The Common Priest and The Perfect Priest

FROM: JANUARY 30 @ FEBRUARY 5, 2018

TOPIC: "The Common Priest and The Perfect Priest" Hebrews 5:1-10 Priests (ministers) are appointed by the Lord and we work in favor of men. Hebrews 5:1 "Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins." A priest chosen on earth should have qualities very similar to those Christ possessed in His earthly ministry, of course the Lord showed them as perfect like no other priest. In this century in which we live there is no difference for God if the minister is a man or a woman. What is essential is that the priest of the earth is placed by the Lord to be the intermediary between men and God. In the old covenant the functions of the priest were to present offerings and sacrifices for sins. The offering was all that was presented and it was for God. And about the sacrifices, the Word of God refers to those concrete offerings in which blood was shed as atonement for the sins and thus man could have communion with God, who is three times holy. The priest is there to represent men in things that are related to God.

A. J. Gossip said the following speaking to the priest (the minister): "We are immersed in the dust and heat of the day; we have to spend our time attending to the fields; to the machines or offices so that in this way the industry and commerce can move. We want to separate you (minister) so that you can enter for us in the "secret place of God" and then come out to us on Sundays with the "Word of God." The priest is the one who acts as a link or bridge between God and men! Hebrews 5:2 "...to be patient with the ignorant and lost..." The minister will be patient with the ignorant. He offers sacrifice for the sins of the people, because the sin interrupted the relationship with God and raised a barrier. The priest offered sacrifices for the sins of ignorance. The way to obtain the forgiveness of sins that were committed with full knowledge was not foreseen. Hebrews 10:26 says: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left..." For if one sins knowingly, after having received the knowledge of the truth, there is no sacrifice left for sins. The Old Testament is clear in this, it also says in Deuteronomy 17:12: "The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the Lord your God must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel." The sin of ignorance can be forgiven, but not the sin of pride. When one is out of oneself dominated by anger or passion or by some very strong temptation, and then sincerely repents, this is a sin of ignorance. On the other hand, the Jews understood by sin of arrogance the cold, calculated sin committed with "open eyes" against God and not followed by the least pain. The priest exists to open the way back to God for a sinner, as long as the sinner wants to return. Here in this call in the Letter to the Hebrews there is a heavy burden against sin; the minister who is called is not to be mocked and mocked, it is not to criticize him and make a feast with him, that is to express pride against God. The priest should be identified with men. Hebrews 5:2, 3 "...since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as the sins of the people." I must have gone through human experiences and so I should feel sympathy for men. The human priest is so united to others in everything that he has the need to offer sacrifice for his own sins before offering them for those of others. Of course, Jesus Christ is superior to all earthly priests. One has to feel compassion for others; it's the only way! It is to have the right feeling about men. One has to have the ability to tolerate without losing

ones’ temper towards others when they do not want to learn and they make the same mistakes interminably. It is an attitude towards others that does not lead to anger because of their faults and also does not approve of them, but that patiently surrenders with a sympathy that is "gentle" but, at the same time "firm", and ends with directing the deviant towards the good path. A priest cannot help his fellowmen unless he has that gift of God of being strong and patient! The essential characteristic of a priest is this: that no one appoints himself as a priest, but rather is appointed by God. The priest is not an occupation that a person chooses, but rather a privilege, and it is a glory for the one who is called. The ministry of God among men is not a job or a career, but rather a vocation. God's minister should look back and say: "I did not choose this work, but rather it was God who chose me and gave me this ministry." That is to say, it is the service to Him and to men. Jesus does not choose his task, that of the minister; God chose it for her. So, we should honor God with our fidelity and with the desire to always try to do our task as perfect as Christ did. Amen.