A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
Table of Contents
Introduction
1 Where Heaven and Earth Meet
2 The Portable Sanctuary
3 Holy to the Lord
4 Face to Face with God
5 The High Priest as Intercessor
6 The High Priest and Sacrifice
7 A Priest like Melchizedek
8 Mediator of a Better Covenant
9 A Royal Priesthood
Conclusion
Introductory Summary
All of life is about Christ, both now and in the future state of glory. We will never fully comprehend and appreciate all that Christ is and all the ways that he is significant, but one vital facet to explore is that Christ is our high priest and mediator. The priesthood of Christ is the central theme of Hebrews. It is through Christ our high priest that we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Hebrews presents Christ as the perfect high priest we need who offered the sacrifice of atonement that we need. It is not abstract theology, but a practical reality that keeps us walking in persevering faith. The letter is an exhortation to follow Christ, and it is his sacrificial death and heavenly priesthood that motivates our patient endurance. Having accomplished his atoning work on earth, Christ is now the mediator at the right hand of God in heaven. His ongoing work in heaven is essential for salvation on earth, and it is this that comforts and encourages believers in the midst of trials. The biblical theme of priesthood develops across the canon, culminating in Christ, and the author of Hebrews draws on the OT realities to present Christ as the fulfillment of the sacrificial system and priesthood. There are parallels between Christ and the Levitical priesthood, but also differences that make Christ unique.
Selected Quotes
- “The letter to the Hebrews stands apart in the New Testament as the only one to have Christ’s priesthood as its central subject.” (2)
- “Christ is a high priest in a sanctuary not made by human hands; he serves in heaven seated at God’s right hand.” (5)
- “As a footstool, the ‘ark of the Testimony’ forms the lowest part of the throne that the Israelites perceived as extending from heaven to earth.” (21)
- “By graciously descending to dwell among the Israelites, God becomes accessible to the people in a new way. However, as the Exodus story reveals, intimacy with God is still severely restricted due to human sinfulness.” (37)
- “God’s willingness to live amid the Israelites has profound implications for the people.” (58)
- “Jesus Christ has the unique privilege of meeting with God in the heavenly sanctuary.” (78)
- “Because he is our perfect high priest who is seated continually at the right hand of the Father, we can have confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God.” (80)
- “Jesus not only offers a sacrifice but is himself the offering.” (85)
- “Unlike the Aaronic high priests, who present multiple offerings to God, Jesus Christ presents only one unblemished sacrifice, his own body.” (91)
- “Importantly, the author of Hebrews links the reign of Christ at God’s right hand to his ascension into heaven.” (104)
- “Jesus Christ, however, is both guarantor and mediator of an eternal covenant that opens the way for those who are forgiven and sanctified to experience God’s glorious presence.” (121)