Wednesday 21 January 2009

Background

This is a strange passage, with its obscure references to a mannamed Melchizedek. Who is this "priest for ever" and why does heassume such significance for the writer of the letter to theHebrews? Well, firstly, we have to remember that the writer ofHebrews is attempting to recommend the gospel (good news) of Christto Jews (Hebrews) - to people schooled in rabbinic ways ofthinking. If Christ is the fulfilment of the Law and the prophets,then that has to be made clear by developing the links andprogressions between the old Covenant and the new.

In the book of Genesis, Melchizedek is introduced into the story ofAbraham as a priest (Genesis 14:18-20)but there is no mention of where he got his priesthood from - itwas not from his parents or his family line. In Psalm 110, theMessiah is spoken of as appointed directly by God to be "a priestforever according to the order of Melchizedek" (verse 4). This wasthen interpreted as a prophecy about Christ - a foreshadowing ofthe eternal priesthood he was to exercise.

Like Melchizedek, Jesus' priesthood did not depend upon his beingborn into a priestly line. It was an eternal priesthood, unlike theLevitical priests (the traditional Jewish priesthood), active andvital up to the time when the letter was written. It was a uniqueand unprecedented blessing and thus people could put completeconfidence and trust in him.

The truth that the writer is trying to convey to the Hebrews, intheir own category of thinking, is stated most clearly towards theclose of chapter 7 - "relays of priests have had to be ordained,because, being mortal they cannot go on forever; but Christ'seternal priesthood never changes. Hence he can completely savethose who approach God through him, since he is there forever topray for them" (verses 23 to 25).

To Ponder

The writer of Hebrews goes to considerablelengths to help his audience see Jesus as the fulfilment of theirhighest hopes. What implications does this have for how we commendJesus to those of different faiths, or none?

In the opinion of some, Christ's 'priesthood'does away with the need for any other intermediary priesthood. Whatis your opinion about that?