The Better High Priest

The Better High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10 NIV

Thesis - Jesus Christ is the better High Priest.

Evangelistic Objective - To cause people to receive the benefits of Jesus, our High Priest.

            Remembering the situation to which this epistle was addressed will help us to understand the verses we have just read.  The original recipients of this letter were converted to Christ from Judaism and were apparently in danger of reverting back to Judaism.  Throughout this epistle the writer exhorts them to hold fast [their] confession  of faith in Christ Jesus.  He mixes explanations with his exhortations as to why they should hold fast as Christians.  He explains to them the superiority of the Christian revelation, reconciliation and rest in the first four chapters.  Now he explains the superiority of the Christian high priest.  He does this using comparison.  He opens the chapter with an enumeration of

I.  The duties and qualifications of the Jewish high priest.

            A.  His primary duty was to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (v. 1).

                        1.  This seems to refer to the thank offerings and the sin offerings.

                                    a) The thank offerings were given in meal or meat to show                                                   appreciation for God's sovereign blessings.

                                    b) The sin offerings were given in the blood of animals (e.g.                                                             bullocks, goats, lambs) to obtain forgiveness for unintentional sin.

                        2.  The high priest functioned as the mediator (go between) for God                                  and sinful men.

            B.  His qualifications were essentially twofold.

                        1.  He had to be a representative man.

                                    a) This was so he could "have compassion" (KJV), a midpoint

between anger and apathy, toward men who were liable to "moral weakness and physical infirmity" (v. 2, AMP).

b) The Jewish high priest represented men by being sinful as they were (v. 3).

                        2.  He had to be called of God (v. 4).

                                    a) As Aaron and his sons were (Exodus 28:1).

                                    b) His call was for life.

c) It was/is a mistake to enter the ministry as a vocation unless you are called by God.

                                                (1) Korah (Numbers 16:8-33)

                                                (2) Saul (1 Samuel 13:8-14)

                                                (3) Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16-23)

            Beginning at verse 5 we are introduced in reverse order to the

II.  Duties and qualifications of the Christian high priest.

            A.  His qualifications are twofold.

                        1.  He was called of God (v. 5).

a) "What is the significance of such a divine appointment?  Let us suppose an alien is seeking to obtain citizenship in the United States, but his case is found to be full of legal obstructions.  After some failures the would-be citizen appeals personally to the President.  If the President, through the secretarial force of the White House, simply referred him to the usual channels of application, it would indicate no great interest in this alien's acceptance into the citizenry of the country.  If, on the other hand, the President appointed the Secretary of State, or the Minister of the Interior, to clear the legal obstructions, that would signify a great desire on the part of the President to have this man a member of the commonwealth.  If, then, God had stopped at the appointment of the Levitical priesthood, it would have evidenced no divine purpose to bring men into fellowship with Himself, for there was no putting away of sin, no perfecting of the worshiper, no real drawing nigh to God in that whole system.  But if that was preparatory to a greater appointment, intended to teach principles upon which the better thing was based; and if God has fulfilled the promise of that preparation in giving us His own Son, made in our likeness, as the great Mediator, it can only mean that God's desire is toward us, His compassions are moved for us, and He is determined to remove every obstacle in the way of our coming and acceptance."  -J. C. MacCauley

                                    b) His call is eternal (v. 6).

                                                (1) After the order of Melchizedek (cf. v.10; 7:1-3)                                                                     (2) This makes Jesus better than the Jewish high priest.

                        2.  He was a representative man.

                                    a) We are told He felt compassion 12 times in the New Testament.

                                    b) Many other expressions convey the same idea (Hebrews 4:15).

                                    c) He didn't represent us by sinning but by suffering (v. 7).

                                                (1) He suffered temptation and testing (4:15).

                                                            (a) Even though He was a Son (v. 8).

                                                                        (1) Suffering is a son's fate!

                                                                        (2) Suffering taught Him "special" obedience.

                                                                                    (a) Not that he had been disobedient.

(b) "What Jesus learned by bitter                                                             experience was that true obedience

entails suffering.  There is no escaping the penalties of the service of God." -William Neil

                                                            (b) He suffered in Gethsemane (v. 7).

                                                                        (1) In the struggle of wills

                                                                        (2) "All those who journey soon or late,

                                                                        Must pass within the Garden's gate; Must kneel

alone in darkness there.  And battle with some fierce despair.  God pity those who cannot say: Not mine, but Thine; who only pray: 'Let this cup pass,' and cannot see the purpose in Gethsemane."

(3) His prayer was answered because of His attitude of submission (v. 7, NIV).

(a) His answer - He was not spared but raised.

                                                                                    (b) This is how God often answers us.

(1) The three Hebrew boy                                                                                                   (2) When you pass through the

waters, I will be with you; And

through the rivers, they will not                                                                              overflow you.  When you walk

through the fire, you will not be

scorched, Nor will the flame burn

you.    Isaiah 43:2

                                                (2) He suffered the consequences of sin.

                                    d) Suffering is better than sinning.

                                                (1) It's not as debilitating.

(2) Suffering allows the full force of the temptation to be experienced.

                                                (3) This makes Jesus better than the Jewish high priest.

            B.  His duty was to become the source of eternal salvation (v.9).

                        1.  He was able to do this by offering Himself as a sinless sacrifice.

                        2.  His salvation is eternal as He is.

                        3.  This is a better salvation through a better high priest.

            The point the writer seeks to make is that Jesus is the better High Priest.  He is better because His calling is eternal, His representation is effective and His sacrifice is efficacious.

            Whether we are converted to Christ from Judaism or Paganism He is the better High Priest.  As a matter of fact, He is the only one who can give eternal salvation to those who obey Him.  Do you have eternal salvation?  Are you obeying Him?

            Do you need to obtain mercy or find grace?  If so come boldly unto the throne of grace.

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