Such a High Priest

Hebrews 8:1

Introduction

Hebrews offers a great deal of difficulty to many expositors and commentators because of its strong language of warning.

It speaks with great frequency of falling away and the consequences thereof.

While we may not be so uncomfortable with this language, we may yet be helped to see its depth by applying some of the language of grace and faith that we have studied before.

We will be helped by understanding the mind of the first century Christian who first read these words and how that fit into the society in which they lived.

Patron and Broker

First century Rome ran on patronage.

“The practice that constitutes the chief bond of human society.” - Seneca

Failure to respond to grace from a patron with gratitude was considered the “cardinal social and political sin.”

Jesus is described with patronage language (Heb. 2:16, 18).

His death in particular is recalled in terms of benefits (Heb. 2:9, 14-15).

But part of His patronage is to act as our broker (Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24).

A broker is not some disconnected third party but a client to a patron and a patron to a client.

The Comparison

A son would be the best broker a person could hope for (Heb. 1:2; 4-14).

Having a household servant as broker is a great privilege, but how much better a son (Heb. 3:1-6).

Do you want a broker who comes into the presence of God once a year, or one who stands in His presence continually (Heb. 7-10).

Not to mention one who comes into a representative presence of God vs. one who comes into the very literal presence of God.

Then comparison grows even greater in light of typical human patronage.

Jesus, “gave access…through an incorruptible intermediary, to a reliable authority”

Most brokers AND patrons introduced varying levels of corruption or at least unreliability.

The Wrath of a Patron

The accepted duty of a client was to show gratitude through loyalty (Heb. 12:28).

It was understood that failure in this area would incur wrath (Heb. 12:29).

This is the context of the examples given.

Are we the faithful or unfaithful generation (Heb. 4:1-6; 13:5)?

Hebrews 11 shows us a list of examples who responded in faith to promises that were millennia away from being fulfilled.

Or would we be like Esau, who was so profane as to cheaply sell away God’s great blessings for a “single meal?”

This is the context of every call to obedient loyalty (Heb. 10:25).

How much worse when we shrink back not because of persecution or even cultural shame, but because we cheaply sell our access to God for what amounts to a bowl of soup.

Consider the parable of the dinner invitation and the wrath that followed (Lk. 14:16-24).

He is not just disappointed, He is appalled at our profane and wicked ingratitude.

Declining an invitation to sit with the king is not just a silly thing to do, it is reprehensible disloyalty.

You cannot find another patron if you spurn this one (Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-31).

Conclusion

Patronage exists in every society, but not every society recognizes it.

We think of favors being brokered almost completely in a negative light and so it makes it hard for us to see God participating in such an arrangement.

Do this and I will show you favor sounds slimy to us. But such is the foundation of all relationships.

Do not think lightly of the indescribable favor God has shown you. Make note of these examples good and bad.

Give your life to the one who stands in the very presence of God and offers to bring you there with Him.