Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. – Hebrews 8:3

Today's Scripture Reading (May 15, 2021): Hebrews 8

One of the arguments inside the contemporary Christian Church is about our responsibility to give and support the Church, a practice traditionally understood as the tithe. A tithe is ten percent of what we earn. But some are offended by the idea of the tithe. They insist that the tithe is a requirement of the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible and therefore has no authority over a New Testament Church. The tithe is part of the law, but we are not people of the law; we are a people who are part of a movement that is based on grace.

And the critics are right. The area where their argument begins to breaks down is in what they think that that differentiation might mean. Most seem to argue for a lesser standard. I give when I can, or more likely when I want. If it isn't law, then it isn't required. But that isn't quite the biblical instructions. Jesus highlights the difference between the law and grace in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus argues that the law says "do not murder," but grace says "do not hate" (Matthew 5:21-22). Jesus taught that the law says "do not commit adultery," but grace says "do not lust" (Matthew 5:27-28). He said that the law requires that we "love our friends" and allows us to "hate our enemies," but grace says, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43-44). The law requires that if a soldier asks you to carry his burden, you must take it a mile, but grace says to bring it twice that far (Matthew 5:41). Consistently the demands of grace are higher than the demands of the law.

Hebrews says that every priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. The difference between the two is essential. The law demanded sacrifices as a payment for sin. They were required. But gifts were given out of love because the giver wanted to give the gift. The sacrifices were the law, but the gifts were part of the demands of grace. Every priest is ordained to present both to God, the requirements of the law, and the demands of grace.

The author of Hebrews has been building the argument that Jesus is our high priest. But if that is true, then Jesus needed to offer both our sacrifices and gifts before God. But Jesus went a step farther. He not only inhabits our sacrifices and gifts, or the tithes of the law and the offerings of grace, but he gave himself as an offering as well. For Jesus, the demands of grace meant all of him; nothing could be held back. It was something that our earthly priests could not give. He became the perfect sacrifice that we needed all along. Our response to his gift is to give generously of who we are, our tithes and offerings, but also so much more. We offer our lives as a commitment to our High Priest who ministers for us before the throne of God. And we don't know what that means until the moment makes its demands. But we stand at the ready, willing to give what our High Priest will ask of us.             

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9