Hebrews 5:1-10
Is Christ king, or is Christ high priest? The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were quick to tell the early Christians that Christ could not be both. They claimed that God forbid Israel to have the same person as both king and high priest. They claimed the high priest must come from the tribe of Levi.

Many of the Jewish people felt strongly about this because of their recent history. 165 years before the birth of Christ, a priest in the village of Modiʿim, led a revolt against the Syrians who had desecrated the temple. The name Maccabee was a title of honor given to the priest, his five sons and his grandson. In a peace agreement, the Syrian leader appointed one of the sons as high priest and ruler of the Jews. The strict upholders of the Jewish Law however were offended, because the Law required the high priest be a descendant from Aaron. The offended group formed a strong opposition party, later to become the most conservative section of the Pharisees. The last Maccabees king/high priest died in 104 BC. At his death, the Jews now ruled Judea and all of Samaria. The last king was a Sadducee and nonreligious. The Maccabees would remain Kings for a number of years, but would never again be both king and high priest. The Maccabee’s rule ended in 37 BC., when Rome helped Herod conquered Jerusalem, and appointed him king.

Many of the Jewish people were willing to accept Christ as king. They wanted an earthly king to set them free from Rome. Most were not willing to consider the possibility that God wanted Christ to be both king and high priest. The writer of Hebrews reminds them that Melchizedek was a king who was also a priest. Before there was a nation of Israel, Abraham had Melchizedek offer sacrifices to God on his behalf. Christ is a priest “…in the order of Melchizedek.” Christ sacrificed himself for our sins. Is Christ king; is Christ high priest? He is both.