The priesthood of Jesus
Christ is the major theme in the letter to Hebrews. It was written by
a group of Christian who, faced with
increasing opposition, were in danger of abandoning the Christian faith. The
author encourages them in their faith primarily by showing that Jesus
Christ is the true and final revelation of God. And Jesus
Christ has been declared by God to be eternal priest, superior to the
priests of the Old Testament. The idea of the author is to attribute the
priesthood of Christ in the Christian religion,
namely to the point of explicating the whole deed of salvation on terms of this
priesthood, shows that Jesus had
claimed the priesthood, and that his dispels had understood his claim to a
priestly identity. Besides, there is a definite link between the epistle and
the witness of Gospels. This basic position is this: because of his own
sacrifice Jesus has been proclaimed
for all eternity high priest of the order of Melchizedek.
The
royal character of the priesthood of Christ
transpires in the figure of Melchizedek a king
priest. The epistle sees this royal title when it takes the name Melchizedek
to mean “king of righteousness and the expression king of Salem to be synonymous with king peace. The
two attributes of righteousness and peace seem to be the reason why Abraham surrenders to Melchizedek
a tithe of all his possessions. They point to the higher rank to be describing
to the priesthood of Christ who secure justice and
peace. And in this connection that Jesus
suggested the royal aspect of the priesthood
The author has
found the central core of the doctrine that posits a heavenly and eternal
priesthood of different order than the Levitical priesthood. He would not have
arrived at this doctrine had he only taken into account the Jewish priesthood,
especially since he describes the high priest as one who offers gifts and
sacrifice for sins
The main
teaching of the letter to Hebrews resides in its priestly Christ-centralisms.
The truth of the priesthood is to be found in Christ.
Before Christ, the Jewish priesthood is but a shadow, a figure, with no
self-contained value. Only in Christ can we discover
the genuine significance of the priesthood.
Bro. Victor
Albert Leo
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