Monday, March 07, 2011
New High Priest under the New Covenant
"You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)
The author of Hebrews gives an exposition of Psalm 110:4 from Chapter 4 verse 14 through the end of Chapter 7. He then takes this exposition and connects Melchizedek with the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31 from Chapter 8 verse 1 through the end of Chapter 10.
This full exposition and connection should be read in its entirety.
The clear take away:
Jesus Christ is the New High Priest under the New Covenant!
The author of Hebrews gives an exposition of Psalm 110:4 from Chapter 4 verse 14 through the end of Chapter 7. He then takes this exposition and connects Melchizedek with the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31 from Chapter 8 verse 1 through the end of Chapter 10.
This full exposition and connection should be read in its entirety.
The clear take away:
Jesus Christ is the New High Priest under the New Covenant!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
New Temple under the New Covenant
The Israelites were structured by God under the Old Covenant and the Law to be centripetal (center focused). "And let them make me a santuary, that I may dwell in their midst." (Exodus 25:8) God arranged their camps while in the wilderness to circle the tabernacle. "The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side." (Numbers 2:2)
At the same time, "three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD." (Exodus 23:17) Therefore, after Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the temple became the center of worship and the central focus.
Just as a child is kept near the home growing up, God's People were given a centralized land with a centralized place to worship. However, when a man reaches maturity, he is no longer under a paidagogos and will "leave his father and mother" (Genesis 2:24). Now with a new maturity, God's People have a new mission which is centrifugal (center fleeing).
So where has God's sanctuary gone that has been central to his People?
"Do you not know that you [plural] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you [plural] are that temple." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God." (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Just as God's Spirit entered the tabernacle,
But wait there is more!!
"Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh ... remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise." (Ephesians 2:11-12)
Gentiles were forbidden in the temple precinct [space enclosed by walls]. Recall the accusation against Paul: "He has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." (Acts 21:28)
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ... has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ... So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:13, 19-22)
The new temple even grew!
At the same time, "three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD." (Exodus 23:17) Therefore, after Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the temple became the center of worship and the central focus.
Just as a child is kept near the home growing up, God's People were given a centralized land with a centralized place to worship. However, when a man reaches maturity, he is no longer under a paidagogos and will "leave his father and mother" (Genesis 2:24). Now with a new maturity, God's People have a new mission which is centrifugal (center fleeing).
So where has God's sanctuary gone that has been central to his People?
"Do you not know that you [plural] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you [plural] are that temple." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God." (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Just as God's Spirit entered the tabernacle,
["Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." Exodus 40:34]
and later entered the temple,
["And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD." 1 Kings 8:10-11]
God's Spirit rushed upon the new temple.
["When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1-4]
But wait there is more!!
"Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh ... remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise." (Ephesians 2:11-12)
Gentiles were forbidden in the temple precinct [space enclosed by walls]. Recall the accusation against Paul: "He has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." (Acts 21:28)
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ... has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ... So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:13, 19-22)
The new temple even grew!
["While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles." Acts 10:44-45]
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, for I am a Gentile who can now enter the temple! No, not enter the temple but BE the temple. Selah
