:11-10:23: Summary or main points: Sacrifices did not take away sins. We are perfected by His sacrifice. Where there is no sin, there is no more offering for sin. A new and living way.
- Title: Perfected by Him
My Questions
- 7:12-16: A change in priesthood, a change in Law?
- Maybe verse 16 explains verse 12.
- 7:18: Annulling of a commandment?
- Maybe verse 19 explains that it is not an annulling, but rather realigning expectations.
- 7:28: An oath that comes after the Torah? Supersedes?
- Maybe it is because Ps 110 post dates the Torah.
- 10:11-12; 18: If the sacrifices did not take away sin, why did G-d command them?
- Maybe I don’t understand everything I need to about sacrifices.
Summary
- The meat of this part of Hebrews is the focal point of many theological ‘snippets’ and yet very rarely is it treated as a part of the main point of the book: it is about the World to Come.
- Post dating this book is one answer to some of the issues that arise from the discussion of the priestly orders – but the tenses of the verbs indicate present tense, and even though that is not conclusive, it reminds us that the writer assumed the validity and authority of the Aaronic priesthood.
- Yeshua’s High Priesthood is of the Malki-Tzedek order: one that precedes Aaron, and one that is for a higher realm.