The Supreme High Priest: Overview

Reading:

Hebrews 7:25–28 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Hook:

Recap:

Last week we tackled our first section of Hebrews. Where we did a giant recap with the emphasis on application.

As the letter starts the author lets us know that Jesus is the great revelation. Greater than prophets, angels, and even Moses.

prophets prophesied in part, Christ is the full revelation of God. Angels are immensely powerful, But Christ is infinitely more so after all He created angles. Moses was a great servant of God, Jesus is not only his creator but a greater Servant than Moses.

In our pass section we are given two warnings.

The first is not to ignore the salvation that has been given to us. God accompanied this salvation with signs and wonders, proving that it is really from God. We cannot allow this salvation to be ineffective in our lives.

The second warning uses the example of the Israelites who wandered through the desert for 40 years. That was their discipline for their unbelief and rebellion against God. They were never allowed to enter God’s rest. For the Christian and unbeliever that chose not to live for Christ will miss out on God’s rest. Rest meaning: peace with God, freedom to worship according to the gospel, and to enjoy the very rest that God enjoys.

There were also two benefits given to believers who are in Christ. Christ secures supremacy for those in Him. While Christ was made lower than the angels, through His obedience we are elevated with Christ above angels. What a crazy benefit. The other is that Christ; because He became man, dying for us, destroying sin and death, delivered us from the bondage we were in to sin and death. It doesn’t stop there though He is our High Priest.

Meaning we serve a God who can not only save your soul, He can sympathize with what you are going through… But wait there’s more… He can provide real help in your lives and lasting change.

We concluded that the majority of the application within those first few chapters boils down to being students of the Word. That you are reading, studying, applying, and sharing the truth found in God’s Word. Read your Bibles folks.

[[Peter’s convicting statement]]

Introduction:

This morning we are going to get familiar with our passage. We will spend 7 or so Sundays going through these three chapters and unpack the truth that comes with Jesus being our High Priest. Our author touched on this briefly at the end of chapter 2, and they will now go more in-depth on the implications that Jesus is the greater High Priest.

The great High Priest (Part 1) [4:14-16]

I decided to split this up into two section due to their length. So we will take two Sundays to tackle this beautiful subject.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the Supreme High Priest. What a glorious truth that begins this new discussion on the greatness and supremacy of Christ. He is the great High Priest, by far the greatest High Priest, who has ever stood between God and man.

The implication is unbelievable: as the great High Priest, He is able to sympathize- to actually feel every experience that we experience- no matter how painful. Not only does Jesus feel for us, He feels right along with us. He is our great sympathetic High Priest- meeting our every need and carries us through all the sufferings of this life.

The two points we are going to draw from in these verses are, firstly the identification of the High Priest. And secondly the significance for us to have such Jesus as our High Priest.

In that first point we will look at the comparison between the high priests during the time of Jesus along with some found in the OT. Seeing how Jesus perfectly incapsulates what it means to be High Priest.

The second point is what all of that matters. And believe me it does matter.

Hebrews 13:6 ESV

6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

The great High Priest (Part 2) [5:1-10]

This particular passage is again a continuation of what was discussed in the previous passage. The focus is on how Jesus meets every qualification required by bot human and God to be the Supreme High Priest.

God is perfect and man is imperfect and sinful. Therefore, if man is ever to become acceptable to God, some perfect Person has to stand between God and man.

You might ask the question why? And it’s because there needs to be something that covers mankind a perfect Person, and mankind must believe and trust in the Person’s ideal perfection for the covering.

Essentially Jesus meets all the qualifications of the perfect Person. Jesus is the great High Priest who stands between God and man. One of the main reasons He is the great High Priest is simply because He is different from all the other priest that came before… He is perfect. He perfectly meets all the qualifications.

As we had mentioned earlier this study will focus on the qualifications for a man to be High Priest and how Jesus fulfills those requirements perfectly.

The second point is that He also meets the qualification necessary to be thee great High Priest. Something that we will that is only available in Christ.

3rd Danger (Part 1): Apostasy [5:11-6:8]

We now come to the 3rd warning that must be taken seriously. This particular passage is hotly debated. When you think you might have come to a good conclusion there seems to be a host of people who differ with you.

What we must keep in mind in this: one of the primary reasons why there are so many difference is because we come to this passage with our minds already made up. We already hold a theological position and have a theological system that we follow and interpret all Scripture by.

We will go into more detail when we come to this particular passage in the coming weeks. What I can tell you right now is that the no matter what side of the issue you fall on it doesn’t negate the warning. If you believe you can lose your salvation or if you believe that you can’t. The point the author is making is don’t become apathetic, rebellious, or unbelieving when it comes to our walk with God.

Passages like this require us to dive deeper into the word. Pressing in, trusting God, and His Word to take care of us.

3rd Danger (Part 2): The safeguard [6:9-20]

I’m going to be honest with you, I have a particular belief on this passage and it’s going to come out in passages like this. Think of it as a flavor, whether or not you agree with me is fine you are entitled to your opinion too.

I’ve spent time praying through and seeking the Lord and this is where I am currently. Now if you’d like to debate on this topic Steven is freshly out of bible college and would love to engage with you.

What we are going to see in this passage are practical steps that we can be implementing in our lives:

The love and confidence of of people.

God’s justice.

Being diligent and not lazy.

Following the believers of faith and perseverance.

God’s promise and oath.

The anchor of hope Jesus Christ.

There are things that we can be doing that will safeguard our hearts from turning away from the God that we love. I know that it can be frustrating that we fail and fall short, and that God doesn’t just make us perfect.

Trust the process that God has established. I promise you He has done all the heavy lifting. All that is required from us is obedience.

Matthew 11:25–30 ESV

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected so that you might have a right standing before God. That isn’t all though, He gave you the Holy Spirit to empower you to live for Him. In turn we are charged with living for Him. It is the least we can do.

The way to God Completed[7:1-24]

How do we approach God? This is the great question of the ages. Why though? Because mankind is sinful and imperfect and God is perfect. Sin and imperfection do not honor God; it dishonors Him.

Leading us to ask the question how can we approach God? There is only one way, one solution to the problem… Someone has to stand before God on our behalf.

This is exactly what we see the author of Hebrews building up too with him stressing that Jesus Christ is our great High Priest.

Human beings need to have someone who is perfect and acceptable to God and who will represent man before God. Is there such a person- such a perfect mediator and priest? This is the purpose of this passage: to show the inadequacy of earthly priest and the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus.

No earthly priest ever has been or ever will be perfect. No earthly priest has ever been able to do anything perfectly or to bring perfection to man. Jesus is the only perfect and acceptable Priest who has ever lived. He along can represent us before God.

What we will go into further discussion on is how can this be proven? And how is Jesus’ priesthood shown to be superior?

It is revealed in the story of Abraham rescuing his nephew and his dealing with a king priest Melchisedec.

There is a lot to unpack within the passage so we will save it for later. What the focus will be is how Jesus changed the way to God being our perfect mediator.

This is some really interesting theology: It is really important that we understand that Jesus isn’t a demigod (50/50). He is the hypostatic union (100/100). Fully God fully man. Fully man because man is only able to pay for man’s mistakes, that is why animal sacrifices didn’t suffice. There is a need for fully God too because the only being with the power to save is God Himself.

A complete salvation [7:25-28]

I want you to understand how much Jesus Christ really cares about you. He came to redeem you and me. He is the only one that can give you perfect salvation. A complete salvation at that.

Let us read this passage one more time together:

Hebrews 7:25–28 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Jesus is the High Priest with a perfect power, a perfect life, a perfect sacrifice, and a perfect appointment.

That power was used to take the wrath of God upon Himself.

That life was lived free from sin so that it might be given to you who believe.

He was the perfect sacrifice, because nothing but perfection could save us.

He is the only one who can take the role as High Priest. The law can appoint no one else but men with infirmities, flaws, and weaknesses.

Family, let that sink in for a moment… Jesus was sent and wanted to be sent to restore the relationship that was broken because of us.

Communion:

This morning as we think about what Jesus has done for us…

[[Worship team]]

Isaiah 53 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Can any of us honestly say, “I deserve to be saved. I deserve to be rescued.”

Romans 7:24 ESV

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Filthy Man- Least of These

Filthy man was I, who took his walk in stride Clearly it would take more effort than I had thought Brought out from the darkest place, and put into the light God had His hands on me all the time God had His hands on me all the time Stubborn man was I, who pushed His hands aside I don't need Your grace, I can do this on my own I don't need Your grace, I can do this on my own I don't need Your grace, I can do this on my own What a lost man was I, stuck in my own ways What a lost man was I, stuck in my What a lost man was I, who was stuck in my own ways But I understand the cross, and what its done Filthy man was I Stubborn man was I Filthy man was I Stubborn man was I Filthy man was I Stubborn man was I Filthy man was I Stubborn man was

Romans 7:24–25a (ESV)

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

1 Peter 2:22–25 ESV

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Corinthians 11:24 ESV

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

[Prayer for the bread]

1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

[Prayer for the cup]

Family it is a wonderful think to partake of communion together with you. If you have some time stick around and enjoy some fellowship and some donuts. Let us encourage each other as we see The Day drawing near.

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.