Hebrews 10:21

Hebrews 10:21

Our Great High Priest

The short statement contained in this one verse is like a shovel-full of cement for it connects and holds many things together! It acts as an adhesive between Jews and Gentiles, between Old Testament theology and the events precipitated by the coming of Christ. It also provides a strong association between heaven and earth. Notice that here, from verse 19, the author starts to regularly speak in the first person plural as he applies the sacred truths to the people he is addressing. These facts now become personal, and having explained things to his Jewish readers the letter encompasses all peoples, “We have a great Priest, over the house of God.” Jesus Christ is not just Priest over the Jews or just the Gentiles. All those who are brothers and sisters in the family of God are represented by the Lord in His appointed role.

The house of God is NOT a building, it is not a movement or a religion, a denomination or a theology, it is the entire body of Christ both heavenly and earthly. Hebrews 3:6 says, “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.”  This verse is describing the contrasts between Moses, who was a servant, and Jesus, who is the Son in God’s house. Now, we discover that our Lord is also the great priest in this household. And we belong to it! As our priest Jesus acts as the mediator between men and God and makes it possible for us to approach the Father in ways that our predecessors could not do. If they wanted access to Almighty God, they must approach through the priesthood and ask for prayers to be offered on their behalf, they could not make sacrifices and offerings to God, the priests must do it for them. Jesus did away with the priesthood, we no longer need human mediators to act on our behalf. We are now able to approach the divine throne individually for our High Priest sits at God’s right hand and intercedes for us there. He has guaranteed our access and made it possible for us all to effectively become priests, another reason why an elected or chosen, human priesthood is no longer necessary. And so, the Lord eagerly awaits our devotions and also acts as our mentor and promotes all ministries carried out on His behalf. Hallelujah!

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