LESSON AIM

1. We will be able to explain two qualifications of a high priest

2. We will be able to rejoice that JESUS is our HIGH PRIEST

3. We will be able to commit to setting aside some time each day to spend with GOD in prayer.

KEEP IN MIND

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, JESUS THE SON OF GOD, let us hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14).

JESUS IS our great HIGH PRIEST, appointed by GOD THE FATHER. HE experienced temptation like ours, but HE never sinned. Because of HIS experience, HE is able to understand the trials and temptations we go through, and HE is interceding for us. Through HIS suffering, JESUS was made the PERFECT HIGH PRIEST.

By way of background, JESUS is called our great HIGH PRIEST. But what is a high priest, and why is JESUS our HIGH PRIEST? A high priest was apart of the Levitical priesthood established by GOD for the Israelites. The high priest entered into the Holy of Holies once a year. He would offer sacrifices to GOD for himself and the people for the removal of sins. The removal of sin restored their relationship with GOD.

The basic assumption of atonement is that sin disrupts the relationship between GOD and HIS people. The only way this relationship can be restored is by the removal of sin. This, then, is the great responsibility of the high priest. He acts as the mediator between GOD and HIS people. The writer stresses the humanity of JESUS because, to properly represent humanity as the great HIGH PRIEST, CHRIST had to be a man. JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who stands before GOD for man, is both human and divine.

1. JESUS, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST (Hebrews 4:14-16)

The words “Seeing then that we have a great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14) are words of assurance. They affirm that we have someone in the presence of GOD interceding on our behalf at this very moment. New Testament writers relate atonement to the suffering and sacrificial death of JESUS on the cross. By this act, JESUS restored humanity’s relationship with GOD. Thus, the writer of Hebrews can justifiably call HIM our great HIGH PRIEST. As joint heirs with CHRIST, believers are destined to possess great blessings from GOD. Today, we too can enter into the presence of GOD at any time because we have JESUS CHRIST as our great HIGH PRIEST.

JESUS has “passed into the heavens,” sits at GOD’S right hand, and intercedes with GOD on our behalf. The phrase “passed through the heavens” comes from a Jewish idea that there are many heavens. This verse takes us back to CHRIST’S ascension. Our HIGH PRIEST suffered as a man, died, was buried, and rose from the dead. HE became our guarantee of a future resurrection to immortality. In order to bring about salvation, JESUS not only had to die and rise again; HE also had to ascend into the presence of GOD. JESUS passed through the final curtain into GOD’S presence. JESUS, the SON OF GOD, is superior to any earthly high priest. HE is the ultimate mediator between GOD and man. HIS position in heaven is our encouragement to stand firm in our profession of faith.

Even though JESUS is superior to all the priest who served in the earthly temple, HE is not unfeeling to human needs and desires. JESUS, our HIGH PRIEST, understands all of our infirmities (v.15) because HE shares our human nature. JESUS did not inherit a sin nature, but HE was 100 percent human. In HIS humanity, HE was tempted in all areas (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (cf. 1 John 1:13; Matthew 4). JESUS sympathizes with all our trials and temptations because of HIS experiences during HIS earthly life. Because HE has known what it is to be human, HE can sympathize with our infirmities. HE is able to serve as our perfect HIGH PRIEST because HE has actually experienced the trials and temptations that are common to humanity.

Many people believe that Hebrews 4:15 relates only to JESUS’ temptation in the wilderness. However, the phrase “was in all points tempted like as we are” implies much more. JESUS did not have a single encounter with temptation; HE faced temptation every day of HIS life. HE experienced the full range of temptation as a human being and yet triumphed over them all. HE is the only sinless person who ever lived.

Even though our LORD was tempted, HE never yielded to the temptation. HIS VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION SHOULD GIVE US CONFIDENCE AND BOLDNESS. If we believe that we have a HIGH PRIEST who has gone through every temptation we can experience and was victorious, why shouldn’t we come to GOD with confidence? JESUS, our HIGH PRIEST, sits at the right hand of GOD on our behalf. Therefore, we can come boldly before the throne of grace (v.16). The phrase “throne of grace” describes entrance into the presence of GOD. We can go boldly into GOD’S presence through prayer.

2. QUALIFICATIONS OF A HIGH PRIEST (Hebrews 5:1-4)

The priesthood and the office of high priest were essential to Jewish worship. GOD instituted the priesthood, appointed the family of Levi to minister, and ordained Aaron and his descendants as high priests. “And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office” (Exodus 28:1). In Hebrews 14, the priesthood of Aaron is compared with the priesthood of JESUS.

JESUS never took on the duties of the priesthood in HIS earthly incarnation. HE was born in the bloodline of Judah. Although this bloodline qualified HIM to be King, only those in the bloodline of Levi could serve as priests. How, then, could JESUS lay claim to the priesthood? To explain this, the writer explains the qualification of the priesthood and the ministry of priests.

The purpose of the priesthood was to give GOD’S people a means of accessing GOD and to provide GOD with a means of approaching HIS people. The high priest was a man who was ordained or appointed to represent humanity in their dealings with GOD. The function of the high priest included offering “both gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). The word “offer” means to bring or bear to or carry toward. The sacrifices on the altar and the sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat were designed to bring the people closer to GOD. Two qualifications of the high priest were emphasized. Fist, a high priest had to have compassion for the people he represented. He had to “have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way” (5:2). It was necessary that the high priest remain tender and compassionate in his attitude toward and judgment of others. He could not make fitting atonement if he had feelings of indignation or superiority toward the petitioners. He had to be able to relate to the people’s infirmities because he experienced them also (v.2).

The high priest had to deal gently with the people in spite of their ignorance. The word “ignorance” implies a lack of knowledge. The phrase “them that are out of the way” speaks of people who drift away from GOD through neglect. The high priest saw so much sin that it would have been easy to grow hardened and to feel superior to those who were weak. His understanding and empathy was demonstrated by the requirement that he make offerings for himself as well as for his people.

Second, the high priest had to be called of GOD (v.4). He was ordained and consecrated by GOD to represent the people in their relationship to HIM. No man on his own could set himself up as a high priest, nor was he a high priest elected by the people. A high priest went before GOD on behalf of the people and offered sacrifices for the sins. This honor could only be given to man by GOD. Only GOD could bestow a divine appointment.

The writer lists five qualifications for the office of high priest: he must be a man, he had to be called by GOD, he had to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, he had to have an understanding attitude toward the ignorant and the neglectful. And he had to make offerings for himself before he made them for the people. These qualifications are explained in order to demonstrate the superiority of JESUS as the GREAT HIGH PRIEST.

3. JESUS QUALIFIES AS HIGH PRIEST (vv. 5-10)

JESUS did not have any personal ambition to become HIGH PRIEST; rather, it was GOD who called HIM to office. Our LORD did not assume the role like every other high priest; GOD APPOINTED HIM. HIS call to the priesthood was based on the fact that HE was THE SON OF GOD. The same GOD who proclaimed, “Thou art MY SON, to day have I begotten THEE” (v.5) also says, “Thou art a PRIEST for ever after the order of Malchisedec” (v.6).

The Hebrew recipients of the letter would wonder how JESUS could be their GREAT HIGH PRIEST since HE did not come from the Aaronic bloodline. The writer explains that JESUS was not a HIGH PRIEST after the order of Aaron but rather after the order of Malchisedec. The Aaronic priesthood always pointed toward CHRIST and demonstrated to the people their continual need for atonement. In contrast, the order of Malchisedec is an eternal priesthood in which the sacrifice was made once and for all.

GOD exalted JESUS to be our HIGH PRIST forever. The idea of JESUS being the HIGH PRIEST “forever” is consistent with the phrase “after the order of Malchisedec.” JESUS’ priesthood is different from the Levitical priesthood. Just as there was no succession of priests from Melchisedec, there would be none after JESUS. JESUS’ priesthood is forever. Furthermore, Melchisedec was both a priest and king, a truth that is developed further in Hebrews 7.

The phrase “days of the flesh “ (v.7) further qualifies JESUS as HIGH PRIEST. The writer reminds us that although JESUS IS GOD, HE is also the Son of man. “Days of the flesh” emphasizes the condition of human weakness that CHRIST experienced during HIS earthly life. The phrase does not imply that HE terminated HIS humanity after HIS ascension. HE is still, and forever will be, the eternal GOD-man.

It was GOD’S will that JESUS personally experienced the suffering that often results from disobedience. That was so that the SON might learn “obedience by the things which HE suffered” (v.8). Before the incarnation, JESUS had never experienced suffering, temptation, or trials. As a man, HE learned to submit to the will of the FATHER in all situations that are common to man. Through suffering, our LORD acquired experiential knowledge of obedience. HE was tested and proved triumphant.

JESUS’ obedience also made HIM the perfect sacrifice for our sins. HE became the “author [source or cause] of eternal salvation” (v.9). JESUS, as the spotless LAMB and our GREAT HIGH PRIEST gives us eternal life with HIMSELF and THE FATHER.

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours,

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD

email Dr. Lowe

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