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The Scriptorium

An Eternal Priest

The eternal Son is also the eternal Priest of God.

Hebrews 5 (3)

Introduction
Now the writer fuses two lines of his argument thus far: Christ, Who is greater than angels because He is the Son of God, is also greater than Jewish high priests because He was appointed by God to an eternalpriesthood. Christ did not seek this exalted status; rather, He was appointed to it by God, so that by His suffering and example, we might know what is required to enter God’s rest.

Read and meditate on Psalm 88.

Read Hebrews 5.5-8.

Think it through.

1.  The mention of Psalm 2 (v. 5) refers back to the argument proffered in chapter 1, namely, that Christ is greater than the angels because He is the Son of God. The use of “Today” is symbolic and should not be understood as referring to some specific point in time. The generation of Christ as Son of the Father is an eternalgeneration; He is eternallythe Son of God. He did not become the Son of God due to some merit on His part (a view called Arianism, which was conclusively rejected by the Church in the fourth century). But, according to Psalm 110, Christ was only appointed a priest when, having ascended in glory, He took His seat at the Father’s right hand. And then, He was not appointed an Aaronic priest. What kind of priest was He appointed to be (v. 6)? Who was Melchizedek (Gen. 14.18-20)? Why could Christ only have been appointed an eternal priest? Why was this important for those first readers?

2.  Jesus demonstrated during “the days of His flesh” that He was well qualified to be appointed an eternal priest. How? To what does this refer (cf. Matt. 26.36-43)? Why did the Father hear His prayer? The writer says Jesus “learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Is this the same as saying He learned to obeyby His sufferings? Or is it more like He learned what obedience entails by His suffering? Explain. According to Psalm 88, how intense was that suffering? In suffering because He obeyed God and not the priests of the Jews – because by His “godly fear” He overcame any fear of man He might have felt – Jesus set an example for us, and for those first readers of this epistle. What was the writer saying to them? To us?

Meditate.
“It was not while bare and not participating in the limits of his emptying that God the Word became our model, but ‘in the days of his flesh.’ Then, quite legitimately, he could employ human limits and pray insistently and shed tears and even appear somehow to need a savior and learn obedience, though a Son. The inspired author is, so to speak, stupefied by the mystery that the Son, existing by nature truly and endowed with the glories of divinity, should so abase himself that he endured the low estate of our impoverished humanity. But this was for us, as I have said, a fine and useful example.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2.5-8

Lord Jesus, let me learn from Your sufferings, and from the joy and exaltation that followed them, how to bear up under daily trials so that…

Pray Psalm 132.1-12.
In the midst of his afflictions, David swore and vowed to serve God in building a temple for Him. God calls us to follow this example in keeping covenant with Him. As you pray, listen as the Lord brings to mind what He requires of you in the way of obedience today.

Psalm 132.1-12 (Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Remember, Lord, we pray, in David’s favor
The hardships he endured, the oath he swore, 
The vow he made to Jacob’s mighty Savior:
“I shall not enter through my palace door; 
I shall not sleep, nor slumber my eyes favor, 
Until I make a dwelling for the Lord!”

The word throughout the chosen nation spread, 
To Ephrata, and in the fields of Jaar:
“Now let us go,” the faithful people said, 
“And worship where our Savior’s dwellings are!
Around His footstool let our worship spread; 
Come, gather to Him, all from near and far!”

Arise, O Lord, come to Your resting place; 
Your holy presence meet with us in might. 
Clothe us with righteousness in Jesus’ grace, 
And we will shout to Your divine delight!
For David’s sake, turn not away Your face, 
But look upon us in Your holy light.

Remember, Lord, the oath You swore to David; 
Do not turn back, do not deny Your Word:
“One of your sons, with your throne I will favor, 
And He shall keep My cov’nant evermore, 
And walk within My testimonies ever, 
Thus He shall ever rule as Israel’s Lord.”

T. M Moore

For a better understanding of the book of Hebrews, and all the books of the Bible, order a copy of the workbook, God’s Covenant, from our online store. The studies in this workbook will show you how the parts of the Bible connect with one another to tell the story of God’s redemption and glory (click here). To learn more about Christ in His exaltation, order the book, The Kingship of Jesus (click here).

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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