Heb 5
Introduction
There have already been three references in Hebrews to Christ as our high-priest in the preceding chapters:
- 2:17 in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High-priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
- 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High-priest of our confession, Christ Jesus
- 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High-priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High-priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
These references emphasise, as indeed does the rest of this book, the excellence and pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus. Never was there, never can there be, another who is so glorious, so worthy of love, honour and respect. As we have seen in the earlier chapters He is not only the Son of God (4:14), but became one of us, facing and overcoming the same trials and temptations that we face for He always remained pure, without sin (4:15) and holy (7:26).
The gorgeous priestly garments, the solemn ceremony, the grandeur of the temple with its dramatic rituals had a strong hold on the Jewish imagination. It resulted in a powerful prejudice against the simple, spiritual system which superseded it. This is not just a matter of historical interest because the same attitudes are still common in our society and hold a firm sway upon Catholics, not to mention most other religions with their emphasis on impressive ritual and physical splendour.
We need to understand that God cares infinitely more about the spiritual reality (our motives and our hearts) than pretty or dramatic ritual. Why do people imagine God to be so shallow as to be swayed by ritual? It is as absurd as a woman who cares much more about her wedding dress and the grandeur of the reception than about her bridegroom!
This book explains the relationship between the OT priesthood, sacrifices and tabernacle and the real spiritual truths that they portrayed. In doing so the writer makes it clear that Christ Jesus embodies everything needed by a high-priest without the failings and imperfections that belonged to Aaron and the priests that descended from him. We have a more dignified High-priest and the gospel of Christ in its spiritual reality utterly surpasses the Mosaic tabernacle, even with its physical splendour, sacrifices, priesthood and ritual.
Taken from among men v1&2
Chapter 5 begins by considering the qualifications and office of the earthly high-priest. First it reinforces the earlier lesson that He must be taken from among men so that he can sympathize with the weak or ignorant – as we saw a while ago. Having experienced such weakness for himself he can understand how we feel when we face similar problems. Angels can’t do this, for they can’t really understand our physical limitations because they have never shared them, but in Jesus Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses Mt 8:17
The Jewish high-priest was one of the people so he ought to be able to understand the weak and foolish; since he had the same human frailties and was, himself, a sinner. He had experienced temptation, his tendency to give in, sin, and its consequences.
Many years ago a man living in Wales was involved in a tragic mining accident which necessitated the amputation of his right leg. After a period in the hospital, he was given an artificial leg. After it was fitted, the attendant asked him to get up and walk across the floor. Awkwardly, the man struggled to his feet and staggered across the room. Then, dragging himself painfully back to his chair, he slumped into it, utterly exhausted and discouraged.
"That’s not how to do it," said the attendant. "Watch this!" Then he walked gracefully across the floor. "Ah," exclaimed the patient, "It’s all very easy for you because you don’t have any disability."
"Oh, haven’t I?" replied the attendant. "Look." Pulling up his trousers, he showed that he had not one artificial limb, but TWO!
Human leaders and counsellors can only function effectively while they remember their fallibility. When we begin to see ourselves as superior, and this happens all too easily, our usefulness evaporates and we tend to become dictators, rather than helpers. As Abraham Lincoln once said: “I am sorry for the man who can’t feel the whip when it is laid on the other man’s back.” We can’t get the speck out of someone else’s eye when they have to keep ducking to avoid the plank sticking out of our own eye, as Jesus made clear (Lk 6:42). To really help others we must be very conscious of our own fallibility.
1Co 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Gal 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (NIV)
How often times have we let Jesus down, and needed His forgiveness? Seven times, seventy times, seventy times seven? (Mt 18:22) If we were honest it’s probably nearer 707 times – that’s 8 million, million, but we have poor memories when it comes to our own faults! No matter how many times we let Him down His love never fails. How then can we be harsh, unsympathetic and unforgiving to others? May we become more like Him!
To offer sacrifices for sins v3
The Jews of old were taught that men could not directly or personally approach God. We are sinful, He is holy and there is a great chasm between, which no one can bridge. God impressed this awful truth upon Adam and Eve at the very beginning, when sin first entered the world and He drove them out of Eden and stationed an angel, one of the cherubim, with a flaming sword, to keep them out.
But through their high-priest Israel was able to approach God. The priest stood between God and man, representing God and His holy purposes to men, on the one hand, while on the other representing man and his need to God. The priest needed a sacrifice for his own sin as well as for the sin of the people. Christ was both the priest and the sacrifice. He told us about God and represented us to God, but also He gave Himself on the cross in our place, taking the judgement that our sin deserved.
But Jesus was far more than a sacrifice, enduring divine judgment. He was a willing substitute, dying in accordance with His own plan, agreed with the Father before even they created the World, for He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev 13:8. He pressed on until He achieved all that He set out to do and could cry out in triumph, “It is finished!” What wonderful words!
May we never forget the great price at which our salvation was purchased! 18 you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 1Pet 1.
Why did He do this? Because He loved the Church and gave Himself for it – Eph 5:25.
That he may offer gifts v1
This probably refers to the OT offerings that were not actually sacrifices for sin, but expressions of thankfulness and worship to God. Christ did not offer the minimum sacrifice, but went far beyond this in His loving devotion to the Father’s will, bringing much glory and honour to His Father.
His death did not only purchase forgiveness for us, wonderful though that is, but went so much further. We are now much better off than we would have been, even had we never sinned. Think of a few of His gifts: the scriptures, righteousness, the Holy Spirit, heaven and, above all, unstinting, unfailing love.
No man takes this honour to himself
4 no man takes this honour to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High-priest …10 called by God as High Priest
No one could become the High-priest on a whim. He had to come from the right tribe (Levi) and the right family (Aaron’s) and he had to have the qualifications which God prescribed. Sadly by the time of Jesus these rules were little regarded. The office was largely conferred by the Roman rulers.
Yet Christ did not glorify Himself to become High-priest v5 – Jesus was not ambitious; ambition did drive Him to take on the office of high-priest. In John’s gospel Jesus said, referring to Himself: "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him – 7:18 If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing. It is My Father who honours Me – 8:54. He was so unlike modern leaders. I sometimes wonder if we would all be better off if anyone who wants to become an MP were automatically debarred, on the grounds that the last thing we need is another megalomaniac!
In the same way those who are chosen to lead the Church should not be those who push themselves, but those who serve others and honour God. Their attitude must be that of John the Baptist – He must increase, but I must decrease John 3:30. How many Churches have been torn apart through the pride of its leaders or would be leaders. 13 you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! Gal 5
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. …. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:… hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, … 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. …. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
But there was one qualification for priesthood that Jesus did not meet. He was not a descendant of Aaron. His was a new kind of Priesthood – “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek” v6. The writer comes back to this point it in Chapters 6 and 7, so we’ll leave it until later to see what Scripture has to say about Melchizedek.
Eternal salvation
9 having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
I want to jump ahead to verse 9. We have already seen in 2:10 that Jesus is the Captain of salvation to lead us, but before He could lead He must bring about our salvation, and that is why here He is called the author of salvation, this means that He was the ‘cause’ behind it. It was His idea, developed in all eternity past with the Father and then put into effect, by Him, at Calvary for us!
His suffering, and triumph in that suffering made Him the perfect Saviour. He has by his sufferings purchased full deliverance from sin and misery. In this life He gives us peace and purpose and, as for the life to come – Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1Co 2:9. Yet God has given us a glimpse of the wonder that we have to look forward to in Glory. But all the glory of heaven pales into insignificance in comparison with the joy of being with the One who loved me so much that He died in my place.
God doesn’t do things by halves so this salvation is eternal. He doesn’t save men and women to let someone snatch them out of His hand, nor can we change our minds and walk out of His hands. If we could then this might have read He became the author of a 10, 20 or even 50 year long salvation, but it doesn’t say that! He is the author of eternal salvation because He is a priest forever. Though our salvation must always have a beginning it will never have an end, for He will never fail us or let us go. He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him as we shall see, DV, in Heb 7:25
This salvation is, however, only for those who obey Him. It is not enough to know about Christ, or to make a profession of faith. We must also obey him. As Paul put it in Acts 17:30 “God … now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Do you trust Jesus with your life and beyond? Do you know that He died on Calvary’s cross in your place and there paid the penalty for your sin? Have you turned your back on your old way of life and resolved, with His help to love and serve Him?
"Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Isa 45:22
