Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Lesson 420

Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Lesson 420

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Jesus is our High Priest.
Count Jesus' credentials listed in verses 4:14-5:3.

King Melchizedek.

This passage begins the central theme of Hebrews.
Jesus is compared to the Jewish priesthood.
It runs through verse 10:39 (lesson 428).

Abraham makes King Melchizedek an offering.

Painting by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640).

Who was -

The Great High Priest -

Jesus became our Great High Priest (Hebrew 3:1) when He was sacrificed on the cross (Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 4:14; 7:27; 9:26; 10:10). Before Jesus, a Jewish High Priest was the mediator between God and mankind. They offered up prayers and sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins (Leviticus 4:3).  We no longer need a mediator. Thanks to Jesus, the final sacrifice, we now have direct access to God.

Moses' brother Aaron was the first High Priest, followed by his son Eleazar (Numbers 20:28; 27:21). The Jewish High Priest supervised the lower priests and had the final say on matters of theocracy. The High Priest was also the civil leader of Israel.  High Priests enjoyed a lifetime position (Exodus 40:15), but when the Romans controlled Israel, they frequently replaced the ones they didn't like. Most Jews resented this intrusion into their religious matters.

Aaron -

Aaron was the son of Amram the Levite and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), Moses' older brother and his spokesman (Exodus 4:16; 7:2). He was also Moses' second in command and the first Jewish High Priest. Moses killed an Egyptian and was forced to flee Egypt. Forty years later, God sent Aaron to find Moses (Exodus 4:27) and help him lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. When Moses went to receive the Ten Commandments from God, Aaron, two of his four sons, and seventy elders accompanied him partway up Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:1-2). While they waited for Moses to return, Aaron made a pagan idol for the Israelites to worship, a golden calf (Exodus 32:2-5). God forgave Aaron and gave him the power to end a plague that killed 14,700 Israelites (Numbers 16:1-50). As the first High Priest, Aaron was a foreshadowing of Christ (Exodus 28:1; 29:7) and helped prepare the Jews for the coming Messiah. But like Moses, Aaron died before reaching the promised land (Numbers 20:12; 20:23-29).  After his death at the age of 123, Aaron's rod was preserved as a memorial (Hebrews 9:2-6) and kept in the Ark.  The Old Testament calls for all Jewish priests to be descendants of Aaron (Exodus 28:1; 39:41; Leviticus 1:5; 1:7-8; 1:11). Aaron is also mentioned in the Koran and honored by Muslims.

Melchizedek -

During the time of Abraham, Melchizedek was a Canaanite priest and the King of Salem, now Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18). He was called the "King of righteous" and "priest of the most high God." Melchizedek congratulated Abraham on his military victory over King Cherdorlaomer of Elam and his allies. He brought Abraham's victorious army "bread and wine." In turn, Abraham tithed Melchizedek ten percent of the loot captured in the conflict (Hebrews 7:2).  "The Epistle to the Hebrews" tells us that Melchizedek was a greater priest than Aaron because -

1) even Abraham paid Melchizedek tithes (7:2; 7:4),

2) Levi (an ancestor of Aaron and thus all Jewish priests) paid tithes through Abraham to Melchizedek (7:9),

3)  Melchizedek blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:19; Hebrews 7:1; 7:6). The person with authority to bless is greater than the person receiving the blessing (7:7),

4) he was "a priest forever" (7:8; 7:16).

Melchizedek's story foreshadowed Jesus (Psalm 110:4). Just as Aaron was a High Priest for the Israelites, Jesus is the High Priest for all mankind. You can learn more about King Melchizedek in Genesis 14:17-24.

Additional note: Jewish tradition alleges that Melchizedek was Noah's son, Shem. But this cannot be proven.

Study Tip:

"Read the Bible with an open mind. Don't read into its passage's ideas that are not there.
Try to search out fairly and honestly the main teachings and lessons of each passage."

Henry Hampton Halley, minister and religious writer (1874-1965).

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Hebrews

The King James Bible

Hebrews 4:14-5:10
The greatest High Priest

14 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.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 5:1-10
The order of Melchizedek

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Margin notes:

"We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus." (4:14) - "We have a great high priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus."

"Let us hold fast our profession." (4:14) - "Let us hold firm to our faith." This teaching to remain faithful is repeated in Hebrews 10:23.

"Be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." (4:15) - Means Jesus has sympathy for us and our weaknesses.

"Was in all points tempted like as we are." (4:15) - "(Jesus) was in all things tempted, just like we are" (Luke 4:1-2; Hebrews 2:18).

"Without sin." (4:15) - Because Jesus is without sin, He is higher than any human priest could ever be.

"Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (4:16) - This is an excellent verse to ponder when facing a crises.

"Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God." (5:1) - "Every High Priest is selected from among men, and appointed to represent them in things related to God." Jewish High Priests were the highest religious authority, and only a descendant of Aaron (the first High Priest) could succeed him (Deuteronomy 18:5-7; Numbers 25:11-13).

"Offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." (5:1) - The High Priest's main responsibility was to offer up gifts and sacrifices to God.

"The ignorant." (5:2) - People, ignorant of God, who go astray.

"Them that are out of the way." (5:2) - "Those that have gone astray."

"He himself also is compassed with infirmity." (5:2) - "He himself (a human High Priest) is surrounded by the same weakness."

"For the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. (5:3) - A High Priest offered up sacrifices for his sins as well as for others.

"Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest." (5:5) - "Christ did not pick Himself to have the honor of being a High Priest."

"Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee." (5:5) - "You are my Son, today I have chosen you." This is a quote from Psalm 2:7, written by King David a thousand years before the birth of Christ.  It tells us that God chose Jesus to be our High Priest.

"Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (5:6) - Quoted from Psalm 110:4.  Jesus is our High Priest "after the order of Melchizedek." In other words, neither King Melchizedek or Jesus were descended from the priestly class of Levi.

"In the days of his flesh." (5:7) - Refers to Jesus' days on earth.

"He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears." (5:7) - Jesus offered up prayers and petitions as He waited for the mob to arrest Him in Gethsemane Garden (Matthew 26:36-39; Luke 22:41-44). This was not the first time Jesus wept (John 11:35; Luke 19:41).

"Being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation." (5:9) - "Being perfect, He (Jesus) became the source of eternal salvation."

To learn more about how "gifts and sacrifices" atoned for sin, read Leviticus 1:1-7:38.

New Living Translation

Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Christ Is Our High Priest

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 5:1-10

1 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.

2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.

3 That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.

4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.

5 That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,

  "You are my Son.
      Today I have become your Father."

6 And in another passage God said to him,

  "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.

8 Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

9 In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What does "Who" refer to in verse 5:7?

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Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "Who" refers to Jesus Christ.

Application thought for the day:

Under the Old Covenant, the High Priest made ceremonial sacrifices to atone for sin. When a person sinned, the blood of an animal paid the penalty. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate, and final payment for our sins.

Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, believers will not be punished for our sins. Take time to thank God for His New Covenant and for Jesus' sacrifice.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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