Hebrews 6

            Welcome back from the desert!  Now you have a bit more insight to the priesthood in the Old Testament and the sacrifices that were in place around the time of Christ. Of course they now had a stone temple in Jerusalem, not as nice as Solomon’s temple, but a place w a courtyard and the furnishings and a Holy Place and a Most Holy Place. You know that the priests are from the tribe of Levi, a son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham chosen by God. Think about this as you start reading the first section of today’s lesson. Also ponder, what tribe was Jesus a descendant of?

Heb.5.1-14.ESV  For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He (the high priest) can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because (he is weak and human) of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Time for a note, who is Aaron? What tribe is he from and how did he come to be appointed priest? Read Exodus 4:14 and 28:1

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”  

Who is the He speaking the quoted statements above? Who is Melchizedek? How do you even pronounce that name? You may as well find out because it comes up a lot in Hebrews. Read Psalm 110:4 and Gen 14:18-20. What duty did Mel provide for Abraham?

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him(God) who was able to save him (Jesus) from death, and he(Jesus) was heard because of his reverence. Although he (Jesus) was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Above we mentioned the tribe of the priests came from. Was Jesus from that tribe? How could he hold a priestly office if that was his lineage? God had that all figured out in Genesis 14.

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Ouch! Here is a sharp change of subject! This topic continues into chapter 6 thru verse 3. How about you? Where are you living on solid food and where in your spiritual life are you still drinking mild? God wants us to keep growing. How are you doing?

See you next week, love h