20160927 Tuesday, September 27 2016
Hebrews 03: The Apostle And High Priest Of Our Profession

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus"

The English-language word "apostle" originated from the Greek word, pronounced ap-os-tol-os, that means someone who is officially sent, such as an ambassador of a King. As a matter of the salvation of humanity, Jesus Christ is the first apostle - appointed and sent by God.

"3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him" (Hebrews 3:1-2 KJV)

While many understand the Christian symbolism of the Levite priesthood (see When Were The Levites Set Apart? and Why Did Jesus Christ Choose Aaron?), Jesus Christ, as the LORD God (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour), was appointed by God as the sole, ultimate High Priest before Levites even existed (see the Fact Finder question below to understand why the prophetic Holy Days are observed). The Messiah's mission involved His being sent, as the Apostle of God, to thereafter deliver, as the High Priest, the Sacrifice to God (see The Christian Day Of Atonement).

"5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee." (Hebrews 5:4-5 KJV)

"7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:26-27 KJV)

The full context of "the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" - "Who was faithful to Him that appointed Him":

"3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3:1-6 KJV)

Nothing has changed as the prophecies are being fulfilled. Notice the reference to Psalm 95:6-8 ("95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness") in verse 15 below.

"3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,

To day if ye will hear his voice, 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:7-19 KJV)

Fact Finder: Many people understand the Christian meaning and purpose of Passover, but relatively few understand the true meaning and purpose of all of the other Biblical Christian Holy Days. What are they?
See The Holy Days Of Jesus Christ, The LORD and The Harvests Of Salvation