Christ the High Priest Hebrews 5:1-6

The Human Priest & His Qualifications

His duties 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. Hebrews 5:1

His duties 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. Hebrews 5:2-3

Called by God And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. Hebrews 5:4

Called by God “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron's sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Exodus 28:1 So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. Exodus 28:3

The Son of God as High Priest

Christ chosen by God to be Priest 5 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.” 6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; Hebrews 5:5-6

Christ is our Obedient 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, Hebrews 5:7

Christ is our Obedient Priest though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:8

Lessons for Us Today

Christ’s obedience is an example for us today 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” Hebrews 5:9-10

Christ’s obedience is an example for us today For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 1 Peter 2:21

Man cannot do what Christ has done. 19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Man cannot do what Christ has done. 21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

Man cannot do what Christ has done. 24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

Man cannot do what Christ has done. 25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? Ezekiel 18:19-25

Conclusion 1. Christ is our example of obedience. Are you following His example? 2. Our hope resides in Christ and not in man.

Obeying the gospel requires: Hearing So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 Believing in Christ as the Son of God Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24

Obeying the gospel requires: 3. Repenting of Sin 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3

Obeying the gospel requires: 4. Confess Christ as the Son of God before Men Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; John 12:42

Obeying the gospel requires: 5. Be Baptized for the Remission of Sins 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38

Obeying the gospel requires: 6. Remain Faithful to God “If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15

What the Christian must do if in sin: Repent & Pray: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16