Monday in the Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Hebrews 8:1-2

Now the Point Is This

We have traversed seven chapters in the Book of Hebrews and now the Preacher does us the favor of telling us “the point.”  It’s always a good thing for preachers to do this halfway or more through a sermon that their hearers not get lost due to the passing of so many words in a limited span of time.  So the Preacher sums his message up for us to this place in his outline: “Now the point in what we are saying is this: We have such a High Priest, one who is seated at the Right Hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.”

“We have such a High Priest.”  And what High Priest is that?  One who “is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and [who] upholds the universe by the word of his power” (1:3).  This High Priest is the one who is called, “Son,” and not because he is like a son but because he is the Son, the only-begotten Son of the Father full of grace and truth (John 1:17-18).  So the Father has spoken of him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you” (Psalm 2:7), a Son of the same nature, who was with God and is God (John 1:1). 

What else may we say about this High Priest?  That he “[made] purification for sins [and then] sat down at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High” (1:3).  This is what we would expect, for making purification for sins is exactly what a priest does—only this priest did so as the Son, which raises his work of purification to a whole new level.

And what else may we say about such a High Priest?  That he “was made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (2:17); moreover, that “he himself has suffered when tempted” (2:18), but that in suffering he sinned not that he may be both priest and sacrifice (4:14-16).  And we have such a High Priest who has done all of this for our sakes and has risen and ascended bodily into heaven at the Right Hand of the Father—the true tent, the only real Holy of Holies that no man has ever seen or touched, the Holy Place of which all earthly holy places are mere copies, shadows, and poor imitations, if they be worthy of that much credit.  And seated at that most exalted place in heaven and earth he intercedes for us (7:25), prays for us, cleanses us of all sin, and makes us to approach the throne of grace, even with confidence (4:16).  This is our great High Priest—the one who is for us, who knows us, and loves us.

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor

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