Hebrews; Chapter 5
UNDERSTANDING OUR HIGH PRIEST!
Part I
{Verses 1-14}
[8-1-10]
Review:
Hebrews 4:13-16) [GNB] There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves.
14) [GNB] Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God—Jesus, the Son of God.
15) [GNB] Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.
16) [GNB] Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.
QUESTION: If God sees everything we do, and hears everything we say and think, then what are we to do?
ANSWER: Here’s what we’re to do:
1. We’re to keep on believing in the God of mercy and grace.
2. We’re to understand that God has compassion on us in the area of our weaknesses.
3. We’re to constantly run to God’s throne to find His grace that will help us when we need it.
On To This Week’s Lesson:
Hebrews 5:1-4) [GNB] Every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins.
2) [GNB] Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes.
3) [GNB] And because he is himself weak, he must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins.
4) [GNB] No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God’s call that a man is made a high priest—just as Aaron was.
QUESTION: According to verse 1 “every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men;” who does the choosing?
ANSWER: According to verse 4 God does the choosing.
QUESTION: How did that choosing work after Aaron died?
ANSWER: God chose the Levites to be priests unto Him, and from the Levites He chose the family of Aaron to serve as high priests. Consequently, after Aaron died his son became high priest; and so on.
QUESTION: Since each high priest from the family of Aaron was weak, suffering from the same human condition that you and I suffer from, what 2 things should have followed suit?
ANSWER: 1) He should have been gentle with those who made mistakes, and 2), he needed to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people.
QUESTION: How does this compare with the Priesthood of Jesus Christ?
ANSWER: 1) Though the high priests of Israel often felt privileged, and above the people, Jesus feels actual compassion for us, who often give in to the human condition. 2) Jesus never had to offer any sacrifice for His own sins because He never sinned.
Hebrews 5:5-6) [GNB] In the same way, Christ did not take upon himself the honor of being a high priest. Instead, God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
6) [GNB] He also said in another place, “You will be a priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.”
NOTE: The priesthood of Jesus is of far greater glory than the priesthood of the house of Aaron because:
AARON’S PRIESTHOOD: JESUS’ PRIESTHOOD:
1. The descendents of Aaron succeeded 1. Jesus was appointed High Priest on the one another as high priest based on basis of being God’s Son.
being a son of the one they replaced.
2. They were all sinners, so they had to 2. Jesus never sinned so the sacrifice He
offer sacrifices for their own sins, as offered was only for the sins of mankind.
well as for the sins of the people.
3. They offered unblemished animals 3. Jesus offered Himself as an unblemished
as sin offerings. offering for the sins of mankind.
4. They only served until they died. 4. Jesus ever lives to make intercession for
us.
Hebrews 5:7) [GNB] In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him.
[MSG] While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him.
Concerning “made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God,”
“The agony of Gethsemane is meant. It was then that he said, ‘If it is possible, let this cup pass from me.’ Even there he was heard. For an angel descended to strengthen him”[PNT].
Matthew 26:39) [GNB] He went a little farther on, threw himself face downward on the ground, and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering from me! Yet not what I want, but what you want.”
NOTE: His prayers were answered because He wanted His Father’s will to be done, not His fleshly will.