Free Bible Commentary
“Hebrews 5:1-6”
Categories: Hebrews“For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’; just as He says also in another passage, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’”
---End of Scripture verses---
The author continues his portrayal of Jesus as our sympathetic High Priest in order to convince his converted Jewish readers that they should “draw near” to Him to “receive mercy and grace to help in time of need (4:14-16). His argument today is that Jesus is a legitimate high priest in every way, hand-selected by God and perfectly qualified for the position.
Jesus was “taken from among men” as the Levitical priests were since Jesus was also a man who was tempted in all points as they were (Hebrews 4:15). He was superior to them, however, in that He was “without sin” while they needed to “offer sacrifices” for their own sins as well as for the sins of those they were interceding for (verse 3).
Jesus also offered “gifts and sacrifices for sins” (verse 1), but His were more excellent and effectual in nature. While the old high priests sprinkled the blood of animals upon the altar of atonement and the mercy seat which resided in the holy of holies in the temple, Jesus carried the precious gift and sacrifice of His own atoning blood into the true most holy place in heaven itself, and made “eternal redemption” for sins there (Hebrews 9:12-14).
Jesus was “called by God” (verse 4) to the office of high priest as His “Son” (verse 5), and “according to the order of Melchizedek” (verse 6). Jesus is legitimate in His high priestly position as were those under the Law of Moses, but He was not of their order, being much more excellent in nature since His priesthood did not end at His death but actually began there, and is perpetual in nature (Psalm 110:4).
Psalm 110 is a prophetic view of the Messiah who would reign as both King and High Priest over God’s chosen people. This was unheard of in the Mosaic system as the Law strictly separated the two positions. Whenever a king of Israel imposed himself upon the duties of a high priest he was harshly disciplined by God (1 Samuel 13:8-14).
We should all marvel at our Lord Jesus and what we have in Him as our Savior, Priest and King. He loves us because He created us. He sympathizes with our weaknesses because He became one of us. He offered Himself as a perfect, atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. He sits at the right hand of the throne of God interceding for us and helping us with our weaknesses and temptations. He’s coming back for His faithful to safely deliver them home to the place that He has prepared for us in heaven.
Please read Hebrews 5:7-10 for tomorrow.
Try to sympathize with the weaknesses of the people who share in our own human frailties!
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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