Hebrews 5
July 2
Reading: Hebrews 5
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.
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.
In Hebrews we have learned that Christ is superior to the angels, that Christ is better than Moses, that Christ is better than Joshua and David. (Hebrews 4:6-7) In the final verses of Hebrews 4 we have been learning that Jesus, the Son of God is our “Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens” who has been tempted yet is without sin and so can really help us. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Now in Hebrews 5 we learn that His priesthood is superior to the Levitical Priesthood.
Hebrews 5:1-4 tells us of the Levitical priesthood that was initially led by Aaron serving under Moses. The job of a priest, under the Law that we read in Exodus and Leviticus, was to serve as a mediator between God and man. Man was sinful and could not just walk into a relationship with God without being destroyed, so the priests would bring various sacrifices to atone for the sins of people, including themselves. The priests were mediators of the Old Covenant.
- Jesus is a priest who, like those Levitical priests, can relate to us in our sin because He was tempted, suffered, prayed, and cried just like us. (vss. 7-8)
- But He is a priest who has died and risen again. Therefore, His priesthood is forever, “the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (vs. 9)
- He is a priest that supersedes all other priests. (vs. 10) Melchizedek was the priest-king of Salem (the site of future Jeru-salem) to whom Abraham brings offerings in Genesis 14. He was not serving under any regulation or covenant but simply a “priest of God Most High.”
In verses 11-14 the author closes the chapter with a rebuke that will prepare us for the warning of chapter 6. Those to whom he is writing, these Jewish believers, are not giving proper attention to their study of the Old Testament Scriptures. They ought to be feeding themselves from the Word, practicing their faith, and teaching others; but their unteachableness means that they are still baby Christians. They are resistant, lazy learners.
What responsibility are you taking for your growth in faith, service, and understanding God’s Word? Do you have a mentor? Do you have a plan? Are you carrying out your plan?