October 19, 2008

Jesus, The Perfect High Priest
Hebrews 5:1-10

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 honor 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.

J. Wilbur Chapman told the story of one of his friends who grew up with Robert Lincoln, one of Abraham’s son. As he entered the Civil War he went to the front. When Bob Lincoln found out that his friend was a private soldier, he said to an acquaintance “write to him and tell him to write to me and I will intercede with Father and get him something better.”

The young soldier said, “I never took advantage of that offer, but you don’t know what a comfort it was to me. Often after a weary march I’d throw myself down and say ‘ If it becomes beyond endurance, I can call on Bob and get relief.’ I would rather have his intercession than the cabinet because he is Mr. Lincoln’s son.”

In today’s study we see the same motivation held out to those who would find rest, call on the Son because he alone is qualified. We can count on his priesthood to be valid.

We will look at this passage in segments again:

I. The Qualifications of Priesthood. v. 1-4

II The Qualities of Christ v. 5-10

We have come this far in the book of Hebrews, a book which is designed to show the superiority of the New Covenant over the Old, Christianity over Judaism. It is written to a group Jewish believers somewhere outside of Jerusalem to show them they had made the right choice in leaving Judaism behind and accepting Christ. But scattered through the book are warnings to Jewish unbelievers to teach them that Jesus is greater than all of the Old Testament figures and covenants.

But out of these rises a natural question: “If the New Covenant is better than the Old , where is your priesthood? Where is your mediator to God?”

Keep in mind that God is Holy, totally separate from sinners and so from a human viewpoint he is unapproachable , so how can man get to God?

In the Old Testament God chose priests, men who met special qualifications , men who were specially trained, bridge builders to God. This was accomplished as multitudes of priests offered multitudes of sacrifices day after day after day after day.

But in the New Testament the whole priesthood came to an end, done with and only one stands alone as A great high priest. And his one great sacrifice provided an eternal opening into God’s presence. Jesus’ one act accomplished what thousands of sacrifices by thousands of priests had failed to do. He opened a way to God so that any person at any time might, by saving faith in Christ enter into God’s presence and come boldly to God’s throne while there is still time.

So, having stated that we have a high priest in 4: 14 (pontifex maximus) he now proves in Chapters 5-10 How Jesus is eminently, extremely, exceptionally qualified for the task.

So let’s look here in vv 1-4 at The Qualifications for Christ’s Priesthood.

There are 3 qualifications listed here and verses 5-10 show that Jesus Christ fits all of them.

1. A priest represents the people

2. A Priest is sympathetic

3. A Priest is appointed by God.

Look at verse one. <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: > The High Priest is appointed for men., but notice first that he is taken from among men. Why was that? Could an angel be an effective high priest? could an angel understand the pain, misery, woe, sorrow and temptation of a man? NO! So to be a qualified high priest, you had to be a man.

Now keep in mind that this is written to Jews, Jews who had a problem with not only the cross, but with Christ’s incarnation. Here the Holy Spirit explains the why of the incarnation again, this time from the perspective of a priesthood. God had to become man to be the perfect high priest as well as the perfect sacrifice.

Moving on we see he is appointed for men, or in behalf of men. The duty of the high priest is to bring men to God, who since the fall had been unapproachable by men. The Old Testament Jews couldn’t approach God. On Sinai it was “stay away, stay away, and the high priest was the only one with any access to God, and then only once a year on the day of atonement or Yom Kippur.

But Jesus entered the holiest place once for all (10:14) and as Captain of our salvation made the way to God open up for us to come boldly to God’s throne and that entirely on Jesus’ merits.

(1 John 2:1 mercy seat) Think about that!

So we see every high priest is from among men, appointed for men in things pertaining to God to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. What he intends here is clarified further on but seems to refer to the particular sin offering presented each year on the day of atonement, that day when the high priest above all others discharged his sacrificial duty.

Now the priest, in order to worthily fulfill these duties mist not only be attentive to the rituals, but must have an inner frame of mind that befits his sacrifice. He must be sympathetic. 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.

Thought inserted here: If you are in a position to teach others of Christ, you are required to have that same frame of mind. Sympathy for the lost and sinful condition of men, not sympathy that allows sin to go on un-confronted. But as Gal. 6:1 says “restore erring ones with a meek spirit considering yourself lest you are tempted.” and “do not be weary in well doing.” Only one who has been tempted can feel for one who is tempted. Jesus Christ became man and allowed himself to face the Satan and held firm. Why? So he could be your perfect high priest.

So, a high priest must be sympathetic. See that v.3 says in the OT a high Priest had to offer not just for the people, but for his own sins as well. In Leviticus 16:6, before Aaron could sacrifice for the people, he had to make atonement for himself and his family. He knew he lived in the reality of sin and so understood the people. ( 1 john 2:1 we face the reality of sin look at God's ideal vs. the real).

The third qualification of a High Priest is his appointment by God. As Vs. <4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. > NO man can of his own will set himself as high priest, nor can he hold office validly by the gift of any earthly authority.

When Jesus stood before Annas and Caiaphas stood not before GOD’S High Priest but before Rome’s High Priest, appointed by Rome and therefore not God’s High Priests. All of the valid high priests were placed in office by a special call of God. Anointed by God’s people not appointed by the world.

Now the Holy Spirit must show something if he is to sustain his thesis that Jesus is his people’s great high priest he must produce evidence that eh fits the qualifications and he does that in verses 5-10 as we examine:

II The Qualifications of Christ. In verses 5&6 the writer brings this point: Christ was appointed by the Father as both King (PS. 2:7 )and Priest (Ps. 110:4), just like Melchizedek.

Again the Spirit uses Psalm 2:7 as God acclaims Christ as His Son at the time of his enthronement. The day when Jehovah gave public notice that he had exalted the crucified Christ as both Lord and Christ.

And he quotes verse in 6 Psalm 110:4 and applies it to Christ. Now what he says is new to these people.

Some people saw two Messiahs, a Prince of David’s house and a Priestly Messiah of Aaron’s house. But God shows here that Messiah acclaimed Son in Psalm 2:7 is also High priest and the priestly order supercedes the priesthood of Aaron as we will see later on. But this is necessary to show because Christ is of David’s line not Aaron’s.

Melchizedek appears in Genesis 14:18 as the King of Salem and Priest of the Most High God. And here in Hebrews Jesus is given the title “King and Priest of the Most High God.” SO we see here and down in verse 10 Jesus Christ was not self proclaimed, but called by God, designated by God as His high priest.

If Christ is appointed by God as our link to God (1 Tim. 2:5 One God and one mediator) Then we owe him undying allegiance. We should be surrendered to his authority, his God given authority.

The next qualification of High priesthood is the ability to sympathize with men. We have see it in essence in the other 2, but again the idea that Christ became man is alluded to in the phrase “In the days of his flesh.” But vv 7-9 shows us that Christ is truly qualified to sympathize with us.

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;

Jesus took upon himself human weakness and to show us just how he is able to feel for us . Gethsemane ! Here Jesus (Matt 26:38-39) shows us his heart. There He is alone , his isolation begins, even his three most trusted friends are sleeping and he prays; maybe thinking of the coming horror as all my sins and yours are placed on his pure soul. (Selah) And at that moment, when he becomes total sin, his Father turns away his face and soul/spirit are wrenched from him in agony as his very nature is violated. And he prays, not for God to deliver him, BUT for God’s will to be done. IN that moment above all others Jesus Christ demonstrated his feeling, his empathy with humanity. His prayer was answered. Father glorify thy name... Father Thy will be done.” And even thought he was God’s son he was granted no exemption from obeying God.

But he didn’t obey as we often do, when it is convenient, he set out on a path of obedience from the start and on that path he suffered and learned obedience in spite of the tough trials of life.

As we saw in 2:10 “he was made perfect or fully qualified through suffering to be the savior and priest of his people.”

Notice here that the salvation that Jesus produced is an eternal one because it is not based on what we do, on our works, but only on the work of Jesus Christ for us. It is based on the one sacrifice of Christ, never repeated, permanently valid. And though salvation is free, obedience is a natural byproduct. Be loyal to Christ for he has done so much for you.

Please NEVER forget God’s grace, for it is by grace we are saved. There is no way to earn God’s marvelous salvation no matter how wonderful and good you are. There is no way to keep that salvation by works, but let’s listen to God’s Word in 2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity .”

For God’s grace has appeared to us In our desire to live lives that please God to exhibit his holiness in us, we must still remember that it is Christ alone who builds our bridge to God.