February 16, 2003
First Church of the Brethren
H. Kevin Derr
Hebrews 4:15-5:10
“A High Priest worthy of our Faith”
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let
us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help us in our time of need. 1Every high priest is selected from among men and is
appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is
subject to weakness. 3This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the
sins of the people. 4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as
Aaron was. 5So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But
God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 6And he says in another
place,“ You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7During the days of Jesus’ life
on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could
save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was
a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the
source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest
in the order of Melchizedek.
When we hear the name Jesus, we do not often ruth to think of Jesus as our High Priest.
We often seem to avoid thinking of Jesus in terms that reflect the Old Covenant. And there is,
here, in the Author of Hebrews thought, the powerful notion that the Old Covenant is past and
that the New Covenant is now upon us. You will see it here in today’s text that a new priesthood
has replaced the Old. The Old Covenant is typified by the priesthood of Aaron, Moses brother,
and the first priest of the tabernacle and later the temple. It was the line of Aaron who supplied
all the priests up to the time of the destruction of Herod’s temple in 70 A.D.
Yet, we see a new order of the priesthood established, or perhaps it would be better to
say re-established. The new priesthood is of the Order of Melchizedek. It is in this line that
Jesus is the new High Priest. You’ll no doubt remember that Melchizedek appears in Genesis
14, and in truth he has a small role. He is the King of Salem, or the King of Peace, but he is also
identified as the High Priest of God Most High. More than this we do not know anything of him,
he has no family listed, he has no genealogy, he is not a servant of Abram, he is in fact a King in
his own right. And at the same time a High Priest. He precedes the law, the covenant of
circumcision. After this account, Melchizedek who’s name meas King of Righteousness,
disappears from all biblical accounts, that is until the priestly line of Melchizedek is again re-
established with the High Priesthood of Jesus, a priesthood with no law, no temple.
Prayer
I. Jesus, our High Priest, who has gone through the heavens, knows us, and if fact has been
through the difficulties of humanity.
A. The author of Hebrews tells us something very important. He writes, 15For we do not
have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have
one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
1. Jesus, our High Priest, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses
A. He knows and has experienced, temptation just as we have been
B. Yet, Jesus was without sin
2. We have a High Priest, who knows temptation, but has not yielded to
temptation, has not been overwhelmed by sin.
3. So there is a clear understanding on Jesus part of the frustrations of life that we
know, perhaps not the same, I doubt Jesus was tempted with a new Mercedes,
but yet, he would know the temptations of status, greed, and the like.
B. There is a strong sense that the sympathy of our High Priest affords us access and that
he has a real solidarity with us. The Author of Hebrews continues on in Vs. 16 of
Chapter 4 with, 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
1. Jesus humanity, his experience of temptation and his knowledge of our
weakness, provides an avenue of approach, a means of help.
2. Since we have this High Priest, let’s approach the throne of Grace, this is the
only time in the scriptures that this title appears
A. So what is the Throne of Grace?
B. It may be a direct illusion to the Mercy Seat, the cover or lid of the Ark
of the Covenant
1. However, that would place the new High Priest in the Old
Temple that was likely destroyed by the time that this sermon-
letter was written.
2. This not, in my mind the best understanding of this phrase
C. I think the better reference here is to the Heavenly original that the
Mercy Seat was copied from, in other words, God’s Heavenly Throne
1. This is more in keeping with the High Priest who has passed
through the Heavens
2. And it is to the Throne of Grace, God’s heavenly throne that we
are prompted to come and receive grace and mercy
A. You will notice, that the Author respectfully avoids
using or even mentioning God’s name in regard to this,
and yet, what is intended is easily understood.
B. We see tradition respect in regard to God’s name, this
letter is written by and to those who draw heavily upon
the traditions of Israel and the imagery of the Old
Covenant
3. There is a very bold assurance in this verse, that we, we who are followers of
Jesus can approach the very throne of God, not meekly, not with terror, but
with confidence. It is a powerful juxtaposition, the God’s who’s name we do
not say, we can approach his throne, the throne where he dispenses justice and
mercy, and we can come with confidence that he will not only hear our
requests, but that we will receive mercy and grace in our time of need.
A. Our God is approachable, knowable, and he is willing to aid his people
B. We are in fact urged to come and to receive God’s mercy and grace
II. We are assured that we can come to God’s throne, now the Author of Hebrews tells us why.
Because of our High Priest.
A. He writes, 1Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to
represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
1. The role of the High Priest is to be the mediator between God and his people.
He represents the people in matters related to God
2. The High Priest, offers gifts and sacrifices on behalf of the people to God
3. Remember though, that the High Priest is selected from among men, from
among the people of God
B. He continues speaking about the general role of the High Priest, he writes, 2He is able
to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is
subject to weakness.
1. The High Priest is with the people, whether they are ignorant, going astray or
what ever the case may be, the High Priest is able to “deal gently” with the
people, not specifically because mercy is one of his qualities, but because he is
just like them, subject to weakness
2. Since he is subject to weakness, he knows their state
C. The High Priest’s weakness must be addressed we are told, 3This is why he has to
offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
1. Before the High Priest could offer gifts and sacrifices for the people he had to
offer sacrifices for his own sin
2. To offer for the people, he had to first take care of his own relationship with
the Living God
3. This is the condition of the priesthood of Aaron.
D. The author of Hebrews continues, 4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be
called by God, just as Aaron was.
1. There is likely a slight comment concerning the choosing of the High Priest
after the Macabean Revolt, when the Macabean family assumed the High
Priesthood rather than returning it to the Levitical Priests
2. It was likely the reason for the Essen Community at the Dead sea, and spoke of
corruption in the Priesthood
3. The true High Priest needed to be called by God, and not assumed by anyone
on their own initiative
E. Jesus is different, and the Author of Hebrews tells us, he writes, 5So Christ also did
not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 6And he says in another
place,“ You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
1. Jesus did not assume the role of High Priest, it is given to him by God, but the
first qualification is not a decree that Jesus the High Priest, but rather the
Author of Hebrews returns to one of his early quotes. “You are my Son; today
I have become your Father.”
A. A statement coming from the kingship, not from the priesthood, it is a
quotation from a psalm used at the enthronement of a Davidic King
B. So, the Author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is the King, but he
then adds to this with the following words
C. “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”
1. Not a priest from Aaron’s line
2. But rather a High Priest and King from Salem, and Jesus is first
identified as a Davidic King and now as a High Priest from a
line before Moses, from before the Law, a High Priest who even
predated the practice of Circumcision
2. Jesus is now a Priest and King from a time before the Law was given
F. Why has Jesus been chosen to be both King and High Priest? 7During the days of
Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to
the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent
submission.
A. Jesus’ life on earth was marked by his submission to the Living God
1.Because of his submission, his prayers and petitions and loud cries were
heard
2. Again it returns us to the theme of obedience, he was heard because he
was obedient
B. We are quickly reminded, that faith is obedience
III. Which brings us to the close of the section, Jesus suffered, and was perfected, made whole
by suffering, and thus qualified to be both King and High Priest. 8Although he was a son, he
learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source
of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in
the order of Melchizedek.
A. Although he was a son, sons still need preparation for their calling, Jesus was no
different
1. He learned obedience from what he suffered
2. We don’t often think that suffering is good, that pain does nothing for us, and
yet it was the means of learning obedience for Jesus as well as what made him
perfect, what made him whole and complete, ready for the task that God has
called him to, both King and High Priest
B. We too will experience suffering, pain and frustrations through life, and while they are
never pleasant, never delightful, they hold the possibilities of producing in us
maturity, bring us toward obedience and ultimately toward perfection
1. We have not been designated as High Priests, yet, our role is as that of a
priesthood of all believers
2. What we experience is in effect God’s preperation for a calling in life, one we
may realize now, or may realize in the future.
3. So, I would encurage you to reconsider the times of suffering and pain in your
life, be the past or current, and open your hearts to see what God is working in
your heart and in your life, for God will use these things to bring you toward
perfection.
Amen.
