Morning Message: Our Great High Priest

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Our Great High Priest"

Written by:  Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Coming into this world was just the first thing Jesus was called to do as the Word became flesh, prophesied of in Isaiah 7:14. Placing Himself below the angels, Jesus had been raised under the authority of His own creation, descendants of Adam and Eve. But all the things He endured pertained to God, and how He was to bless the world with sacrifices and gifts that He might pass down to His creation, and to their descendants.

The Hebrews to whom this Epistle is addressed are described as being “dull of hearing” in this chapter (5:11). This euphemism describes their inability to grasp the meaning and purposes for the words of God. We find it also in Matthew 13:15 and Acts 28:27 as well. Their hearts were “gross,” or fat, their ears cannot hear, and eyes cannot see. And it is indeed understandable, according to I Corinthians 2:13-14, for they lack the Holy Spirit. Their hearts had become prideful and lifted up because they were God’s Chosen People. His favor was surely upon them, but what did God choose them for? For what purpose, or cause? Why were they special to God?

The Jews were special because God’s purpose for them was to bring forth a Redeemer for all mankind, both Jew and Gentile alike. In and of themselves, they were like every other people, vulnerable to all of Satan’s temptations. If, as it says in Hebrews 5:1, that Jesus was about the things that pertained to His Father, then it is with Him that we are to find our redemption. The glorious prophecies of redemption and salvation can be fulfilled only by our Lord and Savior, and no one else!

“Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?” - Isaiah 40:21

Bobservations' Column: Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Hebrews 5:1-14 - "Our Great High Priest

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

The letter is written to Jewish Christians under immense pressure, likely facing persecution and tempted to revert to the familiar and tangible system of Judaism. Central to Judaism was the Temple, the sacrificial system, and the Aaronic priesthood, culminating in the High Priest's entry into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. The author's argument for Jesus as a superior High Priest directly addresses this core element of their former faith. By proving Jesus's priesthood is not only valid but transcendent, the author aims to prevent apostasy and strengthen their Christian commitment.

The writer of Hebrews has established that we have a great high priest in Jesus who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because he became like us. Thus, rather than being in fear, we are able to approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find the grace we need to help in our time of need.

Hebrews chapter 5 contrasts the temporary Aaronic priesthood with the eternal, superior high priesthood of Jesus Christ. It establishes the essential qualifications for a high priest—divine appointment and human solidarity in weakness—and demonstrates how Christ perfectly fulfills them. He was not a self-appointed priest but was divinely designated according to the order of Melchizedek. His qualification came through His incarnation and profound suffering, which perfected His obedience and made Him the source of eternal salvation. The chapter concludes with a sharp rebuke to the readers for their spiritual immaturity, which hinders their ability to grasp these deeper theological truths.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Gifts and Sacrifices (5:1) - The first term might refer to the grain offerings under the Old Covenant, which were for thanksgiving or dedication.  The second term refers to the blood offerings for the expiation of sins (see Leviticus 1-5).  The term "gifts" is used in 8:4 to refer to all of the various sacrifices. 

Have Compassion (5:2) - This verb occurs only here in the New Testament.  It carries the idea of maintaining a controlled by gentle attitude in the treatment of those who are spiritually ignorant and wayward.  Impatience, loathing, and indignation have no part in priestly ministry.  Such moderation and gentleness come from realizing one's own human frailty.  The priest would be reminded of his own sinful humanity every time he offered sacrifices for his own sins (v.3).

Called by God (5:4) - A high priest was selected and called by God into service 9cf. Exodus 28; Numbers 16:1-40; 1 Samuel 16:1-3).

Melchizedek (5:6) - As king of Salem and priest of the Most High God in the time of Abraham, he was also a kin-priest (Genesis 14:18-20).  The Melchizedekian priesthood is discussed in detail in chapter 7.

Who (5:7) - The subsequent context makes it clear that this refers back to Christ, the main subject in verse 5.  In Gethsemane, Jesus agonized and wept, but committed Himself to do the Father's will in accepting the cup of suffering which would bring His death (Matthew 26:38-46; Luke 22:44, 45).  Anticipating bearing the burden of judgment for sin, Jesus felt its fullest pain and grief (cf. Isaiah 52:14; 53:3-5. 10).  Though He bore the penalty in silence and did not seek to deliver Himself from it (Isaiah 53:7), He did cry out from the agony of the fury of God's wrath poured on His perfectly holy and obedient person (Matthew 27:46; cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21).  Jesus asked to be saved from remaining in death, to be resurrected (cf. Psalm 16:9, 10).

Learned Obedience (5:8) - Christ did not need to suffer in order to conquer or correct any disobedience.  IN His deity (as the Son of God), He understood obedience completely.  As the incarnate Lord, He humbled Himself to learn (cf. Luke 2:52).  He learned obedience for the same reasons.  He bore temptation:  to confirm His humanity and experience its sufferings to the fullest.  Christ's obedience was also necessary so that He could fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15) and thus prove to be the perfect sacrifice to take the place of sinners (1 Peter 3:18).  He was the perfectly righteous One, whose righteousness would be imputed to sinners (cf. Romans 324-26).

Perfected...author of Eternal Salvation (5:9) - Because of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ and His perfect sacrifice for sin, He became the cause of salvation.

Obey Him (5:9) - True salvation evidences itself in obedience to Christ, from the initial obedience to the gospel command to repent and believe (cf. Acts 5:32; Romans 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 1:2, 22; 4:17) to a life patter of obedience to the Word (cf. Romans 6:16).

Of Whom (5:11) - An alternate translation would be "of which" (Meaning the relationship of Christ's high priesthood to that of Melchizedek).  Verse 11 appears to introduce the entire section from 5:11-6:12. The same Greek verb become forms brackets around the section: "become dull" (v. 11) and "become sluggish" (6:12).

Dull (5:11) - The Hebrews' spiritual lethargy and slow response to gospel teaching prevented additional teaching at this time.  This is a reminder that failure to appropriate the truth of the gospel produces stagnation in spiritual advancement and the inability to understand or assimilate additional teaching (John 16:12).  

Teachers (5:12) - Every believer is to be a teacher (Colossians 3:16; 1 Peter 3:15; cf. Deuteronomy 6:7; 2 Timothy 3:15).  If these Hebrews had really obeyed the gospel of Christ, they would have been passing that message on to others.  The Jews were instructed in the law and prided themselves on the fact that they taught the law, but had not really understood or appropriated its truths to themselves (Romans 2:17-23).

Oracles (5:12) - These are contained in the Olt Testament Scripture, which had laid the foundation for the gospel and had been committed into the care of the Hebrews (Romans 3:1, 2).  

Milk (5:12, 13) - Knowledge without obedience does not advance a person.  In fact, by rejecting saving faith, the Hebrews were regressing in their understanding about the Messiah.  They had long enough been exposed to the gospel to be teaching it to others, but were babies, too infantile and unskilled to comprehend, let alone teach, the truth of God.

Word of Righteousness (5:13) - The is the message about the righteousness of Christ which we have by faith (Romans 3:21,22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Titus 3:5).  The phrase is equivalent to the gospel of salvation by faith rather than works.

Of Full Age (5:14) - The same Greek root is translated "perfection" in 6:1 and is elsewhere translated "perfect" (7:11, 19, 28; 9:9; 10:1, 14; 11: 40; 12:23).  It is used in Hebrews as a synonym for salvation, the completion which comes when a person becomes a believer in Christ, rather than referring to a Christian who has become mature as is typical. 

Exercised (5:14) - The deeper, more "solid" truths about the priesthood of the Lord Jesus could only be given to those who knew Him as savior.  The person who has come to Christ for spiritual completion is then trained by the Word to discern truth from error and holy behavior from unholy (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17).