A High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek Hebrews 5:1-14

Priests Under Moses’ Law Priests were set up by God for man’s benefit to offer sacrifices for his sins (Hebrews 5:1) –He gave a High Priest to offer “gifts,” which seem to have been offered as sacrifices of thanks and “sacrifices,” which were for sin Priests under Moses’ law could feel compassion for the straying because they understood their weaknesses –“Ignorant” included those who sinned unknowingly, while “going astray” would include erring out of weakness –There was no sacrifice for presumptuous sins under Moses’ law (Numbers 15:30-31)

Sin Surrounded the High Priest The High Priest had to make an offering because of the sin that surrounded him –The sins were his own and those of the people (Leviticus 9:7; 16:6) Every High Priest had to be called by God, like Aaron –Hebrews 5:3-4; Exodus 28:1; Psalm 105:26 –One who claimed this honor for himself, like Korah did (Numbers 16), is a usurper (Acts 23:5, Milligan)

God Bestowed Honor on Jesus Jesus did not assume any honors, like a usurper (Hebrews 5:5-6) God bestowed honor on him when he raised him from the dead (Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33) “Jesus, even though Messiah, did not glorify himself to be made a high priest (cf. John 8:54.) He did not come in His own name nor did he rely solely on His own testimony (John 5:43, 31.)” (Lightfoot, p. 108)

After the Order of Melchizedek Christ, a priest after the order of Melchizedek –Melchizedek mentioned in Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 110:4 –No record of parentage, birth or death, thus representative of Christ and his priesthood –Superior to Aaron’s because it is eternal –King and priest at the same time, like Jesus who is our High Priest and King over his kingdom –Jesus became priest after resurrection from dead –Aaron’s priesthood confirmed by miracle and God consumed those who challenged his authority (Numbers 16), as he will challengers to Christ’s authority (Jude 11)

Jesus’ Answered Prayer While in the flesh, Jesus was in a position of humility (Hebrews 5:7; Philippians 2:5-7) In Gethsemene, he offered prayers to the only One who could deliver him from pain, suffering and death –Because of his reverent speech, he was delivered from the tempter in his most trying hour –His prayer was answered because he feared, or respected, God’s authority (Matthew 26:39) –The way he confronted his hour of grief fully qualified him as our High Priest –He understands our weaknesses

Jesus Learned the Cost of Obedience He completely submitted to the Father’s will at Calvary (Hebrews 5:8-10; Philippians 2:8) Passing through the deepest possible human suffering, he learned the cost of obeying God –Those sufferings made him our perfect Savior and qualified him to offer the sacrifice for sins that would lead to man’s salvation –That salvation is at once eternal and available to all who will obey his commands (John 3:16-17; 14:15) –Author – “the concrete and active cause of it” (our salvation, Vine) –Appointed by God, he satisfied all the requirements of his position (Psalm 110:4)

Dullness of Understanding “Dull” carries the idea of slowness or sluggishness (Hebrews 5:11-12; Vine) By reason of being Christians and having many opportunities to learn, they ought to have been able to tell others the good news (1 Peter 3:15) They had shrunk, rather than growing, in knowledge and needed someone to show them again the fundamental elements (ABC’s) of God’s final revelation to man

Milk and Meat Like babies, then needed milk, the basic element of nourishment (Hebrews 5:13-14) Teaching others the basics should have caused them to gain strength and go on The strong things, or meat, of the gospel only belong to those who have exercised and grown their spiritual bodies –They have practiced self discipline and learned to distinguish between good and evil teaching