Letters to the Church

The Letter to the Hebrews highlights several aspects of the Son of God, especially his priesthood and one-time sacrifice. In doing so, the stress falls on the permanence of his priestly office, and the non-repeatable nature of his sacrifice. In his death, he “ achieved the purification of sins ,” and consequently, he now intercedes “ forevermore ” for his people as their High Priest. And his unique sacrifice dealt with sin “ ONCE-FOR-ALL .”

The priesthood of Jesus is a key subject in the  Letter to the Hebrews . He became the “ merciful and faithful High Priest ” who now intercedes for “ his brethren ” from the presence of God. This subject was anticipated in the Letter’s opening paragraph, including the uniqueness of his priesthood, when the Author declared that he “ achieved the purification of sins ,” and then afterward, he “ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High .”

In his epistle to the Galatians , Paul states that he was commissioned as an Apostle by the same God who raised Jesus from the dead and “ delivered us FROM THIS EVIL AGE .” This statement anticipates his response in Chapters 1 and 2 to certain “ men from Jerusalem ” that were operating as if the old era with its types and shadows was still in effect for the people of God. These men were insisting that Gentile believers must get circumcised, and they were challenging Paul’s authority and credentials.

In his letters, Paul links the start of the “ Last Days ” with the death and resurrection of the Son of God. The time of fulfillment arrived, and all God’s promises now find their “ yea and amen ” in the risen Nazarene. Similarly, the  Letter to the Hebrews  declares that “ in these last days ,” God has “ spoken ” His definitive “ word ” in His Son who now reigns at the “ right hand of the Majesty on High .” Paul’s position is not unique among the documents that make up the New Testament.

A key point in the opening paragraph of the  Letter to Hebrews  is the accomplishment of the Son on behalf of his people, and his exalted position at the “ right hand ” of God as their High Priest “ forever after the order of Melchizedek .” He alone secured what none of his predecessors did or could do. Through his sacrificial death, he “ achieved the purification of sins ,” and afterward, he “ sat down ” in the “ true and greater Tabernacle ” in God’s very presence where now he intercedes for his church.

Having established his priestly qualifications, the  Letter to the Hebrews  proceeds to present Jesus as the High Priest who intercedes faithfully and sympathetically for his people. He participated fully in the nature and sufferings common to all men, therefore, his priestly intercession for his “ brethren ” is marked by his compassion for them. The “ Son ” experienced the same death that is common to all men and women, and in doing so, he qualified for the priesthood “ after the order of Melchizedek .” But what set him apart from other men was his sinlessness.