HEBREWS 5
OPENS WITH JESUS, OUR COMPASSIONATE HIGH PRIEST FOREVER
Verses 1-4 tells us Principles of priesthood UNDER the Law of Moses.
"For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was."
God ALONE ESTABLISHED both the priesthood and the office of high priest in the days of Moses, as described in Exodus 28:1 and following. The writer to the Hebrews neatly summarizes the work of the high priest, in saying that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. The primary job of the high priest was the officiate, either directly or indirectly through lower-ranking priests, sacrifices unto the Lord.
The phrase gifts and sacrifices for sins reminds us that NOT every sacrifice was a blood atonement for sins. Many of the ritual sacrifices were intended to be simple gifts to God, expressing thanks and desiring fellowship.
He can have compassion...
Ideally, the high priest was more than a "butcher" offering sacrifice. He also had compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, and ministered the atoning sacrifices with a loving heart for the people. In this ideal, the high priest has this compassion because he understands that he himself is also subject to weakness.
God made specific commands to help INSURE the high priest would minister with compassion. In the breastplate of the high priest were set twelve stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, and on the shoulder straps were stones engraved with the names of the tribes. In this, the people of Israel were always on the heart and on the shoulders of the high priest (Exodus 28:4-30).
Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins...
God also made SPECIFIC commands to help insure the high priest would minister with awareness that he was also subject to weakness. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to sacrifice for himself FIRST, to remind himself and the nation that he had sin to atone for, just like the rest of the people of Israel (Leviticus 16:1-6).
And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was...
Of course, the High Priest was taken from the community of God's people; but was NOT chosen by God's people, but appointed by God for His people. But it was important to state that NO MAN takes this honor to himself. The office of high priest was nothing to aspire to or campaign for. It was GIVEN by right of birth, it was CHOSEN by God. It was an honor NO MAN could take to himself.
The TRUE priesthood, and the TRUE high priest, came from a specific line of descent. EVERY priest came from Jacob, Abraham's grandson, whose name was changed to Israel. EVERY priest came from Levi, one of Israel's thirteen sons. God set the tribe of Levi APART as a tribe committed to His service and as representatives of the whole nation (Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:40-41). Gershon, Kohath and Merari were Levi's three sons; each of these family lines had their own duties. The family of Gershon had care of the tabernacle's screen (veil), fence, and curtains (Numbers 3:25-26). The family of Kohath will this family had care of the tabernacle's furnishings, such as the lampstand, altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant (Numbers 3:31-32). The family of Merari had care of the boards and pillars of the tabernacle and the fence (Numbers 3:36-37). These families were not properly priests, though they were Levites. The priesthood itself came through Aaron, the brother of Moses, of the family of Kohath. Aaron's family and their descendants made up the priests and the high priest, those able to serve in the tabernacle itself and to offer sacrifice to God. The high priest was generally the eldest son of Aaron, except if they disqualified themselves like Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3) or according to the regulations of Leviticus 21. In this sense, the priesthood was NOT popularly elected, but CHOSEN by God, NOT appointed by man.
There are some DREADFUL instances where men PRESUMED to act as priests who were NOT priests, such as Korah (Numbers 16), Saul (1 Samuel 13) and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16).
We can also NOT take the honor of being our OWN priest. It is great arrogance to think we can approach God on our own, without a priest; but it is great superstition and UNBIBLICAL AND FALSE TEACHING to think we need any other priest other than Jesus Christ Himself. God has provided a mediator, a priest, and we must avail ourselves of the priest God has provided...AND THAT IS JESUS CHRIST ALONE.
Verses 5-6 tells us Jesus IS qualified to be our High Priest.
"So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You." As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek";
Christ did NOT glorify Himself to become High Priest: Jesus did NOT make Himself High Priest. Instead, just as much as Jesus was DECLARED to be the Son (Psalm 2:7), He was also DECLARED to be a priest forever (in Psalm 110:4).
It was easy to see WHY the priesthood of Jesus would be difficult for early Jewish Christians to grasp.
1. Jesus was NOT from the lineage of Aaron.
2. Jesus claimed nor practiced NO special ministry in the temple.
3. Jesus CONFRONTED the religious structure instead of joining it.
4. In Jesus' day, the priesthood also became a corrupt institution. The custom had become High Priest in those days through intrigue and politicking among the corrupt priesthood.
A priest forever is an important contrast. Jesus' priesthood (like Melchizedek's) is UNENDING, but no High Priest descended from Aaron EVER had a forever priesthood.
Today I have begotten You refers to Jesus' resurrection from the dead. At that time He fully assumed His role as our great High Priest, having been perfected (Hebrews 5:9).
Jesus' resurrection demonstrated that He was NOT a priest like Aaron, who had to atone for his own sin first. The resurrection vindicated Jesus as the Father's Holy One (Acts 2:2, 2:27), who bore the wrath sinners deserve, without becoming a sinner Himself.
Hebrews 7 will more fully develop the theme of Jesus as a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Verses 7-11a tells us the compassion of Jesus, our High Priest.
"Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek," of whom we have much to say,"
When He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears: The agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gesthemane (Matthew 26:36-39, Luke 22:44) proves He KNOWS what it is like to struggle with the difficulty of obedience, yet Jesus obeyed PERFECTLY.
This answers the question, "How can this glorious, enthroned Jesus know what I am going through down here?" He knows; obedience did NOT always come easy for Jesus.
DID YOU KNOW...The word for supplications is "hiketeria". This ancient Greek word essentially means "an olive branch wrapped in wool," because that is was someone in Greek culture would hold and wave to express their desperate prayer and desire. Significantly, this supplication of Jesus took place in a garden of olives - and he supplied the "wool," being the Lamb of God!
And was heard because of His godly fear...
If Jesus asked that the cup be taken away from Him (Luke 22:42), and the cup was not taken away, how can it be said that He was heard? Because His prayer was NOT to escape His Father's will, but to ACCEPT it - and that prayer was definitely heard.
He learned obedience by the things which He suffered...
How could Jesus (who never stopped being God) learn anything? Then again, how does God, enthroned in heaven experience obedience, except by casting off the glory of the throne and humbling Himself as Jesus did?
Jesus did NOT pass from disobedience to obedience. He learned obedience by actually obeying. Jesus did NOT learn how to obey; He learned what is INVOLVED in obedience.
THEN AND NOW, THERE ARE THOSE PRIESTS, PREACHERS, AND TEACHERS, AND THOSE SELF-PROCLAIMED PROPHETS, PROPHETESSES, MEN AND WOMAN OF GOD, WHO FALSELY AND ARROGANTLY AND IGNORANTLY TEACH AND SAY, "JESUS WAS NOT BORN BEING AND KNOWING THAT HE WAS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN. THEY SAY JESUS DID NOT KNOW THE WORD, GOD'S LAWS, OR THE BIBLE, BUT HAD TO SIT UNDER RABBIS AND SCHOOLS TO BE TAUGHT THE WORD OF GOD. THAT JESUS DID NOT KNOW WHO HE REALLY WAS, WHAT HIS PURPOSE WAS, UNTIL AFTER JOHN THE BAPTIST BAPTIZED HIM IN THE RIVER JORDAN AND ALMIGHTY GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT APPEARED AND FILLED HIM WITH KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, AND DISCERNMENT.
THE BOOK OF HEBREWS TAKES THE TIME, ONE BY ONE, TO BRING THE TRUTH, AND CALL OUT THE LIES, DECEPTIONS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEMONS BEING SPOKEN, TAUGHT, AND BELIEVED BY THOSE THEN AND NOW WHO ARE ULTIMATELY RECEIVING THEIR WORDS, TEACHINGS AND WISDOM NOT FROM ALMIGHTY GOD, NOT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, MUCH LESS JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF...BUT ULTIMATELY HEARING FROM THE SPIRIT OF SATAN, THE WHISPERS OF DEMONS, WHO ARE ALWAYS READY AND WILLING TO LIE, DECEIVE, AND APPEAR AND SOUND LIKE ANGELS OF LIGHT, WHEN THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN DOCTRINES OF DEMONS AND THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS AND HELL ITSELF.
Jesus learned obedience by things which He suffered...
Suffering was used to teach and show Jesus personally what we face and deal with. If suffering was fit to teach the Son of God, we must never despise it as a tool of instruction in our lives.
Some say that we might learn through suffering; but such lessons are only God's SECOND best. God really intends for us just to learn by His Word, and it is NEVER His real plan for us to learn through trials and suffering. But was Jesus ever in the Father's second best?
The Bible NEVER teaches that strong faith will keep a Christian from all suffering.
1. Christians are appointed to affliction (1 Thessalonians 3:3).
2. It is through many tribulations we enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).
3. Christians current suffering is the prelude to glorification (Romans 8:17).
Having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation: Jesus' experience of suffering makes Him PERFECTLY suited to be the author (the source, the cause) of our salvation.
Some do NOT want Jesus to be the author of their salvation.
MANY FALSE RELIGIONS AND FALSE PRIESTS AND PREACHERS AND TEACHERS OF THESE MAN-CREATED RELIGIOSITIES PROCLAIM THEY WRITE AND PREFER to write their own book of salvation.
MANY FALSELY PREACH AND TEACH AND PROCLAIM THEY AND THEIR MAN-CREATED RELIGIOSITIES MUST COMPLETE THE WORK OF SALVATION. THAT THEIR FLOCK MUST CONSTANTLY PAY, MUST CONSTANTLY EARN AND LOSE THEIR SALVATION. THAT JESUS DID NOT COMPLETE THE WORK OF SALVATION. THAT THEY NOT JESUS ARE THE WAY TO ALMIGHTY GOD. THAT THERE ARE MANY PATHS, MANY RELIGIONS, AND MANY WAYS TO GOD. THE BIBLE TELLS US THEY ARE ALL SPEAKING DOCTRINES OF DEMONS. THEY ARE ALL INNOCENTLY DECEIVED AND/OR WILLINGLY DECEIVING THEMSELVES AND THOSE IN THEIR FLOCK.
HEBREWS ONCE AGAIN TELLS US THE TRUTH. God DOES NOT HEAR THEM. GOD WILL NOT ACCEPT THEIR LIES, THEIR POMP, CIRCUMSTANCE, THEIR RITES AND RITUALS. GOD WILL NOT READ THEIR WORD OR THEIR TEACHINGS. Only Jesus can author ALL OF MANKIND'S eternal salvation. THE ONLY WAY TO GOD THE FATHER IS THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
NOTICE that this salvation THROUGH JESUS CHRIST is extended to all BY ALMIGHTY GOD who obey Him. In this sense, all who obey Him is used synonymously for believing on Him - which simply assumes that believers will obey!
Called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek": The emphasis is repeated. Jesus IS a High Priest, who was called by God (not personal ambition), according to the order of Melchizedek. The much to say comes in Hebrews 7.
Verse 11b tells us Their dullness of hearing is exposed.
"And hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing."
Since you have become dull of hearing...
This explains WHY the writer does NOT go into the topic of Melchizedek right away. He wants to address some critical BASICS before going on to more intricate topics, but their spiritual condition makes it hard to explain.
He fears the discussion of Aaron and Melchizedek and Jesus will sound TOO academic and theoretical to his readers. At the same time, he recognizes this says more about his dull hearers than the message.
AND WE KNOW...Being dull of hearing is NOT a problem with the EARS, but a problem with THE HEART- you just are NOT really interested in what God has to say to you. Not wanting to hear the Word of God points to a genuine spiritual problem!
CHOOSING TO BE DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND.
These Christians who felt like giving up with Jesus were also dull of hearing. The dullness usually comes first, then the desire to give up. Watch out when the Word of God starts seeming dull to you! KNOW THAT YOU ARE BEING WHISPERED TO, AND WHOM IS DOING THE WHISPERING, WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING...THE BIBLE IS BORING. THE BIBLE IS ANTIQUATED. THE BIBLE IS CONFUSING. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SPEAK TO MODERN MANKIND. WE NEED A NEW BIBLE...NEW REVELATIONS...NEW RELEVANT PROPHECIES...YOU ARE ((NOT)) HEARING FROM THE LORD AT ALL, AND YOU ((ARE)) LISTENING TO SATAN AND THE WORLD.
They have BECOME dull of hearing. Become is an important word. It indicates that they did NOT start out that dull of hearing, but became that way.
Verse 12a tells us their failure to mature is exposed.
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God;"
By this time...
According to the time they had been followers of Jesus, they should have been much MORE mature than they were.
You OUGHT to be teachers...
It was NOT that these were unique people who would hold a unique role of teaching. Instead, they ought to be teachers in the sense that all Christians should be teachers.
MEANING..THE MORE WE READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE AND PRAY AS YOU READ AND STUDY...THE MORE YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ONLY TALK IT, BUT YOUR LIFE SHOULD SHOW THAT YOU ARE STRIVING TO WALK IT OUT MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.
There is an important sense in which EVERY Christian, and to be clear, EVERY CHRISTIAN REFERS ONLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE HIT THEIR KNEES, REPENTED THEIR UNBELIEF AND SINS, AND HAVE INVITED JESUS CHRIST AND JESUS CHRIST ALONE INTO THEIR HEART AND LIFE TO BE THEIR LORD, SAVIOR, MASTER, AND FRIEND AND THEN PROCLAIM THEY HAVE CHOSEN JESUS CHRIST AND ARE NOT ASHAMED TO CALL JESUS CHRIST THEIR SAVIOR.
THOSE THEN, SHOULD BE EVER STUDYING THE BIBLE, AND PRAYING AND SEEKING JESUS CHRIST FACE. THEY MUST BE COME TO BE A teacher, because we can all help disciple others. We really only GROW IN JESUS, STRIVE TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS AND LESS LIKE THE WORLD, and can effectively TEACH IT OR SHARE IT with someone else. Teaching is the final step of learning.
You need someone to teach you again the FIRST principles of the oracles of God...
ORACLES OF GOD...MEANS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE REVELATION AND THE TOTAL FULFILMENT OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD. JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUE ORACLE OF GOD, WHICH MEANS GOD'S TRUTH, ANSWERS, AND REVELATIONS ARE IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WORD.
SOME WRONGLY AND ARROGANTLY POINT TO PART OF THIS VERSE AND PROCLAIM THAT NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS WILL HAVE NEW ORACLES, NEW REVELATIONS, NEW PROPHECIES, NEW WISDOMS, NEW TEACHINGS FROM GOD. THAT IS A LIE. THOSE WHO SAY THIS, TEACH THIS, PROCLAIM THIS ARE NOT READING, STUDYING, MUCH LESS DO NOT KNOW THE WORD OF GOD AND WHO JESUS CHRIST IS.
This is NOT to their credit. It is NOT that the first principles are "beneath" the mature Christian. Rather, the sense is that one should be able to teach one's self, and remind one's self of these FIRST principles of the oracles of God.
Verses 12b-14 tells us a contrast between milk and solid food.
"And you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
And you have come to need milk...
MILK corresponds to the FIRST principles of Hebrews 6:12. Solid food is the "meatier" material such as understanding the connection between Jesus and Melchizedek. It is NOT that milk is bad; but these Christians should have added solid food to their diet. Peter reminds us all as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).
In the original language, the sense of for he is a babe is for he has become a babe. There is nothing more delightful than a true babe in Jesus. But there is nothing more irritating and depressing than someone who should be mature but who has become a babe again instead!
Have you become a babe?
Perhaps your Christian life is unstable.
Babies are handed from one person to another; babes are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14-16).
Have you become a babe?
Perhaps you are divisive in your Christian life.
Babies each have their own crib that they stick to; babes have their particular denomination or church that they think of as "my church."
Have you become a babe?
Perhaps you are star-struck by Christian celebrities of one kind or another.
Babies are focused on one particular person (mommy); babes glory in men (I am of Paul, I am of Apollos).
Have you become a babe?
Perhaps you are spiritually asleep.
Babies need a lot of sleep; babes spend much time spiritually asleep.
Have you become a babe?
Perhaps you are fussy and cranky with others.
Babies can be cranky; babes will fuss over any little thing.
Babies open their mouths and drink or eat whatever is fed them. If you are a Christian, you should be READING and STUDYING AND PRAYING OVER THE BIBLE EVERY DAY. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH, AND YOU ARE SITTING IN THE PEWS OR AT REVIVALS OR SPEAKING CONVENTIONS AND YOU ARE HEARING FALSE GOSPELS, FALSE TEACHINGS OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL, THE FALSE SUPER-CHRISTIAN IDEOLOGIES, THE NAME IT AND CLAIM IT FALSE GOSPELS, IF YOUR PASTOR IS PREACHING AND PROCLAIMING...WE ARE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN YOU SHOULD BE HAVING HEAVEN ON EARTH, YOUR BEST LIFE NOW, YOU SHOULD BE HEALTHY, WEALTHY, WISE, AND LOVED BY ALL...YOU HAVE THE POWER TO GET WEALTH, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO HEAL, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SUMMON THE HOLY SPIRIT, CALL DOWN HOLY FIRE, SUMMON AND CONTROL THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SLAY IN THE SPIRIT, SUMMON AND COMMAND YOUR OWN PERSONAL ANGELS, IF YOU ARE NOT HEALTHY, WEALTHY, WISE AND BELOVED BY ALL YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN. IF THEY ARE TEACHING THE TERRORISTS, GAYS, ABORTIONISTS, CHILD ABUSERS, MARRIAGE DESTROYERS, SUBJECTIVE MORALITY IS APPROVED AND LIKED BY GOD, AND YOU WILL ALL GO TO HEAVEN ON YOUR OWN MERITS AND YOUR OWN GOOD WORKS....YOU ARE A BABE SWALLOWING THE LIES OF SATAN, THE WORLD, AND BEING DECEIVED...BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT JESUS CHRIST ALONE SAVES.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ALONE GIVES THE GIFTS AS HE WILLS IT, NO ONE CAN TEACH THEM OR SUMMON THEM.
GOD CREATED ALL MANKIND, BUT NOT ALL MANKIND ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE REPENTED, NOW KNOW, LOVE, FOLLOW, AND CLAIM JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONLY WAY, THE ONLY TRUTH, AND THE ONLY LIFE AND SALVATION PATH TO ALMIGHTY GOD ARE NOW CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD.
BABES DO NOT KNOW OR SEEK OR STUDY THE BIBLE AND THE WORD AND TEACHINGS AND PROMISES OF JESUS CHRIST...THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS AND ACCEPT WHATEVER IS SAID TO THEM.
Is unskilled in the word of righteousness...
Those who have become babes reveal themselves because they are unskilled in the word of righteousness. We do NOT expect brand NEW Christians to be skilled in the word of righteousness, but those who have been Christians for a time should be.
Who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil...
Our senses are exercised (trained by practice and habit) to discern both good and evil (doctrinally, NOT morally). How are our senses exercised? Plainly, by reason of use. When we decide to use discernment given us in The Bible, we mature.
These Christians demonstrated immaturity by both their LACK of discernment between good and evil and in their contemplation of giving up with Jesus. The mature Christian is marked by their discernment and by their unshakable commitment to Jesus Christ alone, not the world, not religions, not man at all.
The ability to discern is a critical measure of spiritual maturity. Babies will put anything in their mouths! Babes are weak in discernment, and will accept any kind of spiritualism, new age false doctrines, any kind of food as long as they like it and it does not teach them, but tickles their ears and makes them feel good about themselves.
Have their senses exercised...
It can be said that all five human senses have their spiritual counterparts.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
1. We SHOULD have a spiritual sense of taste..
"If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:3).
"Taste and see that the LORD is good!" (Psalm 34:8)
2. We SHOULD have a spiritual sense of hearing...
1. "Hear and your soul shall live." (Isaiah 55:3).
2. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:7).
3. We SHOULD have a spiritual sense of sight...
1. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law (Psalm 119:18).
2. The eyes of your understanding (heart) being enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).
4. We SHOULD have a spiritual sense of smell...
1. "He shall be of quick scent in the fear of the LORD." (Isaiah 11:3).
2. "I am full, having received from … you, a sweet-smelling aroma." (Philippians 4:18).
5. We SHOULD have a spiritual sense of touch or feeling...
1. "Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD (2 Kings 22:19).
2. "The hardening of their heart; who being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness." (Ephesians 4:18-19).
THEN AND NOW, WE AS CHRISTIANS, BABIES OR MATURE, SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK OUT WHAT WE HEAR OR READ OR ARE BEING TAUGHT. THE BIBLE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN NOT TESTIFY AGAINST EACH OTHER. THEY WILL MIRROR EACH OTHER PERFECTLY.
SO WE ARE COMMANDED NOT TO BLINDLY ACCEPT ANYTHING YOU HEAR OR READ OR TAUGHT, BUT BE WISE, USE DISCERNMENT, AND SEEK OUT CONFIRMATION FROM THE BIBLE ABOUT WHAT JESUS TEACHES AND DIRECTS AND PROMISES, AS WELL WHAT HE WARNS US AGAINST.