As my son trains to be a chef, I’m seeing similarities between the work of professional chefs and the Old Testament priests! Their work is ‘day after day’ (or meal after meal!); repetitive work (‘again and again he offers the same sacrifices’), which can never fully or finally ‘take away’ sins (or hunger); and both chef and priest must ‘stand’ to perform their duties (v 11) – industrial kitchens aren’t equipped with chairs and neither was the tabernacle – because a priest’s work was never done.

The work of Jesus, however, was ‘finished’ on the cross (John 19:30) and so ‘he sat down at the right hand of God’ (v 12). His work accomplished God’s purposes, for all time, for all peoples: ‘he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy’ (v 14). We tend towards two different kinds of mistakes: attempting to repeat the work Christ has already done, by trying to pay for our sins rather than embracing his forgiveness (v 18); or failing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the work of ‘being made holy’ (v 14b).

Jesus the Saviour reigns, / the God of truth and love; / when he had purged our stains, / he took his seat above.’¹

I read this short passage several times, pondering again the contrasts between the old priestly system of sacrifices offered daily, endlessly, and our Lord Jesus’ one sacrifice offered once for all time which has brought this whole system to an end (vs 11,12). John Calvin explained the meaning of Christ sitting at the right hand of God – ‘that both heavenly and earthly creatures may look with admiration on his majesty, be ruled by his hand, obey his nod, and submit to his power’.² Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is for ever God’s right-hand Man! 

Two Old Testament passages, already mentioned earlier in Hebrews, cast further light on today’s reading. I cast my eyes over Psalm 110, one of the psalms most frequently quoted in the New Testament, and remember that ‘seated with Christ’ is where we begin our Christian discipleship every day.³ Then I turn to read Jeremiah 31:31–34, through which the Holy Spirit testifies to us today that our forgiven sins are remembered no more. This is the meaning of Christ’s finished work; this is redemption, accomplished and applied. Love has provided more than just a warrant for the prisoner’s freedom; it opens the door and brings him or her out of the prison! This is why Wesley sang, ‘My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed thee.’⁴

This assurance is fundamental to joyful, persevering Christian discipleship. The contest, the conflict with sin remains. Verse 10 says that we ‘have been made holy’ – but verse 14 says that we ‘are being made holy’. 

‘…these have been forgiven’ (v 18). I meditate on ‘forgiven’. Forgiveness is the basso ostinato (ground bass) of the Christian life, the deep well of our joy, assurance and perseverance.

¹ Charles Wesley, ‘Rejoice the Lord is king’  ² John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Register, SCM, 1961, 2.16.15  ³ Col 3:1–4  ⁴ Charles Wesley, ‘And can it be’