¹ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession …

Who is the audience to whom the author of Hebrews writes? This has some bearing on the difficult passages, such as 6:1-8. He often refers to them as “us” (1:2), “holy brethren” (3:1), “brethren” (3:12), “partakers of Christ” (3:14), “beloved” (6:9), etc. Yet, the writer also warns his readers that willful sinning will bring “… a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries” (10:27). Some feel this suggests refers either to non-believers or believers who have lost their faith and therefore their salvation. Theologians wrestle with these issues, so we cannot prove our point in this short devotional. Suffice it to say that the audience is, in fact, “holy brethren.” They are a congregation, as all congregations are – a mix of genuine believers and unbelievers. The wheat with the tares. But the author addresses the readers as the church, which is in fact holy, partakers of Christ and beloved. Each individual must ensure that this includes him.

Believers are partakers of the heavenly calling, as our passage points out. Faith is not just a mental assent but a spiritual reality. We are partakers of the Holy Spirit (6:4) and partakers of Christ (3:14). The word “partaker” means one who is a companion to or shares in something with someone. Hebrews 2:14 uses the verb form where Christ “partook of the same,” that is, in the physical human experience. So we live in the higher plane of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

If we share in Christ and what He calls us to, we need to focus on Him. Literally, the word “consider” means “to immerse oneself in,” in the sense of critical examination, pondering, scrutinizing or studying. In Canada, school children sometimes learn the French language through “total immersion” schools, where all classes are taught in French. Christians are called to a total immersion in Christ. All of life is to be experienced and learned through the language, lens, word and life of Christ.

In particular, Christ is our Apostle and High Priest. While the priesthood aspect of Christ is expounded frequently in Hebrews, His apostleship is more oblique. As the contrast turns from angels to Moses, Christ is portrayed as the messenger (the root meaning of the word “apostle”, that is, “the sent one”). Moses was sent with the message of the Law, Jesus with the message of “rest” and “grace.” The glory of the messenger is commensurate with the glory of the message. And what a greater message was that of Christ than that of Moses!