Messiah the Great High Priest

Review of Chapter 4

Last week we ended our discussion with the writer introducing the topic of Jesus as our High Priest

He was better than the earthly high priest

He sympathized with our weaknesses

He is able to intercede for us to the Father much better

It is at this point that the writer begins his extended discussion on Jesus as our High Priest

That discussion goes all the way through Chapter 7

Perhaps at this point, you’re thinking this topic is of little concern for us and our relationship with Christ

Perhaps you’re asking yourself, why do I really need to understand how Jesus is a better High Priest?

I’m not Jewish and never experienced life under the Law or the sacrificial system, so, of what use is this topic?

Well, this could not be farther from the truth

The concept of Jesus’ priesthood is quite challenging and eye-opening

Understanding Jesus’ priesthood will change our understanding of events as far back as Genesis chapter 3 and beyond

Even the readers were not prepared for the depth of his argument and the magnitude of this revelation

The High Priest Hebrews 5:1-6

Hebrews 5:1–6 (ESV)

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Discussion Questions

What is the role of the high priest?

What does he do on “behalf of men”?

How does one get chosen to be high priest?

Why is it important that Christ did not choose this role for Himself?

What does it mean that Christ is a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek?

Role of the High Priest Hebrews 5:1-4

Hebrews 5:1–4 ESV

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

As we examine chapter 5, we begin where the writer starts to examine Jesus’ qualifications as High Priest and then ends with his introduction to the third warning

Verse 1 begins with “For every high priest...”

He is providing the general qualifications in Israel for a man to be appointed high priest

Before we look at the specific qualifications, let’s take a look at the background on the role of the high priest, or of priests in general

The Hebrew word for “priest” can also be translated as “chief minister”, as in “chief servant of God”

The general purpose of the priest was to be a representative of God to men and of men before God

they intercede before God on behalf of needful men

they represent God’s holiness to sinful men

the people of Israel had many priests who would take turns serving in the tabernacle

among them one man was set apart as the high priest

his primary duty was to officiate over a one-time atonement each year

The ministry of the high priest referred to in chapter 5 focuses on the Day of Atonement when he offered the sacrifices for the cleansing of sins for the community, including himself, in the most holy place

Now focusing on the high priest, he was considered the chief representative of God before men

All priests are representatives of the Covenant that granted them their office

And the high priest is the chief representative of God under that same Covenant

For example, the high priest of Israel was the chief representative under the Covenant of Law given through Moses

The writer begins by reminding his readers that this covenant stipulated certain requirements for the high priest

A high priest must be taken from among men, if he is to be a representative before God on behalf of men

in order to represent a group, you must be part of the group

for example, if you wish to represent your country in the Olympics, you must be a citizen of that country

This also applies to priests before the living God

a priest represents men before God

a priest must be human, like the ones he represents

a priest cannot be an angel or spirit, since neither is able to represent human beings

The high priest must offer sacrifices and gifts before God

Their worship to God must come through the means of the priest

A priest had to perform the sacrifice

A priest had to take the blood into the tabernacle

The high priest had to take it into the Holy of Holies

They were not able to worship God without that priest – he was their means to God under the Law

What the writer is saying is that the high priest was essential to the worship process because God was only willing to accept worship through his intercession

Representatives have power and authority only if those they approach acknowledge that power

God sets the rules for how men may approach Him – and when they follow His rules, He receives their worship

When they don’t follow His rules, He doesn’t receive their worship

God has declared that He will accept Israel’s worship and acknowledge their requests for forgiveness only through the work of a high priest

That representative must be one approved by God, according to the rules of a covenant given by God

If they wanted God to receive their worship and hear their petitions and grant them forgiveness for their sins, then they must approach Him on His terms

Making use of the Aaronic priesthood established in the Law of Moses, the writer explains the wisdom of God in stipulating the requirements for a high priest in vs. 2-3

he states that because he is a man, he has a valuable perspective when representing the needs of sinful people before God

the high priest of Israel could deal gently with the sinful and misguided men and women of Israel

the Greek word for “misguided” means “to wander”, as in “to wander from the truth and into deception”

the high priest acted as a shepherd to bring those who wandered back into the fold through discipline, feeding and encouragement

the high priest of Israel is well-equipped to serve, because he is a man who himself suffers from such weaknesses

Under the Law, the high priest had to sacrifice an animal for the sake of his own sins before he could approach the Lord and offer sacrifices for the sins of the people

This requirement served to remind the high priest and the people that sin was a common experience for all of them

It kept the high priest humble, for he was forced to acknowledge he was no more worthy than those he represented before God

We no-longer meet God through an earthly priest, but we still have this office to minister to people in one way or another

We are free to approach God, under the New Covenant, with our repentance and worship

the Church is the priesthood of this world today

Believers, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, are the priesthood of this world today, according to Scripture

We represent the truth about God to the unbelieving world

We bring God to the people, just as priests did under the Law

But we are not individually helping those within the Body to reach God – we are all accessing Him through the High Priest, Jesus Christ, serving us in Heaven

All believers together with those who are holding official offices in ministry, are to be concerned with things pertaining to God

In things pertaining to God

John gives the warning in 1 John 2:15-17 about not loving the world to much and Paul expresses the same thought in Colossians 3:2

We all sometimes have a hard time balancing the things of the world with the things of above

There are so many hurting in the world that it is easy to pay too much attention to the earthly needs of man, i.e. feeding the poor, helping the sick, providing medical help

All of these things are worthwhile endeavors, but they should not cause us to forget about the “things of God”

The help we provide for the physical needs of man should be a means to help people spiritually

It was the job of the high priest to teach people the things of God so that their relationship to God can be restored

In all these ways, the high priest acted as a mediator for the people before God to bridge the gap that separated sinful humans from a holy God

This should act as a reminder to us in our ministry that we too are a sinner with plenty of our own mistakes

Remembering this would help us to show mercy and forgiveness to others who had sinned

we are not better than any of the people we share the Gospel with

we are not better than any of the people we go to church with

we are not better than our unsaved or saved family members

we all are sinners and need God’s forgiveness

This is also a reminder that we have no excuse for not obeying God and serving Him in the area He has called us to

The excuse of being sinful and not fit to serve God is taken away when we consider that the high priests were sinful and still appointed

Now that the writer has explained the basic qualifications of a high priest, he moves to explaining how Jesus was a superior High Priest to any that came under the Law

Christ was appointed as High Priest by God Himself Hebrews 5:5-6

Hebrews 5:5–6 (ESV)

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

We are now able to see the connection that the author is making between the Aaronic high priesthood and Jesus

In vs. 1-4, he establishes the roles and character of a high priest and then will go forward to prove that Jesus met the appropriate criteria, therefore proving that Jesus is superior since He is the perfect High Priest

Jesus is the High Priest

The writer begins his comparison with Christ’s appointment as a priest

God set qualifications to be a priest, and only by these qualifications would a man be acceptable to God

Likewise, the Son had to meet these qualifications set by the Father if He was to be accepted as a representative of men

In v. 5, we see that Jesus:

was appointed by God to become High Priest (Luke 9:35)

and the Father appointed Him as His Son

The writer returns once again to the Psalms to prove his argument

Psalm 2:7 ESV

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

So, you may be asking, how does this prove the writer’s point?

The answer comes in understanding the ancient meaning of the term “begotten”

The word in Hebrew means “come forth”, but it carried another meaning in ancient Israel

This is the word used throughout Genesis to reflect the genealogical qualification of a son to continue the family name

The writer is highlighting the term in Psalm 2:7 to demonstrate both aspects of Christ’s qualifications as High Priest

it reflects Christ’s taking on human flesh and being born as a man

God became the Father of Christ, calling Him Son, because the Son was born as a man

He had to be a man to serve as a suitable representative

Only a man can represent men before God

But this word also reflects that Christ was born into the proper family, descended from the proper line

Just as the sons of Aaron were the only ones qualified to be priests, Christ had to be a Son of the proper family

And that family has an order of succession, just as the sons of Aaron had a proper order of succession

According to the order of Melchizedek

In v. 6, the writer provides us with the order of Christ’s succession: the order of Melchizedek

New high priests only came from among the sons of the previous high priests

And since a high priest served for life, a new high priest inherited his office by succession upon the prior high priest’s death

So, the writer of Hebrews is explaining that Jesus did not assume for Himself the title of High Priest, but He received it in the way the Father required

He received it because He was born into the correct family line

And He inherited His priesthood through a succession of priests

That succession of priests is called the order of Melchizedek

But Christ, never dying again, never gives up His Priesthood

Life of Christ our High Priest Hebrews 5:7-10

Hebrews 5:7–10 ESV

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Discussion Questions

How did Christ’s suffering/crying/tears help him fill the requirements of being a high priest?

How did Christ “learn obedience” since He was already perfect?

How was He “made perfect”?

Christ’s life as our high priest

The writer now compares the work of Christ as a High Priest to the work of the high priests of the Aaronic priesthood

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he offered up both prayers and supplications

The writer is referring specifically to Jesus’ High Priestly prayer in John 17, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His petitions while on the cross

These were key moments in His ministry, when He interceded in weakness on behalf of sinful and misguided humanity

At these moments He was serving as our High Priest

Jesus’ petitions were heard by the Father because of Jesus’ piety

The word “piety” in Greek means “caution” or “reverence”

Jesus’ reverence was in doing all that God required to be a suitable representative, even to the point of showing sympathy for those who persecuted Him

And we see God’s acceptance of Jesus as High Priest in the fact that He resurrected Him from death, leaving Him in the role of High Priest forever

In vs. 8-10, the writer emphasizes Jesus’ suffering as High Priest

Jesus’ suffering experience as a man, even though He was without sin served to teach Jesus obedience

Having always been One with the Father, there had not been a time when there was a choice to be obedient

But in the form of man, facing a horrible death, Jesus might have certainly been tempted to run away and avoid the pain that He knew was coming

The suffering of Christ was in knowing what was coming and facing it voluntarily

The fact that he was willing to submit to the Father’s will, Jesus was made perfect the writer says

That word “perfect” can be confusing, since it implies Jesus was less than perfect in some earlier moment

The Greek word used in this passage, means “to bring to a perfect conclusion”

So, the writer says that as Jesus suffered, His mission as High Priest was brought to its perfect conclusion

He could then be counted worthy by the Father to be our eternal High Priest

He succeeded in all that He was given and was resurrected as evidence of God’s approval

And in that, the plan of God was completed

Jesus’ suffering on the cross was the accomplishment of a goal, and made a perfect end to that work

And accomplished salvation for those who obey Christ

We don’t receive credit for His sacrifice unless we acknowledge it as a sacrifice on our behalf

So, Christ is the High Priest who can make a sacrifice on our behalf, which the Father will regard as salvation for our sake

The writer feels that it is vital for his audience to understand the order of Melchizedek and being both priest and king in relation to Jesus our High Priest

The writer must have felt that his audience was not aware of this importance and decides to pause this teaching to chastise the church for being unprepared for such a conversation

The “much to say” will come in chapter 7

In v. 11b, he changes direction into what will become his third warning to the Church

An Exhortation to Maturity Hebrews 5:11-14

Hebrews 5:11–14 ESV

11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Their dullness of hearing is exposed

The spiritual condition of his audience made it hard to explain

They were “dull of hear”

The word for “dull” in Greek meant “lazy” or “sluggish”

Being “dull of hearing” did not mean that there was a problem with their ability to hear but there was a problem with the heart

He is saying that they were not interested in what God had to say

This not wanting to hear the Word of God indicates a genuine spiritual problem

May point to the reason for unanswered prayer, according to Proverbs 28:9 “9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

The writer says that they “have become dull of hearing”

The word “become” is important to note

It indicates that they did not start out that way

Therefore, it is necessary for the writer to issue a warning once again

The warnings presented in Hebrews were important for the early Christians, and for us as well

The early Christians were discouraged

They needed encouragement

They needed comfort

They needed to be taught

But they also needed to be warned

They needed to be reminded of the consequences of departing from Jesus

Their failure to mature is exposed

Verse 12 indicates that they had been followers of Jesus

They should have been much more mature than they were

“You ought to be teachers” does not mean that they were to hold a role as teaching

But that they should be a teacher in the sense that every Christian is called to teach the Gospel

We are all called to help disciple others

It is by teaching that we are able to master something

The writer is pointing out that they were in need of someone to teach them

He is indicating that one should be able to teach one’s self and remind one’s self of these “first principles of the oracles of God”

A contrast between milk and solid food

The writers use of the word “milk” here is corresponding to the first principles

“Solid food” is the meatier material such as understanding the connection between Jesus and Melchizedek

The “milk” is not bad; but is the elementary doctrines that a new believer receives

These Christians should have moved beyond the elementary doctrines of a new believer and have added “solid food” to their “diet”

The writer’s use of “he is a child” presents thought of someone who should be mature but who has become a child

When we look at our own Christian maturity, we should consider the following:

Perhaps your Christian life is unstable

Perhaps you are divisive in your Christian life

Perhaps you are spiritually asleep

Perhaps you are fussy and cranky with others

Spiritual maturity demands becoming knowledgeable about the Bible, including understanding even the most difficult passages and concepts

In the final verses of chapter 5, the writer explains the consequence of failing to pursue spiritual maturity

Lazy Christians not only don’t mature, but they are now regressing in their understanding

They need to be re-educated

They need someone to come back and re-teach them the basic truths of the Christian faith

They need to relearn their “ABCs” of the Bible

They stopped maturing

They are not making it their goal to be a life-long, diligent student of the Bible

The consequence the writer is telling them if they (and we) don’t continue moving on to greater things, we are in danger of losing what we have

Spiritual maturity gives us the ability to discern good from evil

Knowing how to recognize the schemes and temptations of the enemy

Able to spot evil and steer clear of the consequences of engaging in evil

Homework Questions

Knowing that the high priest could only be chosen to serve in the priesthood, just like God chose Aaron as the first high priest and his line to carry one the priesthood, how might this affect those in ministry to know they had been chosen by God? How might this knowledge effect the people whom they serve?

List one specific area you need to change in order to obey what God has taught us in this passage.

Why is the prevalent teaching about building your self-esteem opposed to growth in godliness?

Is it always right to pray (for ourselves or for others) for deliverance from a trial? How can we know what to pray?