that inhabitest the praises
of Israel.
Psalm 22:3
Hebrews 4:12-16
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested [or tempted] as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews, Week 2 of 7
As I mentioned last week, I plan to blog the second reading from Hebrews for all seven weeks, though I haven't looked ahead thoroughly and I could change my mind.
Today's passage is a study in law and gospel that's close to a ready-made sermon.
Hebrews 4:12-13
4:12 The living and active word of God here is more God's dynamic proclamation and revelation than it is the written scriptures. Don't we all fear exposure? We can't hide! God's word is like a sharp knife that reveals everything, and we've discovered it does some mending and rearranging, too. In any case, this doesn't sound like a cursory dusting off.
4:13 "God to whom we must render an account." Logos is the word for account, but this is not the preexistent Word that John's gospel identifies with the Christ of God. It's more financial in terms of what you owe God and others—like your car note.
Hebrews 4:14-15
Jesus was from the tribe of Judah; Levites were the priestly tribe, so Jesus' inheritance didn't qualify him for earthly priesthood. Passing through the heavens with his resurrection and ascension qualifies Jesus to serve as high priest.
Related to Jesus' sympathy (the Greek word is sympathize; a couple of translations say "feelings") that resonate with us, as mediators between earth and heaven, Jewish high priests mostly offered God gifts and sacrifices. Compassionate pastoral care wasn't part of their job description.
Hebrews 4:16
After explaining that Jesus as high priest, as mediator between heaven and earth in his resurrection and ascension, knows us and sympathizes – resonates! – with us, Hebrews 4:16 advises us to "approach the throne of grace with boldness in order to receive mercy."
Exodus 25 instructs, "you shall make a cover of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width." (verse 17) and continues, "there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat... verse 22
Scholars who know Hebrew explain the root of kapporet that Martin Luther translated as Gnadenstuhl or "mercy seat" is a place of covering that logically would extend from the physical gold covering of the ark to covering for sin, made especially clear as every year they sprinkled blood on it.
It's only a slight exaggeration to say Luther perceived Jesus Christ in [almost] every passage in the Hebrew Bible. For Luther the Gnadenstuhl, the definitive mercy seat, the place of grace, was the cross of Jesus Christ.
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