Study in the Book of Hebrews: Hebrews 5:1-10

In this passage, the author is making the case that Jesus has become our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. We aren’t going to fully develop the discussion of “Why is Jesus a priest after the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron?” We will talk more about that in a later study.

I do want to take a moment at the beginning of this lesson to introduce Melchizedek to you.

1. Who is Melchizedek? (Genesis 14:18-20)

1. Who is Melchizedek?

He appears in the book of Genesis and interacts with Abraham.

Genesis 14:18–20 CSB

18 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20 and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:18–20 CSB

18 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20 and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

A. King of Salem and priest of the God Most High.

A. King of Salem and priest of the God Most High.

Salem would later become Jerusalem. God Most High may or may not be referring to Yahweh. People are divided on this.

B. Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils he had captured while rescuing Lot.

This denotes his position as superior in authority and power to Abraham.

C. He is a priest-king.

This is why he is compared to Jesus.

i. not from the tribe of Levi.

ii. Superior to Abraham

iii. their beginning and end is not known

iv. priest-king of righteousness and peace

So that is a little bit about Melchizedek to give you a context for the discussion in .

2. What is a high priest? (Hebrews 5:1-4)

The author gives us five main concepts related to the office of a high priest.

Hebrews 5:1 CSB

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Hebrews 5:1 CSB

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

A. The high priest comes from the people. ()

The high priest is from the people, but distinct from the people. He is one of them, but also distinct.

B. The high priest mediates between God and people. (Hebrews 5:1)

He offers the sacrifices for sins. He is the worship leader. He alone offers the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement.

Hebrews 5:2 CSB

2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness.

Hebrews 5:2 CSB

2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness.

C. The high priest’s weaknesses enable him to deal gently with people. ()

Hebrews 5:3 CSB

3 Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people.

Hebrews 5:3 CSB

3 Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people.

D. He offers the sacrifices for his own sins and the sins of the people. ()

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest must first offer a sacrifice for himself and his household before offering the sacrifices for the people. The priest must be pure before he can do anything for the people.

Hebrews 5:4–5 CSB

4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father,

Hebrews 5:4-5

Hebrews 5:4 CSB

4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Hebrews 5:4–5 CSB

4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father,

E. God calls the person to be a priest.

This is an important concept. A person may aspire to be called into ministry, but God is the one who calls. These 5 principles are how the office of the high priest works.

3. Christ is appointed as High Priest. ()

A. Jesus did not exalt himself to be high priest, rather he was appointed by God. ()

Hebrews 5:5 CSB

5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father,

Hebrews 5:5 CSB

5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father,

B. The author quotes from and .

Hebrews 5:5–6 CSB

5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, 6 also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:5–6 CSB

5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, 6 also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:6 CSB

6 also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

C. By quoting from and , the author links the concepts of sonship and priesthood.

4. The road of Jesus’ appointment to priesthood. ()

Jesus didn’t simply become our Great High Priest because of his relationship to the Trinity. His road to priesthood was marked by suffering, obedience, and endurance.

Hebrews 5:7 CSB

7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Hebrews 5:7 CSB

7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

A. “During

A. “During his earthly life” is a clear reference to his deity. ()

B. This verse refers to the specific event of Jesus’ surrender to the will of the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus asked the Father to allow the cup of suffering to pass by. God heard his prayer, but did not take away the cup of suffering. Jesus surrendered to the will of the Father. Jesus was called to walk the path of obedience through suffering.

Hebrews 5:8–9 CSB

8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

Hebrews 5:

Hebrews 5:8–9 CSB

8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

C. Jesus “learned obedience” and “was perfected”. ()

Wasn’t Jesus already perfect? How could Jesus “learn obedience”?

This is not to say that Jesus was disobedient and flawed prior to the Garden and his crucifixion. This is about his faithfulness to the mission. He didn’t abandon the mission because it was hard. One commentator said it this way, “That he ‘learned obedience’ means that the Son arrived ‘at a new stage of experience’, having pass through the school of suffering. Perfection refers to the Son’s having ‘graduated’ from that school, accomplishing the mission and making it to the end of that path of passion.” (NIV Application, p. 191)

D. The result: Jesus became the eternal source of salvation. ()

The shed blood of Jesus Christ opened the door of salvation, but there is a caveat.

E. Salvation is only given to those who obey him. ()

The Scriptures do not teach universal salvation. Not all obey Jesus; therefore, not all people are saved from their sin. A person must surrender their life to Jesus as their Lord. Obedience to the will of Jesus is an evidence of salvation. One should not think that they can do whatever they want and be saved. Salvation comes from surrendering your life to Jesus and confessing him as Lord. Christians are called to total and complete surrender.

Hebrews 5:10 CSB

10 and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:10 CSB

10 and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

F.

F. Jesus was declared a high priest by God. ()

This priesthood would be in the style of the priesthood of Melchizedek