In our hearts and minds

New Testament writers were very familiar with what we now call the Old Testament. We see that over and over again. So the writer of Hebrews reminds us that God’s promise to the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness looking for rest is our promise too. The writer is plainly somewhat frustrated with his audience when he/she writes (Heb 5: 11):

I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you’ve picked up this bad habit of not listening. (The Message)

This exasperation is shown gently in the nudge to us all to go beyond the babe’s milk and on to meat. Eugene Peterson helps us here where he paraphrases Heb. 6:1 -

               So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ.  (ibid)

Now we’re given a history lesson. We are told that Christ Jesus now has the role of high priest “after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 6: 20 Message). We learn that Melchizedek was king of Salem, which means peace. So Jesus has ushered in a brand new order which builds on the commandments of Moses and re-invents them because the old priesthood system simply didn’t work. It was based on personalities. The new way, the text tells us, provides us with an eternal priest. This is all according to prophecy (Heb 8: 14 cf Jer 31:33).  The “old laws” were written on tablets of stone, and later inscribed on door posts as daily reminders. Now God will inscribe them into our hearts and minds (Heb 8:10)!

Julie Swannell