Exploring the Scripture

Last week’s lectionary text introduced Christ as the High Priest of God. Jews regarded the high priest as a person set apart, privileged among all humans, in close communion with God. This passage expands the traits and role of the Judaic high priest into a spiritual and divine description of Jesus’ role and ministry, highlighting his perfection and permanence.

A long succession of Judaic high priests were born, served, and died. Jesus, on the other hand, existed from the beginning and was resurrected to eternal life after his earthly death. Therefore, he serves as High Priest for eternity. He can never be replaced, removed, or succeeded. He saves all people for all time because he lives eternally. 

“For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled…”
(v. 26). The word “fitting” does not mean we are worthy, but rather that Christ’s divine ministry fits our needs much better than an earthly minister. Human high priests offered sacrifices daily because people kept sinning day after day.

Sin is constant and unavoidable. The effects of just one trespass can echo through many lives. Sin creates violence, cycles of vengeance, physical and emotional abuse, self-destructive behavior, and guilt, which traps us in emotional and psychological dysfunction. According to Hebrew law, the only way to atone for one’s sins was to make a sacrifice to God. But daily rituals can become meaningless and ineffectual, mere habits.

Being human, the high priest himself was subject to sin and had to atone for his sins and the unending sins of the people. Jesus, being blameless, did not have to offer sacrifices; he was, is, and remains the sacrifice. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provides forgiveness for all people “for all time” (v. 25).

Hebrews presents the paradox of Jesus officiating over the sacrament in which he, himself, is the sacrifice. This startling image upholds a theology in which Jesus willingly chose to die on the cross. It didn’t just happen to him. It was not a political expedient in which he was caught as a victim. There was no surprise. Hebrews affirms Jesus Christ intentionally chose to offer and be the sacrifice.

The last two verses build on comparing Jewish Levitical and Melchisedec priesthoods (See vv. 1–22). Mosaic law specifies the sons of Levi inherit the priesthood and dictates their role and function. Melchisedec, on the other hand, was not even a Hebrew.

As Abraham returned from war, he met Melchisedec, King of Salem (“King of Peace”). Melchisedec had such a powerful spirit Abraham recognized him as a high priest of God, spontaneously gave Melchisedec a tithe of the spoils of war and asked for his blessing. According to Psalm 110:4, a Melchisedec high priest is appointed by God and must swear an oath to serve instead of inheriting the title by birth. 

Christ is the supreme Melchisedec High Priest, appointed by God, serving under oath as the Son of God, with the power to represent human and priestly perfection (completion). Christ also perfected (completed) each of us, so God views us through the lens of perfection provided by Christ.     

Project Zion Podcast

Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.

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Central Ideas

1. Jesus Christ, High Priest for eternity, can never be replaced, removed, or succeeded.
2. Christ’s ministry fits our needs. His sacrifice on the cross occurred once, for all people of all time.
3. The text presents Jesus as the officiant presiding over the sacrament in which he, himself, is the sacrifice.
4. As the supreme High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, Christ perfects and completes us. 

Questions to Consider

1. How does your life reflect Christ, present and forgiving “for all time”?
2. When has someone outside the church recognized you as a minister without being told? How did they know?
3. Which Community of Christ sacrament speaks to you most clearly about the role of Jesus Christ as One who saves?
4. How does Christ perfect and complete us? Explain the atonement (salvation) using the image of God, looking at us through the lens of Christ’s life, teachings, and ministry.