Pentecost 22B

Where were you
when the morning stars sang together
and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
Job 38:7

Hebrews 5:1-10

¹ Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness, ³ and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. ⁴ And one does not presume to take this honor but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest but was appointed by the one who said to him,

"You are my Son; today I have begotten you";

⁶ as he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

⁷ In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered, ⁹ and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, ¹⁰ having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Priests of the Old Covenant

• Here's an article from the Vatican about Priests of the Old Covenant.


Hebrews, Week 3 of 7

The author of Hebrews takes far more than this week's ten verses to talk about (remember, this was a sermon or homily rather than a letter in the traditions of Paul or Peter) Jesus as high priest. Hebrews is a long book, and today's scripture is only the beginning. It doesn't include many of the homilist's explanations, so please bear with me. Hebrews is a long book, and I'd love to find a reasonably detailed chapter by chapter study written in plain English and gather a few interested people to dive into it together.


Priest… Prophet, King/Sovereign

Scripture and hymnody often reference Jesus Christ's trifold office or ministry of Priest, Prophet, and Ruler or King. Jesus filled filled these Old Testament roles to exemplary perfection. A priest mediates – acts as a go-between, a broker – between heaven and earth; a prophet articulates God's heart in speech (sometimes with symbolic actions) and speaks truth to power; a ruler or sovereign stewards people, creation, and institutions.

Today's passage refers to the Levitical priesthood in the lineage of Moses' brother, Aaron (5:4). Although Jesus was not a Levitical priest, he met qualifications of (5:2) compassion and understanding; plus, (5:4) God called and appointed Jesus. Being from the tribe of Judah, he didn't qualify as a priest in human terms, but (5:6) Jesus was a priest in the much older tradition of Melchizedek.

Despite priests and high priests being central to the Jerusalem temple, as one commentator observed, Hebrews "looks away from the temple. back to the exodus—to the tabernacle in the wilderness." Then it glances further back, to Abraham, to the patriarchs and matriarchs. And then? Further into history to Abram, with Melchizedek, whose name means King (Melech) of righteousness (Zadok, Tzadek…).

Genesis 14:18-19

And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine;
he was priest of God Most High.
He blessed Abram and said,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
maker of heaven and earth…"


Law and Gospel

As we learn about Jesus Christ's unique identity as the ultimate high priest, the Jerusalem high priest's role and function on the Day of Atonement becomes central. When he entered the Holy of Holies once every year, the high priest's sacrifice atoned for the peoples' sins and for his own. A high priest repeated that action every year.

Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension never needs to be repeated. It literally has been finished, "once for all." Late pastor and theologian James Nestingen used to speak of Jesus "delivering the goods" of absolution and forgiveness. The liberation, freedom, and joy of that new morning is complete.


Vocabulary

The author of Hebrews uses the word the gospels use for High Priest / Chief Priest; it indicates historical and functional continuity between the Levitical priesthood and Jesus. The New Testament talks about deacons, priests, and elders we recognize as functions or roles an individual is called to, usually seriously prepared to do with specific education and training, then consecrated or ordained ("ordered") into.

In Leviticus 8 we read about the ordination of Moses' brother Aaron. In Acts 6 we hear about diakonal functions of service and distribution with the world-facing class of deacons. Acts 14 describes ordinations of elders or presbyters. In the English language, the words priest and presbyter come from the same root.