Christ and Aaron St. Paul made a comparison between the rest offered through Joshua as a symbol, and the true rest offered through the Lord Jesus, then, he is starting to write about the essence of the subject of his epistle which is "The Priesthood of the Lord Jesus." It is not according to the order of Aaron, but according to the order of Melchisedek forever. He is starting to write that Aaron was the first high priest called from God directly for this work, and that he surpassed all his predecessors, in order to present to us the One who surpasses him, our Lord Jesus Christ who will make us enter His heavenly holies. He intercedes for us on a new and unique level. 1. Christ as the High Priest 1-5. 2. High Priest for our sake 7-10. 3. The need for the oracles of God 11-14. 1. CHRISTAS THE HIGH PRIEST St. Paul presents the traits and work of the high priest, so he may reveal to us how the Lord Jesus surpasses Aaron. And to clarify the work of priesthood of the Lord Christ in relation to us, in the New Testament. The First condition is that the high priest is "taken from among men." The high priest intercedes for his people, thus, he feels their weaknesses, and works for them. This condition was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, for though He is the Only-Begotten Son of God, the Incarnate Son, He became like one of us, and not a stranger to us, to fulfill His role in priesthood on behalf of the people. But there is no comparison between Aaron as a priest and between the Lord Jesus. The first can “have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity” [2]. However, the Second has compassion on the ignorant and going astray, not because He is compassed with infirmity, but because He is the Creator who knows our inner secrets and weaknesses. He endured suffering, and passed through pain, not due to His weakness, but to share with us our weariness, and to live with us in the midst of our agonies. We entered through these troubles because of our sins, however, He entered because of His love to mankind. Therefore, suffering and troubles cannot overcome Him, nor death can destroy His life. He carries us in our troubles, sharing with us agony, to raise us to His glory, and grant us His risen life. He experienced suffering, but He is not beset by inner weakness. The high priest of Aaron's predecessors offers sacrifices for his sins first, then he intercedes for the sins of his people by offering bloody sacrifices for them. Therefore, he intercedes by prayer relying on the bloody sacrifices. But the New High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ, did not need a propitiation for Himself, for He is sinless. He intercedes, not by mere prayers, but by carrying us in Him as members of His body through the sacrifice of Himself, which He offered in perfect love. A unique Sacrifice offered once for the sake of the least of His brothers, that never grows old, is continuously effective, able to justify us, and carry us in Him to the bosom of the Father. Our High Priest is holy, without blemish. His holiness did not push Him to be severe in judging sinners, but rather He is the Only One who became the propitiation for our sins, that is, He was able to carry us to the bosom of His Father by our unity in Him. His Self-Sacrifice is acceptable to the Father, for Chapter 1 2 He is without blemish, and through His Sacrifice we grow to be the subject of God’s pleasure! The holiness of our High Priest has the more revealed the mysteries of His deep divine love for all human race, in spite of our indulgence in sin. He carves our names, not on precious stones, that He may present them in the Holy of Holies in front of the ark of the covenant, but He carves our names in His bowels, written by His precious blood that we may enter to His heavens through Him, for He presents us as children to His Heavenly Father! The second condition in the high priest: "appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins" [2]. The Aaronic high priest is appointed for men for the purpose of offering gifts and sacrifices for sins, which they have committed, so they may belong to God. He does not work for their economical, social nor political matters, but cares solely to present them to God, through the Spirit However, the Only-Begotten Son became the Son of Man, who presented Himself to them as the High Priest from them and to them, offering Himself as the Sacrifice of love, to purify men from their sins, sanctifying their consciences, and renewing their inner souls, to be fit to be called the Father’s own belongings. They become children to the Father through their sanctification by their unity and abiding in Him. We were first sold under sin and death dominated us (Rom. 5:12-14). But when Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8), we were no more under the dominion of death, but became living in Christ, and He presents us to His Father. As the Apostle says, "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:11). This is the work of the propitiation of our Lord Jesus, which every high priest is incapable of doing, for he himself needs someone to lift him from the dominion of death and weakness. Therefore, the Apostle says, "Because of this, he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins" [3]. The third condition is that the high priest is called by God: "And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" [4-6]. The high priest has to be called by God, so God may accept the oblations and sacrifices and answer his intercession for the people. This what made the Jews boast, that God has called Aaron by his name, and in a clear way as the first high priest for them. But our high Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son called by the Father: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You." He was called by His Father, the One with Him in essence, not by an outside appointment as Aaron, but it is the call of the Light to His unseparable Brightness. It is the specialization of the work of the Three Persons. The Father specialized in discretion, the Son in the work of salvation, and the Holy Spirit in the fellowship. He is the co-eternal Priest who offered Himself for our salvation, and remains forever Priest on the order of Melchizedek. Chapter 1 3 2. HIGH PRIEST FOR OUR SAKE "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear. Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek” [7- 10]. He accepted our humanity and carried our bodies as the Bible says, "The Word became flesh" (John 1:14), to practice His Priesthood by offering His life as a ransom. The Apostle says, "in the days of His flesh" to proclaim that His suffering was in the flesh as St. Peter says, "Christ suffered for us in the flesh." (1Pet. 4:1) The Lord offered prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears. St. Paul wanted to ascertain that the sufferings of the Lord Jesus were true and bitter. That is why they were accompanied by vehement cries and tears, with prayers and supplications, not as some of the Gnostic thought, that His sufferings were delusive, because His body was not except a shadow. He truly suffered and cried with tears, prayed and supplicated! He is not like Aaron who wears the priesthood clothes, and practices his rituals as priest with no sacrificing on His part, but rather he was oriented and dignified by people. On the contrary our Jesus; He was clothed with the garment of humility. He carried our body, but with no sin, and practiced His priesthood by prayers, supplications, cries, tears, and even death on the cross. His priesthood was connected to His sacrifice, thus becoming a unique rite, the rite of suffering and of sacrificing love even until death! He changed our concept of the work of priesthood; it is no more authority and honor in the eyes of the priest, but rather acceptance of death with the slain Christ, all day long, for the sake of the Beloved! This is what St. Paul experienced in his apostolic work, as he says, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. But be that as it may, I did not burden you" (2 Cor. 12:15,16). St. John Chrysostom his self-giving to his people with the same spirit, saying, [May you see the inflamed fire in my heart so you may know that I burn inside, more than the sorrow of a young wife who lost her husband, or a father who lost his son; my sorrow is for my people1.] St. Augustine says, [It is written in the Bible that "He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16). As He laid down His life for us, we ought also to lay our lives for our brothers and for the sake of our faith2.] Our High Priest suffered by vehement cries, thus He treated the problem of suffering not by eliminating it, but by entering through it as the Author of faith or Leader and Accomplisher of faith, so we may enter with Him under His care, following His footsteps. We hide in Him so that sufferings may have no dominion over us. He suffered because of love, thus He changed the concept of suffering. It is no more a sign of sin and Divine wrath as a fruit of rebellion, but rather a union with the Crucified Christ and fellowship 1 In Hebr. hom., 23:9. 2 The author: “The Pastoral Love” p. 673. )in Arabic). Chapter 1 4 with the Holy Trinity. Some may ask: Why did He cry to the One who can save Him? Couldn't He save Himself? The Lord came to represent us. The Second Adam handles the mistakes of the first Adam. Therefore, He came in complete obedience not to do His own will, but the Father's will, although They carry one and the same will without contradiction. In other words, we say the Son fulfilled the Father's will, although it correlates with His will. He did that proclaiming that in Him, we lead abiding by His will not our own will. Did the Lord cry so that the Father may save Him from death and raise Him? When the Lord carried the cross, He was in complete obedience to the Father, crying and supplicating by saying, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death."...Not as I will but as You will." (Matt. 26:38,39) He had to cry and groan because He became true Man and carried true sufferings! He proclaimed His undergoing sufferings without asking for the resurrection, because the resurrection is not an outside matter for Him, for He said to Martha, "I am the Resurrection" (John 11:25). St. John Chrysostom says, [Regarding His resurrection, He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). Also He said, "I have power to lay it (My life) down, and I have power to take it again" (John. 10:18). What is that then? Why did He pray then? He prayed for those who believe in Him so they may follow His example3.] The Lord is risen by His authority, but in obedience and submission to the will of the Father, Who declared the worthiness of the Righteous Son of resurrection. He is the Resurrection Himself, and through His righteous life, He accepted the will of the Father to be resurrected, so that through His righteousness, we may enjoy the risen life. We conclude that since the Son submitted to sufferings even to the point of death to fulfill our eternal salvation, we learn to submit to suffering too as a road to salvation. St. John Chrysostom says, [Since He who is the Son has obeyed by His sufferings, it is more appropriate for us to obey4.] 3. THE NEED FOR THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD The Apostle saw that these comparisons comprise difficult matters for them to understand, therefore, he is presenting them the basics like the milk for babies. He is offering them the milk of the true Gospel upon which beginners can nurse. The Apostle says, "Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason 3 In Hebr. Hom., 8:3. 4 Ibid. Chapter 1 5 of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" [11-14]. The Apostle compared those who deviated to the Jewish thought to immature children. It was more appropriate for them to become teachers, since they have a long experience in talking with God, from them came the prophets, and to them the Law was delivered. Instead of becoming spiritual leaders and teachers to the Gentiles, they became like children who need someone to nurse them. The Apostle says, "of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain." St. John Chrysostom says, [Not because the words are difficult but because they themselves are dull of hearing, as St. Paul says. This is the nature of the weak person who gets confused with few or many words; and he thinks everything is hard, even the easy matters. Let no one be like this5.] Thus the drawback is not in the Christian faith but in the Jews who received the clear prophecies and the symbols which declare the true faith, but they could not understand them and concentrated their thoughts on the letter that kills! That’s what hindered their growth and made them lose their maturity, thus they became in dire need of simple milk rather than solid food that belong to the mature. St. John Chrysostom says, [There is weakness in listening like the weak stomach which cannot digest all food. Likewise the proud, angry, negligent soul cannot accept the word of the Spirit. Listen to what many of the disciples said, "This is a hard saying, who can understand it?" (John 6:60) However, everything becomes easy, light, and more glorious to the strong person, thus he can be elevated to heavenly matters6.] Since the Jews did not take their positions as teachers, but in weakness became as children, therefore the Apostle offered them milk. When we say "milk," we do not mean to minimize the basic Gospel proclamation, but that the believer should not be satisfied with the spiritual childhood, but he has to strive toward maturity to enjoy solid food offered to the adults. This is accomplished through his practical exercise to enjoy the spiritual knowledge. Discerning good and evil touches all the practical life of faith from all its aspects, not just our behavior or our knowledge. St. John Chrysostom says, [A child cannot discern between good and bad food, for sometimes, he puts something harmful in his mouth, without discerning; however, the mature person does not do that7.] Therefore, the child needs his mother to offer him pure milk. But when he matures, he gets solid food, for to everyone who has, more will be given. The Church, as a mother, offers milk to her children and solid food to the mature. Does that mean that she offers two kinds of food or two kinds of teachings? Never, for the only work of the Church is to offer her Groom the Lord Jesus Christ to every individual. But she presents her Groom the Lord Jesus in a different way to the children which is geared to their capabilities, and another for the adults. He is One Christ for everyone, for children as well as adults. St. Athanasius says, [Those who did not reach the way of perfection, the Logos becomes as the sheep who gives forth milk. This is what St. Paul said, "I fed you milk and not with solid food..." (1 Cor. 3:2) But those who have grown but still are weak and did 5 In loan. Hom., 2:10. 6 In Acts hom., 55. 7 In Hebr. Hom., 8:7. Chapter 1 6 not reach perfection, the Logos becomes food for them according to their abilities. As St. Paul said, "...he who is weak eats only vegetables." (Rom. 14:2) But when man walks toward perfection, then the Logos becomes as bread and meat for food, as it is written, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil8" [14]. Thus, the Apostle presented the Word to some of his people as milk, to others as beans, to others as strong food, according to the abilities of the listeners to accept and discern! 8 Paschal Epistles, 10:4.
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