
HW hit a road block when he said: “Melchizedek.” His readers couldn’t grasp the type-antitype nuances. They had become “lazy listeners.” What about us? Do we read expecting to be challenged, but also expecting to ultimately understand?
Admittedly, leaving one’s “comfort zone” is uncomfortable; but it is also the only way to grow. I frequently remind my audience that all growth takes place on the outside edge of one’s comfort zone! So, this is exactly what HW exhorted his readers to do: “leave behind” and “press on.”
The dangers of not pressing on were chilling. They might “fall away.” If so, it would be impossible to win them back. They would become the cursed ground (like in Gen. 3). All that awaits is the burning (as per Matt. 3).
On the other hand, pressing on had the blessings and promises of God attached. God swore by Himself, desiring so intently to give His children the assurance of success, even in the midst of intense opposition. Thus, He instilled hope; a hope so firm that it entered beyond the veil–where no Israelite had ever been able to be (the High Priest’s lone yearly brief exception proving the truth of this).
And so, as a fore runner, He paved the way, because by doing so He became the Eternal High Priest, fulfilling the type of Melchizedek. (See how HW brought his audience right back to the difficult discussion; this time with motive and expectation to understand it.)
Join the discussion; it’ll get us ready for the heady thoughts of chapter 7: Melchizedek and Jesus.