The Letter to the Hebrews

Chapter 5

Hebrews 4

Jesus the Great High Priest

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 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.

Hebrews 4

Jesus the Great High Priest

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.

Hebrews 4

Key Points•The author tells his readers to hold fast to their confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God since Jesus is also our great High Priest (v. 14).•The author’s discourse on the High Priest in connection with Jesus extends from 4:14-5:10 through chapters 7-10).

Hebrews 4

Key Points•This is the same High Priest who sees us for who we really are and to whom we must give account, but who also has passed through the heavens and has been tempted in everyway on our account.•This Jesus (Son of God, Judge, High Priest), is able to sympathize with us in our weakness and understands temptation (though is sinless) (v. 15).

Hebrews 4

Key Points•It is only by this High Priest that we can have confidence and draw near to God’s presence without any barrier (namely our sin) standing in our way. It is by grace and mercy that we can stand before God and enter into relationship with Him (v.16). THAT IS GOOD NEWS!!!

The Letter to the Hebrews

Chapter 5

Hebrews 5

Hebrews 51Every 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.

Hebrews 51Every 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.

Hebrews 54No 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.”

Hebrews 54No 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.”

The Old Testament High Priest was “calledby God.” So, God appointed High Priests through the lineage of Aaron (see Ex. 28:1; 29:1-46). No one could assume this role (as often happened with kings), but it had to come by divine appointment throughGod.

Exodus 28

The Priestly Garments

1“Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests.

Exodus 29

Consecration of the Priests

1“This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. 2And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. 3Put them in a basket and present them in it—along with the bull and the two rams.

Exodus 28

Consecration of the Priests

4Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. 5Take the garments and dress Aaron with . . . . 7Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

Exodus 28

Consecration of the Priests

8Bring his sons and dress them in tunics 9and put headbands on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons. The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance. In this way you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.

Hebrews 54No 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.”

Hebrews 54No 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.”

“You are my Son;today I have become your Father.”

Psalm 2:77I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:He said to me,

“You are my Son;today I have become your Father.

Hebrews 54No 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.”

Hebrews 54No 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.”

“You are a priest forever,in the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 110:44The LORD has swornand will not change his mind:“You are a priest forever,in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 57During 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.

Hebrews 57During 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.

Jesus prayed…a lot. In the book of Luke, Jesus prayed at every major point in his life:• At his baptism (3:21)• At his selection of the Twelve (6:12)• At Peter’s confession (9:18)• At Jesus’ transfiguration (9:28-29)• In his teaching the Lord’s Prayer (11:1-4)• In teaching on prayer (18:1-14)• Before Peter’s denial (22:32)• Before His crucifixion (22:39-46)

The point here is that Jesus reverently approached His Father with heartfelt (tears) and earnest (cries) prayers and requests regularly. He leaned on the Father and only did what the Father told Him. Jesus submitted to the Father and waited in expectation for His answer.Jesus’ reverence to the Father is why His prayers were answered.Jesus now stands to intercede for us and help us talk to the Father (Romans 8:34).

Romans 834 . . . Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Hebrews 57During 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.

Hebrews 5Warning Against Falling Away11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

Hebrews 5Warning Against Falling Away13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

The Letter to the Hebrews

Chapter 5