Hebrews 5:1-7
The author of Hebrews clearly did not have Annas and Caiaphas in mind when he wrote the following words: And no one takes this honor [the high priesthood] for himself, but only when called by God… (v. 4) In Jesus’ time the office of the high priest had become highly politicized. Annas and Caiaphas were both from the sect of the Sadducees, who were quite far off the mark set by Aaron in the book of Exodus. They surely took the honor for themselves; it’s also questionable whether or not they were called by God. To that point, however, yesterday’s Lexington Herald-Leader had an article by one of their weekly authors, Paul Prather, a minister, in which he was opining as to whether our U.S. presidents are selected in accordance with God’s will, as is suggested in Paul’s letter to the Romans, verse 13:1, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Paul Prather’s article had to do with strong evangelical support for President Trump – their strong support for him in 2016 and their disappointment at the 2020 election outcome. While he was not suggesting that evangelicals thought Biden’s election was the work of the devil, he did make the point that if Trump had been God’s choice in 2016, then Biden must have been God’s choice in 2020 and Obama must have been God’s choice in 2008 and 2012. Likewise, if Biden’s election was counter to God’s will in 2020, then Trump’s election in 2016 might also have been counter to God’s will. My bottom line – how different our world would be if we would all be doing that for which we are called by God!!
Slava Bohu!
I too appreciated Prather’s comments on Sunday. Either God is in charge always, or not. Not just when He does what we think is best.
The high priest’s role was to offer sacrifice for his own and others’ sins. Also in v. 2, they were to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward. In Jesus’ time, they were appointed by the Romans. How low they had fallen.