BUT WHEN CHRIST APPEARED AS A HIGH PRIEST
OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME: de christos de paragenomenos (AMPMSN)
archiereus ton mellonton agathon: (Genesis
49:10;
Psalms 40:7;
Isaiah 59:20;
Malachi 3:1;
Matthew 2:6;
11:3;
John 4:25;
1 John 4:2,3;
5:20;
2 John 1:7)
(2:17;
3:1;
4:15;
5:5,6;
7:1,11-26,27;
8:1)
(10:1)
But - This
introduces a dramatic contrast - the new versus the old. The sacrifices of the first covenant could
not make atonement for the lost sinner, whereas the sacrifice of the Lamb of
God effected eternal redemption.
Robertson
rightly declares that...
This is the great historic event that is
the crux of history.
When
Christ appeared - The "real Christmas"! In this section, the
writer speaks of the ultimate theological significance of the
"Christmas story", which was so much more than just a Babe "in a
manger".
Appeared
(3854)
(paraginomai from para = beside + ginomai = to
be, become, come into being) means to be beside or to become alongside
and conveys the sense of Messiah's arriving upon the scene of human
history at His first advent. Messiah came from "another world" as it
were and "invaded" human history not as another human being born in
the midst of humanity. His first appearing fulfilled the prophetic
aspects of His Old Testament name Immanuel, "God with us". His first
advent was just a picture of a Baby being born, but of God taking the
form of humanity in a miraculous
Virgin Birth.
As one would say in Spanish, Messiah became "Deos con carne" or
"God in the flesh"!
The same verb
paraginomai was used to describe the appearing of John the
Baptist, Matthew recording...
Now in those days John the Baptist
came (paraginomai - appeared on the scene of human
history), preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mt 3:1,2)
The Messiah's
appearance had been prophesied by Jacob who declared...
The scepter (symbol of royal
comment and right to rule) shall not depart from Judah, nor the
ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh (meaning
either "that which belongs to him" or "Bearer of rest and tranquility"
[there not clearly complete agreement] a reference not to the town but
to the Messiah Who ) comes, and to Him (the Messiah) shall be the
obedience of the peoples (the nations - indicating this rule would be
worldwide). (Genesis
49:10)
In the Messianic
psalm Christ declared...
Then I said, "Behold, I come; In
the scroll of the book it is written of me. (Psalms 40:7)
(Psalm 40 is quoted by the writer beginning in
Hebrews 10:5 [note])
Isaiah foretold
of Messiah's glorious appearing...
Isaiah 59:20
"And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from
transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD.
Malachi
(means "My messenger") predicted the Messiah's appearance...
Behold, I am going to send My
messenger (Fulfilled some 400 years later in the appearing of John the
Baptist, cp Mt 3:3, 11:10, cp Isaiah's similar prophecy 40:3,4), and
he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, Whom you seek, will
suddenly come to His temple (eg, see Jesus cleansing of the Temple in
John 2:14-17); and the Messenger (mal'ak = one who is sent) of the
covenant (the Messiah), in Whom you delight, behold, He is coming,"
says the LORD of hosts.
High priest
(749)
(archiereus from arche = first in a series, the leader
or ruler + hiereus = priest) (Dictionary articles -
Easton's;
ISBE)
refers to the priest that was chief over all the other priests in
Israel. This office was established by God through Moses instructions
in the Pentateuch. The high priest functioned as the mediator between
Jehovah and Israel performing sacrifices and rituals like other
priests, but in addition acting to expiate the sins of the nation on
the annual Day of Atonement.
The irony is that the high
priest Caiaphas was residing over the Sanhedrin during trial of
Jesus, the trial which would lead to His death and pave the way for
His eternal High Priesthood!
Eerdman's
Bible Dictionary explains that...
The high priest descended from
Eleazar, the son of Aaron. The office was normally hereditary and was
conferred upon an individual for life (Nu 25:10-13). The candidate was
consecrated in a seven-day ceremony which included investiture with
the special clothing of his office as well as anointments and
sacrifices (Ex 29:1-37; Lev 8:5-35).
The high priest was bound to a higher degree of ritual purity than
ordinary Levitical priests. He could have no contact with dead bodies,
including those of his parents. Nor could he rend his clothing or
allow his hair to grow out as signs of mourning. He could not marry a
widow, divorced woman, or harlot, but only an Israelite virgin (Lev.
21:10-15). Any sin committed by the high priest brought guilt upon the
entire nation and had to be countered by special sacrifice (Lev
4:1-12). Upon a high priest’s death manslayers were released from the
cities of refuge (Nu 35:25, 28, 32). (Eerdman's
Bible Dictionary)
Archiereus
occurs only in the Gospels (Matthew
- 25 times,
Mark 21 times,
Luke 15 times,
John 20 times),
Acts 22 times
and Hebrews (see below). The
references to the high priests in the Gospels and Acts refers
primarily to their bitter opposition to Jesus Who the writer of
Hebrews identifies as our everlasting High Priest.
Clearly
archiereus is a key word in the book of Hebrews, and a review of
these 17 verses reveals various characteristics (see underlined
sections) of Jesus role as the great High Priest (some of the uses of
high priest obviously do not refer to Jesus but to the Jewish high
priests).
Hebrews 2:17 (note)
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He
might become a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins
of the people.
Hebrews 3:1 (note)
Therefore, holy
brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle
and High Priest of our confession.
Hebrews 4:14 (note)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession.
Hebrews 4:15 (note)
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we
are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 5:1 (note)
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of
men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and
sacrifices for sins;
Hebrews 5:5 (note)
So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a
high priest, but He who said to Him, "Thou art My Son, Today I
have begotten Thee";
Hebrews 5:10 (note)
being designated by God as a high priest according to the order
of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:20 (note)
where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a
high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:26 (note)
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy,
innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the
heavens;
Hebrews 7:27 (note)
who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up
sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the
people, because this He did once for all when He
offered up Himself.
Hebrews 7:28 (note)
For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of
the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect
forever.
Hebrews 8:1 (note)
Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high
priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of
the Majesty in the heavens,
Hebrews 8:3 (note)
For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices;
hence it is necessary that this high priest also have something to
offer.
Hebrews 9:7 (note)
but into the second only the high priest enters, once a year, not
without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of
the people committed in ignorance.
Hebrews 9:11 (note)
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to
come, He entered through the greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this
creation;
Hebrews 9:25 (note)
nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high
priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.
Hebrews 13:11 (note)
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy
place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside
the camp.
The good
things to come - better promises, better covenant, etc. In
immediate context two "good things" (1) Eternal Redemption (using the word
that brought to the mind of that day the liberation of a slave by paying the
ransom price, securing total freedom) and (2) Clean conscience from dead
works to serve (worship) the living God. Freedom from the bondage to sin and
freedom from guilt that our sins bring...those are indeed good things
Jesus our
High Priest made a reality by His public appearance (cp 2Ti 1:10)
HE ENTERED THROUGH THE GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE,
NOT MADE WITH HANDS, THAT IS TO SAY, NOT OF THIS CREATION: dia tes meizonos kai teleioteras skenes ou
cheiropoietou tout estin (3SPAI) ou tautes tes ktiseos:
(Hebrews
9:1-9;
8:2;
John 1:14)
(23,24;
Acts 7:48;
17:24,25;
2 Corinthians 5:1;
Colossians 2:11)
Christ a greater heavenly High Priest did not enter a temporal,
earthly, man made (even though God designed) tabernacle but a greater
and more perfect tabernacle.
Not made with
hands - Instead, made by God Himself, which explains why it is
greater and more perfect. This is the very Throne Room of the
Almighty, and it is the place in which and from which our Great High
Priest Christ Jesus now ministers, seated at the right hand of the
Father.
Not of this
creation - Means the great, perfect Tabernacle Jesus entered is
not on earth, but by implication is in heaven. Luke explains God's
dwelling place is not of this earth writing that...
the Most High does not dwell in
houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne,
and earth is the footstool of My feet. What kind of house will you
build for Me?’ says the Lord; ‘Or what place is there for My repose?
‘Was it not My hand which made all these things?’ (Acts 7:48-50)
And note another
contrast with the Aaronic high priest who entered the earthly tabernacle
for the people but not with the people. Paul
clearly teaches in Ephesians the awesome truth that God has...
raised us (believers) up with Him
(Christ), and seated us with Him (our Great High Priest) in the heavenly
places (the greater and more perfect tabernacle), in Christ Jesus (see note
Ephesians 2:6)
No temple made with hands,
His place of service is;
In heaven itself He serves,
A heavenly priesthood His:
In Him the shadows of the law
Are all fulfilled, and now withdraw.
—Thomas Kelly
><>><>><>
TODAY IN THE WORD -In some
places it is still customary to take care of the grave plots of
deceased relatives, often called “graveyard workings.” Once a year
family members will travel to the family plot and tidy the area.
Headstones are cleaned. Weeds are pulled and new flowers are planted.
American flags are set in place for veterans. Yet, no matter how neat
and tidy the plot is, it doesn’t change the fact that the grave
contains decay. The outside of the grave can be cleaned, but not the
inside.
Similarly, Hebrews
argues that the sacrifices of the Mosaic Law only cleansed the people
externally, whereas the superior sacrifice of Jesus brings inner
transformation.
Thus far in Hebrews we have seen that Jesus serves as high priest in a
priestly order superior to that of Aaron. We have also seen that He mediates
a better covenant than the one mediated by the Levitical priesthood.
Yesterday we read that Jesus serves in a tabernacle far superior to the
earthly one. Our text today tells us that Jesus also offered a sacrifice
that was superior to those offered under the Old Covenant–His own life (vv.
12, 14). The blood of sacrificed animals was required to cleanse the
instruments and the people under the Old Covenant. However, these rituals
only cleansed them outwardly. The superior sacrifice of Christ, on the other
hand, cleanses our consciences (Hebrews 9:13-14).
Christ’s sacrifice for us is not, though, only about cleansing our
consciences so that we feel better. It transforms us so that we can now
serve the living God. Under the old covenant the priests had to be cleansed
before they could perform their ministries (cf. Lev. 8:6-30). Under the new
covenant we are cleansed in the blood of Jesus so that we can go forth and
perform our ministries before God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Did you know that if you belong to Christ you are a
priest of God Most High? Part of sharing in the blessings of Christ means
living in the reality of this priestly call. (Copyright
Moody Bible Institute. Used by permission. All rights reserved)
