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The writer of Hebrews addresses a holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling (Heb. 3.1). Its the calling to participate in the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose priesthood is after the order (or, model) of Melchizedek. Thats why its a heavenly calling. The Levitical priesthood was an earthly priesthood, the Melchizedek priesthood a heavenly.
Now, there is only one high priest after the order of Melchizedekthe Lord Jesus Christ. The heavenly calling is to become a partaker of His callingto be a king and a priest in union with Jesus Christ.
This is a very high calling, and very demanding. It means making a certain Sacrifice by which we have said good-bye to our own interests in all things. Its always Gods own interests that the priest is to be preoccupied with.
The Hebrew for priest is kohen. Years ago I wrote a note into my Bible that says, The word kohen is believed to be derived from kahan, a form of kun, the Hebrew for to stand. Thus, a priest is one chosen by God to stand before men on behalf of God, and to stand before God on behalf of men.
I used to dwell on that a lot. Which of the two is the greater? To stand before men on behalf of God? I have to confess I liked that idea
and would imagine myself standing importantly before the people in Gods stead delivering a message from God.
But what about standing before God on behalf of men? Its this that the writer of Hebrews emphasizes.
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself is compassed with infirmity (Heb. 5.1,2).
Thats the first thing on the mind of the Holy Spirit. A high priest is taken from among men and is ordained for men, or, on behalf of men, in things pertaining to God.
Andthis is the important thing to seeit is God Himself who wants a man who stands before Him on behalf of men. Its easy enough to see that men need a priest who stands before the terrible God on their behalf. But do we see that being a priest who stands before God on behalf of men
this is what God Himself wants? For God is love. This is His heart.
What are the qualifications of such a priest, then, and the preparation involved? Theres much to this, of course, as detailed in Leviticus Chapter 8, which we wont go into just now. The writer of Hebrews singles out just one thing. Compassion. Other translations have this as gentleness, or forbearance. The ESV has, he can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
This is why God chooses his priests from among men. They too are beset with weaknesses, so they are able to identify with the failing.
These (the failing) fall into two categoriesthe ignorant and the erring. Some simply dont know any better; its easy enough to be gentle and forbearing with such. But what of the erring onesthose who know better, and are still at times out of the way, wayward, erring, struggling in their walk with God?
The one who knows his own heart and who has been there, done that will remember his priestly calling in cases like this as well. He will be standing before God on behalf of this one as well
interposing himself on behalf of this one, and making intercession.
For, this is what our great High Priest had done and is Himself doingHe whose calling we are to be partakers of. He interposed Himself on our behalf, laid down His life for us, took upon Himself our infirmities, became our sin offeringour sin. Now He sits at the right hand of the throne of God, the place of all power in heaven and earth, where He can have compassion, deal gently, with the ignorant and the erring. I like how the Greek has it. Its more than just a feeling. He is able (Gk. dunamenos), that is, has power to deal gently
In other words, His compassion is effectual, is vital, has power in it. And nothing is able to break that power. He abides our High Priest continually. As a result:
He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb. 7.25).
I love that emphasis, and am personally so thankful for it to the uttermost. For I see things in my own heart that make me despair at times. But I take courage. He that has begun a good work in me wants to complete it
and is able to complete it
and WILL complete it! He is at the powerful right hand of the throne of God making intercession for me...
And for others as well. And He calls me to join Him in that same intercession for others. Sometimes its not all that easy to hear His voice when it comes to that; some of these others can be very trying. But its a priestly honour to do so, if we can receive it. Thats what the Holy Spirit calls the priestly callingan honour.
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God
(Heb. 5.4).
Yes, of course, we recognize its an honour to stand before men on behalf of God, and many there be who seek this
failing to recognize only the called are authorized to do so. But the writer of Hebrew is reminding us that its just as great an honour to stand before God on behalf of men.
Do we hear His voice calling us to this honour, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling?
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