Hebrews 5:1-14 (KJV)
1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
>A child has this incredible talent = where they can listen yet they will not hear.
>Have you ever listened to a sermon, but not really hear a sermon.
Mark 4:8-9 (KJV) “And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
James 1:22 (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
It can reach you ears and not heart.
It can reach your heart, but not your life.
I can attest to the fact that I have heard many message that I didn't hear; and I have heard messages that I heard – knew I needed action – but in foolishness walked away not doing anything about what I was – knowing who I needed to be.
The writer of Hebrews is dealing with the Work of Christ
But greater than Just the Work of Christ. He is dealing with the Work of Christ in the life of a believer.
Notice this Scripture:
He gives five qualifications of men being a high priest:
i. The High Priest must be anointed by God (v1)
ii. The High Priest must offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (V1)
iii. The High Priest must deal with men with compassion (v2)
iv. The High Priest must offer sacrifices for His Own Sins (V3)
v. The High Priest must be God-appointed and not self-appointed (V4) ~ As Aaron
The Pastorate today should never be about a Career. It’s always about a calling. The pastor is established and ordained and appointed by God.
Five Qualifications for the GREAT HIGH PRIEST:
1. Christ was begotten or born as a man (v5)
2. Christ Sacrificed HIMSELF (V7)
Probably a picture of Gethsemane
When he prayed so strongly – it was like great drops of blood
3. Christ willingly sacrificed Himself and suffered for man (V7)
4. Christ was Perfect: He is the Author of Salvation (V9)
5. Christ was appointed High priest by God: Salvation is of God (V10)
In the comparison of the failure of the Human High Priest.
To the GREAT HIGH PRIEST.
The Savior of the WORLD.
The writer is rebuking this church for their lack of growth.
>It wasn't because they had no resources
>It wasn't because they had no help
>It wasn't because they had no power
>They had the Great High Priest > so do we.
The Problem was they were not listening.
They were not digesting the TRUTH OF THE BIBLE.
“THEY WERE DULL OF HEARING”
The Word dull here means “lazy or sluggish”
Hebrews 6:11-12 (KJV)
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Interesting.
Listening to the Bible takes work.
Listening to the Bible takes effort.
I know you are tired on Wednesday.
I do not preach long.
I know that hearing Truth – takes Work.
>They were lazy in their Christian life.
>because of that were not growing
>When they should have been teaching others
>”One must teach you again”
>You were told and had not obeyed
>>Think how strong a Christian you and I would be tonight if we always walked in truth?
2 John 1:4 (KJV)
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
WALKING IN TRUTH BRINGS REJOICING. BRINGS A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP. BRINGS REWARDS. BRINGS READINESS FOR JESUS.
1. FIRST COMMANDS (V12)
Hebrews 5:12 (KJV)
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
First principles" (stoicheia tēs archēs PWS: 1514) means the basic principles of God's Word, the elementary teachings, the ABC's of God's Word.
They are the very basic teachings of salvation and of spiritual growth, such teachings as...
2. a person should be saved
3. a person should grow spiritually
4. a person should live righteously
5. a person should worship God
6. s person should read their Bible
7. a person should pray
8. a person should tell others about Jesus
9. a person should care about the lost
These simple Bible principles were being missed.
The writer calls them lazy listeners.
2. FAITHLESS CHILDREN (V13)
Hebrews 5:12-13 (KJV)
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
A Baby Christian is not a title for those who have been saved a certain amount of years.
A baby Christian is a title for those who cannot even be faithful at the first principles of the Bible.
1 John 1:5-10 (KJV)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Walk in the LIGHT.
Ephesians 5:11-16 (KJV)
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
We are walk in Light
God will give us light
But we must be aware of the light He gives
We must redeem the time – and walk in light
There are so many Christians that never get NEW light from God because they are battling the simple – basics – of the Christian life.
>>The basics that we ought to be teaching others.
>>We are baby believers in our walk with God.
3. FULL-GROWN CHRISTIANS (V14)
Hebrews 5:14 (KJV)
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
There are two definitions we need to understand:
Strong meat – Solid food. This would be steak. Hard truths that God slaps you right in the face.
Have you ever read the Bible or listened to a sermon and said, “I need to change that.” And did it.
>You disciplined yourself
>you make some changes
>You worked at it
> God’s grace won victory?
Full age: A maturity. A complete Christian.
Perfection in the Christian life is impossible. Maturity in the Christian life is very much attainable.
1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
>There is a process
>You are not mature instantly
>ye will suffer a while
Hebrews 5:8-9 (KJV)
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Jesus, in all the experiences he faced, matured mentaily; physicallty – by the experiences of life.
Though HE was perfect – sinless.
He still grew in favor with men and God.
How do we become mature?
By exercising his mental and spiritual senses
A person has to exercise his mind and spirit.
He cannot be lazy and slothful, comfortable and complacent—neither mentally nor spiritually.
He has to be alert and alive to control and discipline himself.
He has to exert energy and effort, to concentrate and focus his mind and life upon Jesus Christ and His salvation and mission and purpose.
>Maturity in the Christian life isn’t something you trip over going to church.
>Maturity in the Christian life isn’t something you are just given because you have been a Christian for 10 – 20 years
>Maturity is earned.
Are you a mature Christian?
Do you want to be a mature Christian?
What is god doing in your life – will you learn submission to Him.
