Jesus - Faithful High Priest

Merciful and faithful High Priest - 2:17-18

High Priest is an intermediary between two God and man, chosen by God, representing the people before God - Exod 28:12, 29; Lev 4:3

Exodus 28:12 ESV

And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for remembrance.

Exodus 28:29 ESV

So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord.

Leviticus 4:3 ESV

if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering.

So He had to be made like us, that He could be faithful (trustworthy) for us to offer the sacrifice for our sins

He was tempted in His suffering, so that He can aid us when we are tempted through suffering - Heb 2:9

Hebrews 2:9 ESV

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Jesus, faithful to the One who appointed Him - 3:1-6

We are partaking (sharing in) a heavenly calling

Jesus is Apostle (ambassador) and High Priest (mediator and representative)

He is faithful to the One who appointed Him to these roles, as Moses was when He was appointed by God - Exod 3:6-10

Exodus 3:6–10 ESV

And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

Yet, Jesus is worthy of more glory, because He is the builder of the house - Matt 16:18; Eph 2:20-22; 1 Cor 3:10-11

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 2:20–22 ESV

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:10–11 ESV

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Moses was faithful as a servant as a testimony of things to come (shadow - reality) - 2 Cor 3:13-18

2 Corinthians 3:13–18 ESV

not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Christ is faithful as a Son over His house (us) - Matt 21:33-37

Matthew 21:33–37 ESV

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

Questions for Next Week - 3:7 - 4:13

What does “today” mean in light of the various time frames connected to Psalm 95? Israel in the wilderness, Joshua bringing Israel into Canaan, David writing the Psalm, the author of Hebrews, and our current day.

What is an evil, unbelieving heart in this context?

What was/is the rest of God for each time frame?

What causes the good news to fail?

What does the word of God do to each of us?