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| HEBREWS |
| Explanatory Footnotes - page 2 |
| Melchizedek worshiped the true God. In addition to being a priest, he was also a king. (The Jews would never have permitted such dual office-holding.) Hebrews demonstrates that the priesthood of Melchizedek was superior to that of Aaron; but both of them were exceeded by the great high priest, Jesus himself. Because he is both priest and king, Jesus is "in the order of" Melchizedek (See "The Twelfth Man" for more details.) 9:26 A Once-for-all Sacrifice Jewish readers of Hebrews were very familiar with the religious rituals described in this chapter (see Leviticus 9 and 16 for the original instructions). Step by step, the author shows how Christ's new covenant improves upon the old one. Instead of many sacrifices, he made only one, himself, thus gaining free and complete forgiveness for us. The chapter uses an analogy to explain why Christ's death was necessary (verse 17). It compares God's grace to a will. Wealth is only passed down when a death occurs; Christ's death freed the inheritance for us. 10:12 Why Christ Sat Down Hebrews makes special mention that Christ "sat down" after finishing his priestly duties. Jewish priests never sat down; the tabernacle and the temple did not have seats. They did their work standing up as a symbol that it was never finished. Having finished the work of a priest once and for all, Christ "sat down." 12:18 A Vivid Contrast The author of Hebrews has been arguing that Christ's new covenant is far better than the old one between God and the Jews. This one section (12:18-28) uses powerful images to summarize the great difference between encountering God in the way Moses did in the Old Testament and encountering him through Jesus. It also predicts that even greater things are in store: a new kingdom and new creation. |