Hebrews 5: 1–10
“Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
“He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
“And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”
“And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
“Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
A better high priest
When we come to this large section about priests in Hebrews, it’s fair to ask the question “What’s this got to do with me?”
Often, we look to things or to someone to provide satisfaction and meaning. And when that happens, then like the original audience for this letter, I’m looking for a “Jesus substitute”—another priest.
I can hear you thinking, “I’ve never gone looking for another priest! All of the Old Testament rituals and sacrifices and priests have nothing to do with me today.”
The covenant that God makes with His ancient people includes a priesthood. The priesthood was established in that men from the Jewish tribe of Levi were appointed to serve as bridge builders to God. They were representatives of God to the people but primarily their function was to bring people to God.
When the priesthood and the system of sacrifices were established under Moses it was a foreshadowing of what was to come. It was an imperfect system that pointed to a perfect priest that would one day represent me before God. Jesus is that.
Here, in Hebrews 5, the writer lays out the qualifications for the Old Testament priests and lets us know that Jesus fully qualifies as a high priest and that He is superior to all previous high priests.
Implications for us
For the Jewish Christians seeing this letter, he’s reminding them that Jesus is uniquely qualified to bring them to God. He has all the Old Testament qualifications and more.
These are the three qualifications:
Every high priest is selected from among men
Within our evangelical tradition, much is made of the divinity of Jesus. That’s important. Jesus is fully God. In His earthly ministry, He laid aside His privileges and rights as God but is fully God in human form. But we must never understate that Jesus came as fully human in every way.
As our high priest, He is completely able to empathize with us. In the last verses of Hebrews 4, it says of him that as our high priest he has been tempted in every way and yet was without sin.
That means that whatever we're tempted with, Jesus experienced it. As a human, he comes alongside of me when I’m hurting, weak, when I’ve been overwhelmed. He doesn’t turn away from me when I’ve succumbed to temptation and I’m ashamed of my actions. He’s experienced those exact temptations. In His case, he never succumbed but He fully understands where I’m at and what I need in those moments of my failure.
The high priest and those in the priesthood were selected among humans. Not angels, not some super race of humans—ordinary humans who were able to sympathize and empathize with ordinary people. They were not above others.
They came alongside with one purpose: to bring people back to God. Look at verse 2, “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray.”
The priest was empathetic and understanding. It was easy to turn to them when you were at your lowest or your worst. As fully human, Jesus fully identifies with you.
Offers gifts and sacrifices for sin
For the Old Testament high priest his most important job was to make sacrifices for the people’s sins one day a year on the day of atonement. On that one day he would go through a cleansing ritual and then would enter what was called the Holy of Holies.
He accessed the Holy of Holies behind a heavy drape where he would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to offer it to God. An innocent life of a sacrificial animal was taken to atone for the sins of the people. He was there to plead their case and to ask God for the forgiveness of sins.
In the story of Jesus’ crucifixion that when Jesus died—at that moment the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. That curtain was the one that the high priest went behind. It separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. Historians tell us that the curtain was about 60 feet high and four inches thick, made of twisted linen.
It’s clear that in the death of Jesus His death is the ultimate and final sacrifice that would be entirely sufficient for all sins to be covered. The curtain separating off the Holy of Holies was no longer needed. There would no longer be a need for a high priest to go behind that curtain to offer sacrifices ever again. Jesus is the sacrifice and Jesus is the high priest that erases the need for further sacrifices.
He’s appointed by God
Every priest under the Old Covenant was appointed based on heredity. The tribe of Levi was the God-appointed tribe, so a priest had to come from the tribe of Levi. For the high priest, you had to be a descendant of Moses’ brother, Aaron. Look at verse 4, “No one takes this honour upon himself; he must be called by God just as Aaron was.”
And here is a potential problem. Jesus is neither from the tribe of Levi nor is He a descendant of Aaron. Jesus is a descendant of the tribe of Judah. Judah is the kingly tribe and its members were excluded from the Jewish priesthood.
In verse 6 there is a quote from Psalm 110 about the Messiah, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” What is that about and who was Melchizedek?
Melchizedek makes two appearances in the Old Testament. Genesis 14:18–20 is the first reference to Melchizedek. 1000 years later, David mentions him in Psalm 110. That’s it. We don’t know where he came from, who appointed him, or who his people were. He’s the king of Salem which some scholars believe to be Jerusalem.
Here’s what’s unique about Melchizedek; He is both a king and a priest of God. There is no other king who is a priest or priest who is king in all of scripture. Those two roles are incompatible for the same person.
Kings rule through issuing laws and decrees. Kings are about truth and justice and punishing evildoers. Priests are all about coming alongside sinful people. A priest stood before God on your behalf to present the sacrifice to pay for your sins. Melchizedek is the only one who performed both roles.
The Messiah would be the other one who functions in both roles. In John’s gospel, he introduces Jesus in verse 14 as “full of grace and truth”. Jesus didn’t balance grace and truth. He was full of grace and full of truth. As our King, He’s our ruler. He is the standard of truth. As our priest, He is full of grace. As a king, He’s over me. As a priest, he’s beside me.
We need a priest and a king and Jesus is both of those. So why does this matter?
We need Jesus as both priest and king
He’s a perfect, eternal priest
Jewish priests had all kinds of limitations. They were imperfect. Think of the Old Testament character named Eli. He was a high priest but was deeply flawed. He allowed his sons to abuse people in the temple. Some priests were unsympathetic and uncaring. As humans, they were sometimes unavailable.
Jesus is available 24/7. You never have to wonder when you come to Him if He’s having an off day or if He has time for you. You never have to wonder if He’s had enough of your mistakes and failures and, maybe this time, He’ll refuse to represent you to God. You never have to wonder. He’s the perfect, eternal, always available priest.
He’s passionate about you
In verses 7–9 we are given a glimpse into Jesus’ agonizing prayer as He was facing the cross. He prays with loud cries and tears for the cup of suffering to be taken from Him. However, as the obedient son of Father God, He takes on my punishment and becomes the source of my eternal salvation.
If He had chosen to escape the cross, He could have. But He didn’t. He saw your salvation and He took it on. He’s passionate about you and your standing before God.
We come to a Throne of Grace
Have you ever needed something from someone, but were hesitant or afraid or ashamed to ask them? When you come before God’s throne to ask God for what you need, the invitation from 4:16 is to approach the throne of grace with confidence.
It’s a throne, so you are coming before the all-powerful king. That king has called it a throne of grace. He will, in every circumstance, respond with grace and favour that you didn’t earn.
Jesus purchased it. He paid for it in full. There is nothing you can do or be required to do to strengthen your case. It’s not a throne where you must prove that you’re good enough or have done enough. And when you come to the throne of grace, you will “receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.”
— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on May 8, 2021
CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 5 sermon on YouTube.