THE HIGH PRIEST MOST EXCELLENCE

THE HIGH PRIEST MOST EXCELLENCE
Heb 4:14-5:10
"…we have a great high priest…" (v.1).

A HIGH PRIEST MUST MEET TWO BASIC criteria. He must be "selected from men and appointed to represent them" (v.1), and he must be "called by God" (v.4). These two requirements are important for the ministry of the high priest, as someone who represents man to God.

Firstly, he must know men. As a man among men, he must be able "to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray" (v.2). He must know and understand the weakness of others. Jesus certainly fulfills this, for in Him "we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin" (v.15). He dealt gently with Simon Peter when he was going astray (Luke 22.31-32), and with Saul when he persecuted the church in his ignorance (I Tim 1.12-14).

Secondly, the high priest must know God. He must have received God's authorisation, and have the channel clear for his mediation. Jesus meets this criterion too, since God calls Him "my Son" (v.5). In His days on earth, His prayers were heard and answered. Our author refers to Christ's agony in the garden of Gethsemane where God saved Him "from death" (v.7), meaning either from the dread of death, or by raising Him from the dead after He died.

Even the Son had to learn obedience through suffering, in order that his humanity might be made perfect. Whereas Adam was tested and fell into sin, Jesus was tempted and came through perfect. In Greek, the word for to suffer, pathein is almost similar to to learn, mathein, so much so the saying pathein mathein, to suffer is to learn became a maxim. If the Son had to learn through suffering, how much more we?

William Barclay sums up the qualities of a high priest under the title "At Home With Man And God". Some of us are so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly use. Some are so worldly minded that we have lost sight of heavenly things. How we need to be in touch with both man and God! Our Lord Jesus is our supreme model, the high priest par excellence. When He spoke with people, they felt He understood. When He spoke with God, He knew God heard.

Therefore, when we end our prayer "in Jesus' name", we are assured that we have spoken in the hearing of Someone who understands all our needs, through Whom our prayers will surely be heard. No wonder, we are exhorted, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence…." (v.16).

Do I know my high priest when I pray "in Jesus' name"?