Merciful and Faithful
Jesus is well-equipped to be our faithful and sympathetic high priest, having participated fully in humanity’s plight.
Having established his qualifications, Jesus is now presented as the
high priest who intercedes for his people. He participated fully in the nature
and sufferings common to all men; therefore, his priestly ministry for his “brethren”
is marked by faithfulness and compassion.
The Son experienced the death
common to all men. In doing so, he qualified for the priesthood. What set his
nature apart from the rest of men was his sinlessness.
The phrase in the following
passage, “flesh and blood,” is a Semitic expression that refers to human
mortality - man in his weakened mortal state. Since believers are
subject to death, Jesus “partook” in the same fate.
- (Hebrews 2:14-18) – “Seeing, therefore, the children have received a fellowship of blood and flesh, he in like manner, took partnership in the same, in order that through death he might paralyze him that held the dominion of death, the Devil, and might release these, as many as by fear of death were all their lifetime liable to bondage. For not surely of angels is he laying hold, but of Abraham’s seed he is laying hold. Whence he was obliged in every way to be made like the brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things of God, to expiate the sins of the people. For in that he suffered when tested, he is able to give succor to those who are being tested.”
THE TYRANNY OF DEATH
The Devil had the “dominion”
of death or kratos (Strong’s - #G2904). In Greek, it is a strong term
that denotes “hold, power, force, dominion.” The English term “tyranny” best
captures the sense intended in Hebrews.
Paradoxically, through his own
death, he invalidated the “tyranny” of Satan. And now, Jesus is “laying
hold of” the “seed of Abraham.” The clause alludes to a passage
in the book of Isaiah:
- “But you, Israel, my servant Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend, you whom I have laid hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from the corners thereof, and said to you: You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you away” - (Isaiah 41:8-9).
Because he endured the same trials
and sufferings as his “brethren,” he is well-equipped to help them when
they are “tested.”
Under discussion is not so much
humanity in general, but the followers of Jesus in particular, which explains
the term “seed of Abraham.”
SOLIDARITY WITH MEN
The Son was obliged to be made
like his brethren “in every way.” For him to become the “merciful and
faithful high priest,” it was necessary for him to have the same
nature and experiences as his “brethren.”
Solidarity with humanity is mandatory for the office of the high priest since he represents men before God, and therefore, he must be one with them.
And under the Levitical system, faithfulness by the priest was
vital to the proper performance of his priestly service - (1 Samuel 2:35,
Hebrews 8:3).
As our high priest, Jesus expiates
the sins of his people (hilaskesthai – Strong’s #G2433). Here, the noun “sins”
is in the accusative case since it is the direct object of the verb hilaskesthai.
What he “expiates” are
the sins that separate men from God. More specifically, he removes the
uncleanness, the stain caused by sin that leaves men unclean and defenseless in
the presence of God. Thus, Christ “achieved the purification of sin.”
The passage presents four reasons
why it was necessary for him to receive the same sentence of death as humanity.
First, to experience death on
behalf of others. Second, to bring God’s “many sons to glory.” Third, to
achieve victory over the Devil and liberate believers from the tyranny of
death. And fourth, to qualify him as our faithful and compassionate high
priest.
Unlike Adam, Jesus did not
trespass the commandment of God, and, therefore, he was without “blemish.”
But in all other respects, he was as human as the next man. Because he suffered
as all men do, only “apart from sin,” he is now qualified to be our “faithful
and sympathetic high priest.”
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