Our Atoning High Priest

Introduction

Good morning again. Go ahead and open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 5. We’re just going to dive right in. Today’s passage is actually a continuation of the thought that the author of Hebrews began in chapter 4, verse 14 that my friend Monda covered last week. The author continues on with giving an explanation of why the Hebrew Christians and we as well can hold fast to our confession. The reason that he gives is because we have such a great and superior high priest in Jesus Christ. If you’ll recall, this letter was originally probably a sermon delivered to Hebrew Christians who were being pressured and tempted to step back from their faith in Jesus and revert back to the Old Covenant Jewish ways. The author of Hebrews is giving them reason after reason why they should not do this and instead should hold fast to their confession of Christ.

Lord willing, my goal is that you would see the role and qualifications of the high priest, how Jesus fills that role, and what that means for us as we follow Him daily.

Follow along as I read from Hebrews chapter 5, verses 1 through 10.

Read

Hebrews 5:1–10 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.” 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.

This is the Word of the Lord. Let’s pray and ask God to help us understand it.

PRAY

I. The Roll of the High Priest

In order to understand Jesus’ activity as our high priest, we need to look at what the roll of the high priest was.

The office of high priest was hereditary, in that you had to be in the line of Aaron to get the role. It was the man in charge of the temple or tabernacle worship. Scripture uses a few different terms to refer to this high priest role.

the priest Exodus 31:10

the anointed priest Leviticus 4:3

chief priest 2 Chronicles 26:20

high priest 2 Kings 12:10

Generally speaking, the high priest served for life. However, sometimes there were political reasons that would end with the removal of the high priest.

In an ideal situation the high priest was someone that was fully committed to the Lord and ritually pure. They were to be always ready to do the Lord’s will. We read in scripture that there was a special level of holiness that was required of the one serving as high priest. These qualifications are found in Leviticus. This means that he had to steer clear of contact with the dead to avoid being defiled. This would also include his own parents if they died. Outside signs of mourning were also forbidden. He had to stay in the sanctuary precincts. These limits identified him as someone totally dedicated to the Lord.

If this guy sinned, it brought guilt upon the people. I can’t emphasize how big of a deal this was and how important the first audience for this letter would have realized it was.

The sin offering required for the high priest was the same as that required “if the whole congregation of Israel commits error”.

When it was time to consecrate the high priest there was an elaborate process. It was a seven day ritual which involved special baths, dressing in special garments, which I’ll get to in a moment, and anointing with oil and with blood.

Let me read from the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary about the garments of the high priest.

The special garments of the high priest included a blue robe with an ornate hem decorated with gold bells and embroidered pomegranates, an ephod of fine linen with colorful embroidered work and shoulder straps bearing stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes, a breastplate with twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes, and a linen turban with a gold plate inscribed “Holy to Yahweh” (Exod. 28:4–39; 39:1–31; Lev. 8:7–9). The engraved plate and the stones engraved with the tribal names highlight the role of the high priest as the holy representative of all Israel before the Lord (Exod. 28:12, 29). In his “breastpiece of judgment,” the high priest kept the sacred lots, the Urim and Thummim, which were used to inquire of the Lord (Exod. 28:29–30; Num. 27:21).

The high priest also took part in the general duties of a priest. He was the only one who was allowed to enter into the holy of holies but only on the Day of Atonement.

The holy of holies or the Most Holy Place was the section of the temple or tabernacle that was separated from the holy place. It was divided from the rest by a curtain or veil. The high priest was the only one who got to go back there and perform as commanded in the Law.

When the high priest died it marked the end of an epoch. If anyone was guilty of involuntary manslaughter they were required to remain in a city of refuge until the high priest died. This position of high priest was a big deal. So much of the lives of the Jewish people hinged around the performance of the duties of the high priest as their representative before God.

In verse two we see some of the qualifications of a high priest.

II. The Qualifications of the High Priest

A. Deal Gently with the Ignorant and Wayward

Ignorant - Those who were ignorant because of their lack of knowledge of God. If you were an Israelite and ignorant of God it was because you were willfully ignorant. Their entire history and culture was built around knowledge of God. Parents were to train their children in the law and meditate on it day and night.

Proverbs 7:1–3 ESV

1 My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

God had set up a system of festivals for them that included public recitation of God’s acts and a public reading of the Law. This was so the Israelites would know and fear Him better. You would really have to work to be ignorant of God in this situation. You would be deliberately disregarding and forsaking God’s law. I wonder if this might describe someone here. Does this describe where your heart has been dwelling? Would you repent and turn to Jesus for new life?

He must also deal gently with the wayward. Your translation might use the word astray. Think of this wayward person as someone who has allowed themselves to wander from the things of God. This may not be an outright rebellion as the ignorant person but someone who wanders in their thoughts or habits. Maybe you see yourself in this today. Maybe you would say, yes pastor, that describes where I am at in my life. I beg of you to repent and trust the good news of the gospel and let Jesus deal gently with you.

The high priest is able to identify with both the ignorant and the wayward because he was also a human and as a finite being was also beset with weaknesses. He was able to deal with gentleness and compassion toward these kinds of people because he understands what it is to be wayward or ignorant and tempted in those ways.

B. Able to sympathize

The high priest was not only able to sympathize with the people because he understood what they experienced but he actually had to offer up sacrifices for his sin BEFORE he could offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. Before he could go into the holy place, he had to deal with his own sin. It was to the point that he couldn’t even enter the presence of God on behalf of the people prior to offering atonement for his own sin.

C. Divinely appointed

The priesthood was not a volunteer position. Aaron, who was the first high priest, did not fill out an application and submit it online. He didn’t go through an interview. He was not elected by the people either. He was called by God to be the high priest. Being called by God emphasizes the element of servanthood and humility that marked the position of high priest. It was a high honor but was not characterized by exalting yourself but a motivation to serve.

III. Jesus' ordination was superior to other high priests’ ordinations

First, let’s look at Jesus’ superior ordination

The ordination of a hp - elaborate process

Why Jesus’s was superior - He is the Son of God. (passed through the heavens)

He did not assume to role of his own but was appointed to it by God. Jesus is like the other high priests in that He was appointed by God. The quote there is is from Psalm 2:7

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.

Jesus did not seek His own glory but to bring glory to the Father by completing His mission. He was obedient in his acceptance of his role. This keeps with what we read about Jesus in Philippians 2.

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-He did not aspire to greatness as we do…

He exhibited perfect humility and proper attitude…

Yet He understands what we go through…

IV. Jesus' was able to greater sympathize than regular high priests.

Jesus has a superior sympathy. Last week we heard that Jesus is able to sympathize with us. He can do so even greater than the other high priests because the one who has been tempted but never given in can fully understand temptation.

Jesus is able to sympathize with what we go through. He understands our weaknesses better than we do and He understands our great need before Holy God.

A moment on Melchizedek

What’s the deal with Melchizedek?

What does he have to do with the priesthood of Jesus? He’s only mentioned twice in the Old Testament. He pops up in Genesis and then again in Psalm 110. Our first introduction to him is in Genesis 14:17-24

Genesis 14:17–24 ESV

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

Melchizedek is pretty mysterious. He was king of Salem. He’s a Gentile and living in a pagan territory. Kind of Salem means King of Righteousness. We are going to look at this mysterious character a little more as we get further into the book of Hebrews.

In the passage in Genesis we see Melchizedek, who is a king, doing something that wasn’t common to kings in the offering of bread and wine. He is identified as a priest of God Most High. For some mysterious reason God had appointed a priest for himself from a foreign people. God brings this king to Abraham with whom God has an established covenant. He blesses Abraham and Abe’s response is to give him a tenth of everything. At that point Melchizedek is gone from the story and doesn’t appear again until his mention in Psalm 110.

Psalm 110 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. 7 He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.

It’s important when we come to a mysterious character like this to remember not to get too derailed by the mystery because this passage isn’t ultimately about him. It’s about Jesus.

As with much prophecy, there is an immediate fulfillment and a later, ultimate fulfillment. So immediately David’s rule fulfilled this but the ultimate fulfillment came through David’s line in the person of Jesus Christ.

The reference to “a priest forever,” points to the messianic nature of Christ’s priesthood and it distinguishes his priesthood from others. The other high priests service ended because eventually they would die. But Jesus’s priesthood never ends because He rose from the dead, never to die again and He rules forever. Why would it say Jesus was a priest in the order of Melchizedek then? Because Mel was chosen by God. Jesus’ priesthood, is born “according to the order” - out of the sovereignty of God. It is a priesthood chosen by God, called by God, and for His glory.

And what did our high priest do?

V. Our high priest secures our salvation by His substitutionary death.

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.

Jesus was our go between.

He was our substitute.

He represented us before God.

-His perfect life.

-His death in our place for our sin.

-Raised as firstfruit.

He stood condemned in our place, standing as a substitute for sinners so that we can be reconciled to God and glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Jesus is the only one who has everything necessary to be our superior and great High Priest. He is the only o ne who could accomplish this and He did it perfectly and permanently. He knew there was no other way. He saw the depth of the chasm of sin between God and man and He willingly stepped in as our great high priest.

What does this mean?

The very Son of God has been our go between. Not just some man but the perfect God-man. We can go straight to God because our great high priest offered a final sacrifice for sin. Himself on the cross. Not only that but He was raised from the dead three days later and has ascended into heaven and sits at the very right hand of God. We can boldly approach the throne because our high priest has made that way open for us.

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple that separated the holy place from the most holy place was torn from top to bottom. There was no longer a need for another go between because Jesus was the permanent and superior go between for God and man. His death made it possible for us to go boldly before the throne of God. He continues to be our high priest and mediator between God and man.

Application and call for response:

This is why we can hold fast. It’s why we can draw near as we saw in the previous section. Jesus is not just the reason for us to draw near and hold fast but He is the very reason why we can hold fast and draw near.

James Boice commented this:

“The reason the saints will persevere is that Jesus has done everything necessary for their salvation. Since he has made a perfect atonement for their sin and since God has sworn to accept Jesus’ work, the believer can be as certain that he or she will be in heaven as that Jesus himself will be there.” - James Boice

I told you at the beginning of this sermon that this passage is connected with the previous one where we are told to hold fast and boldly approach. In both of those instances the author says, “let us...” He included himself in this. He’s not on some holy roller high horse about how much better he is. He includes himself because he knows the danger that all of his readers face and the danger he faces is that we would not hold fast or that we would not boldly approach the throne of grace even though those of us who have repented of sin and trusted in the gospel of Jesus Christ can freely do anytime we so desire. He knows the danger of drift. He knows the danger of mounting pressure from the world and the culture around us to just fit in and go along with what is popular. And he would say loudly to us to not give in.

Hold fast. Hold firm to your boldness, confidence and boast in Christ to the end. Hold to your confession. F.F. Bruce tells us that the title Son of God is used in relation to the confession. In context, Jesus being designated as the Son of God echoes that confession. It’s the confession of the gospel, that Jesus is the Son of God. Hold fast to it. By the strength of the Lord, hold fast to Him!

Boldly approach the throne of grace. Only because of Jesus being our high priest and our substitutionary sacrifice can approach with what we heard last week, persistent, confident prayer.

I don’t know where you are this morning. You might be one of those in the camp of ignorance and running from God’s ways. You might be in the camp of being wayward and wandering away in your habits and thoughts. Maybe you have not been approaching the throne of grace with confidence because you just don’t know where you are at with your relationship with God. Whatever your need is this morning, Jesus is able to deal gently with you. Will you come to Him. Will you repent of whatever sin is in your life and trust His goodness, His love, and His completed work on the cross?

Let’s pray.

Pray.