WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday January 18, 2015
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readers worldwide
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JESUS
INTERCEDES FOR US
(JESUS
understands and intercedes for us)
(Hebrews
4:14-5:10)
In Hebrews chapters
4:14-5:10, the author seeks to show us how JESUS easily qualifies to fulfill
the essentials of the priesthood, as they are defined by GOD. He thinks of the compassion
of CHRIST as being far richer than the gentleness he ascribes to other high
priests.
GOD declared and called
CHRIST to be a Priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Earthly Priests
were from the Levite line of Aaron, the line that was appointed by GOD to serve
in the priesthood here on earth. Melchizedek, an obscure figure in Scriptures,
was both a king and a Priest (Genesis 14:18-20), who ruled in Salem (now
Jerusalem), during the time of Abraham.
Old Testament accounts
make no mention of Melchizedek’s father or mother. He seems to be without
genealogy and, where his life begins, or ends, is unknown. However, there is
one thing that is certain, and that is that, GOD knew him, and he knew GOD, and
Abraham, knew them both. He was qualified to bless Abraham as a Priest, and to
receive a tithe from Abraham as a king, who also, evidently, ranked higher
spiritually, than did Abraham, and, Melchizedek remains a priest forever also
(Hebrews 7:1-3).
In Psalms 110, “a
messianic psalm” by David, Melchizedek is seen as a type of Christ. This theme
is repeated here in this book of Hebrews, where both CHRIST and Melchizedek are
considered as kings of righteousness and peace. In citing Melchizedek’s unique
priesthood as a prototype for CHRIST HIMSELF, the author is showing that
CHRIST’s priesthood is superior to the old levitical order of Aaron also. And
so, we see that a different kind of Priest has come, who became a Priest, not
by meeting the old requirements of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power
of a life that cannot, and will not be destroyed, “a Priest forever, in the
order of Melchizedek”.
In Hebrews chapter 5,
verse 2, as it is expressed in the original Greek, the word that the author of
GOD uses for “compassion” is “metriopatheo” (met-ree-op-ath-eh-o), and it means
“to be moderate in passion”. It is the only time in scripture that this particular
word is used for “compassion”. We most often translate this word to mean, “To
feel gently for”. It is said that, somewhere in the midst of any two extremes,
there can be found, “the right way”. According to the Greeks, this is also where
“virtue” can be discovered. They saw “virtue” as being the “midpoint” between
two extremes.
Here in this passage
the writer of Hebrews lists three important qualifications that any priest must
satisfy;
·
Compassion is one of those three essential qualifications. A
Priest must be in full sympathy with others at all times, and ideally, should
have gone through some of the same experiences as the people he seeks to
council. If a person is not bound together with others in the trials that life
brings, he will not be able to correctly sympathize with their plight, and
therefore will not be able to grant sound advice.
·
Secondly, Priests are appointed on behalf of others in order to
deal with things concerning GOD. For instance, the earthly Priest was
originally intended to be the link between the world and GOD. In the beginning,
their primary function was to offer sacrifices to GOD for the sins of, first,
himself, and then other people. The sacrifice was meant to restore a
relationship with GOD that had been interrupted by sin.
·
The third and most important qualification is that the Priest must
be, “called by GOD”, and not just show up, and appoint himself. The priesthood
is a call to glory by GOD HIMSELF, and is not an office that is appointed by
men.
GOD speaks to us,
through our many experiences in life. These experiences always, in some way,
try our hearts and souls. We can only hear HIS voice when we tune our minds to
HIM, with complete “reverence”. If we rebel against GOD, through our
resentments, or “continuous sins”, our hearts will build up a resistance that
will make us deaf, or, unable to hear HIS voice.
JESUS, among HIS many
roles, also serves as our “Eternal High Priest”. HE has been exalted above the
Heavens, and has no need to make sacrifices for us from day to day, like the
old line of levitical Priests had to do. Because of HIS vicarious sacrifice on
the cross, HE, through GOD’s grace, was able to cover the sins of every human
being, past, present, and future, with HIS “Eternal Life-giving Blood”.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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