Thanks for the comments and ideas–Patricia pointed out a good resource for anyone interested in understanding Scripture, too!
Questions:
- In chapter 4 the preacher argued that Jesus, in his strength, could understand to the fullest the force of temptations and tests we face. Now he says the Jewish high priest understood people’s needs and sufferings because he himself is weak and suffers. Ponder this: in what way is Jesus’ high priesthood superior then?
Jesus’ priesthood is superior in power and effectiveness. The high priests of old had to make an annual sin offering “for himself as well as for the people” whereas Jesus had no sin of his own that would require such an offering. Instead, he takes all OUR sins, the sins of the people, upon himself, and then offers himself, once, as the perfect, complete, and ultimately powerful offering that effectively saves us. From then on, priesthood in the Church is about extending that one offering to everyone, generation by generation.
- Check Genesis 14:18-20. That is the only place besides Psalm 110 in the Old Testament that Melchizedek is mentioned. Every detail about him is important to keep in mind.
A.) What is he? He is both a priest and a king.
B.) Where is he located? “Salem”–thought to be an ancient territory whose (later) capital city was Jeru-salem.
C.) What does he offer? He offers bread and wine.
D.) Whom does he bless? Abraham, who responded to God’s initiatives with faith.
All of these prepare the ground for Christian beliefs–Christ is both priest and king (as well as prophet), whose body is the Temple (central place of worship) shared with us in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist. All of this, as Paul points out, established by God BEFORE the sons of Jacob, great-grandchildren of Abraham, become the Jewish tribes under the Torah of Moses, making faith, not particular bloodlines, the test for inclusion in the People of God. (It should be pointed out that the Old Testament shows examples of the Jews including various non-Jews among themselves).
- In verse 7, how can Hebrews say Jesus’ prayer was heard?
His prayer was heard, in a deeper sense than “saving him for more human life in this world by preventing his crucifixion.” Instead, Jesus dies, insofar as his human life is concerned, and thereby defeats the power of Death, not only for himself, but for any and all who are found to be “in Christ” as they end their earthly lives. In his humanity, like us, he shrank from the pain and humiliation, but trusted the Father of all Life even more.
- “Son though he was, he learned obedience…” How can a Divine Son “learn”? Doesn’t he automatically know? How could he be “made perfect”? Isn’t he automatically perfect?
He was as truly human as he was truly divine. Therefore, in his humanity he learns everything in human ways of learning–experience, conversation, observation, study, prayer, etc. Similarly, in his divinity, he experiences first-hand how hard it can be to obey God as a human being. It is one thing to “obey God.” It is another to “obey God through torture and death.” Curiously, the Greek word for “completed” or “perfected” is also the word used to say a priest was “ordained”! It is in his sacrificial death that Christ is ordained a priest, a true “self sacrifice.” And, as he dies on the Cross, he says, “It is finished/completed/perfected.”
Schedule note: Merry Christmas to everyone! Our next posting is planned for Tuesday, January 5, 2021.