Heb 5 | MHM | STEP | The Priesthood of Christ. This section explains what it means to be a high priest, both in general and especially how it applies to Jesus Christ. The writer shows that the high priest must be chosen from among people, must offer gifts and sacrifices, and must be compassionate. He also explains how Jesus is the perfect High Priest, called by God, holy, and able to save all who obey him. v. 1 : Every high priest is chosen from among people. He must be human, one of us, so he can represent us before God. This shows that people have sinned and need a priest to come between them and God. God chose a priest so that everyone who comes through him is welcome.

‏ Hebrews 5

The Priesthood of Christ.

This section explains what it means to be a high priest, both in general and especially how it applies to Jesus Christ. The writer shows that the high priest must be chosen from among people, must offer gifts and sacrifices, and must be compassionate. He also explains how Jesus is the perfect High Priest, called by God, holy, and able to save all who obey him.

v. 1: Every high priest is chosen from among people. He must be human, one of us, so he can represent us before God. This shows that people have sinned and need a priest to come between them and God. God chose a priest so that everyone who comes through him is welcome.

v. 2: The high priest is appointed to serve people in things relating to God. He acts for the good of people and the glory of God. He stands between God and humans, just as Jesus does for us. We should only come to God through Christ.

v. 3: The priest’s job is to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He gives gifts as a way to thank God, showing that everything we have is from him. He also offers sacrifices to atone for sin, so people can be forgiven. Jesus is our High Priest who brings our good works to God and died to pay for our sins. We must trust in him for acceptance and forgiveness.

v. 4: The high priest must have compassion. He must care for those who sin out of ignorance or who have gone the wrong way. He needs to be patient and kind, able to teach and guide them back. He also has his own weaknesses and understands what people go through. Jesus took on our human weaknesses, so he understands and helps us in our struggles.

v. 5: The high priest must be called by God. No one can choose this job for themselves. It is an honour only given by God. God is the source of all true honour and authority. Only those called by God can expect his help and blessing in this work.

v. 6: Christ did not take the honour of being high priest for himself. He waited for God to appoint him. As Jesus said, I seek not my own glory (John 8:50 ^a). As God, he always had glory, but as a man and Mediator, he was sent by God. Others should also wait for God’s call and not run ahead.

v. 7: Christ’s calling is greater than Aaron’s. God said to Jesus, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee (Psalm 2:7 ^b). This points to Jesus’ eternal nature as God, his miraculous birth as a human, and his perfect fitness to be our Mediator. God also said, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Psalm 110:4 ^c). Jesus’ priesthood is permanent and higher than Aaron’s. It does not pass from father to son, but is personal and without end.

v. 8: Other priests needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins as well as for others (Hebrews 5:3 ^d). But Jesus was completely holy. He had done no violence, neither was there any deceit in his mouth (Isaiah 53:9 ^e). He did not need to offer sacrifices for himself.

v. 9: Jesus carried out his priestly work during his life on earth. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications (Hebrews 5:7 ^f). Jesus became human and lived among us. He prayed with deep emotion, especially before his death. His prayers in the garden and on the cross (Matthew 26:39; John 17:1-26 ^g) show his real struggles. God could have saved him from dying, but chose not to, so that we could be saved. Jesus was heard and supported by God, especially shown in his resurrection. He was carried through death and rose again, giving us hope.

The Priesthood of Christ

In this section, the writer returns to the topic of Jesus as High Priest in the order of Melchisedec. He wants to explain more about this deep truth, but the people he is writing to are not ready for it. He warns them that they should have grown in their understanding by now. He explains the difference between spiritual “babies” and mature believers, and why it is important to grow in faith and knowledge.

v. 10: Through suffering, Jesus “learned obedience,” even though he was God’s Son (Hebrews 5:8 ^h). Being a Son did not keep him from suffering. His suffering taught him what it means to obey completely, even to death. He is our example, showing us to obey God even when it is hard. The apostle reminds the readers that Jesus was called by God to be a High Priest “after the order of Melchisedec” (Psalm 110:4 ⁱ). The priesthood of Melchisedec is unique and eternal, showing that the salvation Jesus brings lasts forever. More details about Melchisedec will come later in chapter 7.

v. 11: By suffering, Jesus was made perfect and became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him (Hebrews 5:9 ^j). His sacrifice finished the work needed to save us. He saves everyone who listens to him and follows him. Jesus is both our Saviour and our King. If we truly want him to save us, we must also let him rule over us. He is the true cause of our salvation, and we will praise him forever. The writer says he has many important things to say about Melchisedec and about Christ, but these things are hard to explain. He calls the Christian faith “the great mystery of godliness” because there are many deep and difficult truths about Jesus and his work.

v. 12: He explains the reason why he cannot teach them more: You are dull of hearing. The problem is not just that the subject is hard, but that the people are slow to listen and understand. Sometimes the weakness is with the teacher, but often it is because the listeners are not paying close attention or trying to learn.

v. 13: The writer points out that by now, the Hebrew Christians should be able to teach others. For when, for the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which are the first principles of the oracles of God (Hebrews 5:12 ^k). God expects those who have had many opportunities to learn to grow and help others. If we do not grow, we actually forget even the basics.

v. 14: He explains that, just like in life, there are “babes” and “adults” in the church. The “babes” need spiritual milk—the simplest truths of the faith—while the mature can handle deeper teachings, called “strong meat.” There must be line upon line, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:10 ^l). It is good to begin as a spiritual child, but we should not stay that way. We must let God’s word help us grow, so that our spiritual senses become strong and we can tell the difference between good and evil. Mature believers have learned through practice to understand and live by the deeper truths of God’s word (Hebrews 5:14 ^m).