25th October 2024
Perfection
For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 7:28 (NIV)
‘It’s a perfect day!’ the bride and groom beamed. It was their wedding day; the sun shone, everyone was dressed in their best, and having a wonderful time. Food, wine, song and dance flowed in abundance. It truly seemed to be just perfect.
The idea of perfection can be a tricky thing. If you look up the meaning of ‘perfect’ in the Oxford English Dictionary it says, ‘having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics’. In other words, lacking nothing. But there is a second meaning, that of being ‘completed’.
We know that Jesus was sinless, Hebrews 4:15 states, ‘…we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.’ But was he perfect? If he was, how could he be ‘made perfect’? Surely if someone is made perfect, that means they must have been imperfect at some point in time?
Not so, states Madison N. Pierce, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, ‘To say that Jesus is “made perfect” is not to say that he is at any point “imperfect.” ’ She goes on to say that the author of Hebrews is not talking about the ‘intrinsic character’ of Jesus or his moral perfection.
From this we can determine that the second meaning of perfect, that of completing something, is the better choice here. Hebrews 7:28 can be more accurately understood as a Son ‘who has been made perfect forever’ through completing his mission, the work his Father asked him to do, which included his incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension.
Hebrews 5:8-10 says of Jesus, ‘Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.’ Jesus was perfected through learning obedience, subjecting his will to the will of his Father, and through suffering. All of which he did with moral perfection and without sin. This is why his last words on the cross were ‘It is finished.’ After three days God resurrected him and he ascended to be with his Father, where he is now, seated at God’s right-hand interceding for us as our perfect and perfected High Priest forever.
Prayer
Our loving Father, we so often struggle to fully understand your word and just exactly what it means. Bless us with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom so we may discern your thoughts. We do not need to worry about perfection because you, Jesus, are our perfection. We want to know you better, to love you more, and to follow you more closely. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
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Study by: Jackie Mill About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion International Central Glasgow
Garnethill Room
Conference Suite
St Andrews West
260 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4JP
Meeting time:
Sunday 11:15 am
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church