Our epistle reading is a wonderful description of effective servants of the people of God. It’s a beautiful description of the high priest thousands of years ago in the Israelite temple—the high priest is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward. The author of Hebrews is talking about the ideal high priest—ideal because not all were so gentle. I’m thinking of Caiaphas, the high priest that condemned Jesus—the leader of a judgmental, legalistic, and fundamentalistic religious group called Pharisees. These were the kind of people that caught the woman in the very act of adultery and wanted to stone her, but apparently let the offending male escape with little to no consequences that we know of. Caiaphas wanted to put Jesus to death because he believed he was wayward and the ignorant would follow him. These priests were obsessed with rules, not provoking an angry god, and living up to the expectations of a pious community. And, of course, this is not just about high priests. Religious leaders would have no authority without a following; they would not be able to misuse their power unless they had sufficient support from the community. The high priests, council of priests, and those who followed them were all part of a relentless and unforgiving religious system that resulted in the unjust execution of Jesus, the stoning of Stephen, and the persecution of the early Christians.
What made them unable to empathize with those they deemed ignorant? Why weren’t they compasionate toward those they believed were going down a wayward path? What makes us heartless, legalistic, and uncaring toward people around us? The writer of Hebrews makes it clear: it is because we do not understand the heart of God. We do not really know the love of God so beautifully revealed in his Son, Jesus Christ. We do not understand something as basic and profound as forgiveness. Our text says, “Every high priest…is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.”
What qualifies the priest to be in his honored position? What makes him an effective servant of God and his people? A qualified priest is one who knows he also is a sinner; henows what it is to be broken and restored through forgiveness. The high priest who assures God’s people of forgiveness intimately knows that same forgiveness. He is a beggar telling other beggars where to find bread. He is a patient recommending a Physician to someone who has the same sickness. The Apostle Paul, who was so effective in preaching forgiveness in Jesus Christ said it this way: “I am the chief of sinners” (1 Tim 1:15). St. Patrick, who brought the assurance of God’s love and grace to thousands of the Irish begins his autobiography with two words in Latin: “Patricius peccator,” “Patrick, a sinner.” Martin Luther said of his own faith journey, “Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God.”
The Apostle Paul, St. Patrick, and Martin Luther all witnessed huge growth in the Kingdom. Many people came to believe in the Gospel through their ministries. Whole communities were transformed by the radical message of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in the Person and Work of Jesus. I believe God mightily used them for the same reason he used the high priest described in our reading from Hebrews: they deal “gently with the ignorant and wayward, since [they themselves were] subject to weakness.”
What a challenging lesson for all of us who want to see Kingdom growth—to see believers grow in faith and assurance of their salvation—to see people move from ignorance to an intimate knowledge of God’s love in his Son Jesus. This text challenges us to do something that may seem counterintuitive to church growth—to be mindful that we all live under the cross. We share the good news of Jesus to those around us remembering our own struggle with sin. We know the human struggle of being haunted, bound, and guiltridden by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. We are compassionate and deal gently with those around us; because we share the struggle. We all live under the cross that covers our sin. We are all part of the same spiritual family with a heavenly Father who unconditionally loves us and forgives us.
The amazing thing is not the quality of the individuals that carry this message of God’s grace. The amazing thing is the One to whom they pointed. What is amazing is Jesus Christ himself—the true and living High Priest over all creation. He deals gently with the ignorant and the wayward because he is God. He is human and was tempted in every way we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). He knows the burden of dealing with the lure and deceptive nature of sin. And yet, even though he never gave in to sin—though he is perfect—it did not lead to pride and a judgmental spirit. It led him to the cross, through the grave, and rising from the dead to deliver forgiveness, love, and a sure and certain path that leads to eternal life. He lives to restore this broken world.
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