Hebrews chapter 5

vs 1

Wow, when you put it so succintly, you wonder how anyone could think Jesus is not the great high priest. From among people, represents to God, sacrifices for sin.

vs 2

It's funny to think of it this way. I don't know about you, but - possibly through a mix of social experience of religious hierarchy and reading the Law of the OT - the high priest never hit me as a sympathetic and gentle position. But he didn't write the laws. His job was to be understanding of the inadequacies of the people and to make amends.

vs 3

I have this feeling that, as a kingdom of priests, Christians have this problem - that we get all high and mighty about how righteous we are, and how we don't seem to struggle with all the sins that we've labelled as really bad. So we end up being judgmental of sinners instead of compassionate and understanding.

vs 4

Who would want it? The more accountable a position of authority, generally the less attractive. Imagine the importance of this position.

Then realise that we are all priests. Oh dear.

vs 5

Of course, this verse won't convince people that want to believe that Jesus was some sort of revolutionary seeking to make a name for himself. But those with faith can be assured here that Christ was not self seeking, but was in a way called to the position by nature of his interitance.

vs 6

Now we start on the comparisons with this mysterious character. The name means King of Righteousness. It's incredible how these people who turn up for bit parts in the Bible end up taking on so much importance. No greater, I reckon, than Melchizedek (or Melchi as we call him). Melchizedek was a king and a priest. There are a bunch of reasons people say he's important. Let's see what the author of Hebrews says.

vs 7

Was he not heard because he is God's Son? Would Jesus have ceased being the Son if he had not lived in reverent submission? The verses following will clear this up for us... tomorrow.