The book of Hebrews was written to the those who were converted Jewish Christians – possibly in and around Jerusalem.
They had been brought up in the Jewish faith, had probably attended Temple Worship, attended the various festivals, and they accepted the many laws and the traditions of the Elders without question.
They now had a lot to unlearn, and not surprisingly they were reluctant!
Not only did it mean setting aside the whole system of Temple worship, with priests and sacrifices. But they also believed that Angels, Moses and even the High Priest should all be treated with special reverence.
Our first study dealt with Angels (Chapters 1 & 2), the second study Moses (Chapters 3 & 4 and 13 & 14)
The first part of Chapter 5 looks at priests – especially the High Priest.
The whole sacrificial system was maintained by the priests, and of supreme importance was the High Priest who was the only one who was able to enter the 'Holy of Holies' once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people.
We start in Hebrews 5:1-10. (You may wish to read the whole passage first, but I’ll comment as we go along!)
Hebrews 5:1-4
1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
The Hebrews revered the High Priest as a truly ‘Holy Man’ – called by God, sanctified, and set apart to make sacrifices on behalf of the people of Israel. But note (in verses 2 & 3) that he was only a man, with weaknesses, and before he could present sacrifices on behalf of the people he had first to bring sacrifices for his own sins.
But also he was considered by many to be the country’s supreme leader (even above the Roman governor).
(In Jesus day the High Priest was Annas, although Caiaphas had been installed by Rome as ‘High Priest’ and therefore recognised as their political and legal representative.)
Now read Hebrews 5:5-6
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
‘You are my Son; Today I have become your Father.’ (Psalm 2:7)
6 And he says in another place,
‘You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ (Psalm 110:4)
We will look at Melchizedek shortly, so instead we need to concentrate more on the function of Jesus as Priest – appointed to the role by Father God.
Verse 7
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Often Jesus took himself away to pray to his father (e.g. Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Mark 1:35; Matt 14:23; Matt 14:23), culminating in the time in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:40-44). Here we are told that Jesus prayed fervently and reverently – do we pray like that?
Verse 8
8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus was Son of God, but also human. We finished our last study with ‘trust and obey’ – the two go together – Jesus whole life demonstrated this. Then, in his final act, once for all, he made sacrifice for the sins of all who would trust him.
Having completed all he had come to do, he returned to the father – perfect. So he could rightfully receive the title ‘High Priest’.
He became the embodiment of the old 'Sacrificial System' and in that one supreme act of sacrifice brought it to an end.
But what of Melchizedek? For this we will move on to Hebrews 7
If you want to know more of the background to what will follow, the study on Genesis chapter 14 explains (with maps).
Briefly, some background – While Lot was living in Sodom, a group of ‘kings’ with their armies swept through the area and Lot had been captured. His uncle Abraham came to his rescue and drove off the raiders. With Lot was a large quantity of plunder. On his return home Abraham was met by the king of Salem (at that time a pagan land) – who was also a priest of the Lord.
Most of what anyone knows about Melchizedek is found in the passage we are going to study – possibly you may want to read the whole chapter before we look at it verse-by-verse.
Hebrews 7:1-3
1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace’. 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for ever.
The first phrase in verse 1 contains an anomaly. How could a pagan king also be ‘priest of God Most High’?
But he came out specifically to bless Abraham and in return was given a tenth of all the spoils of war.
Helpfully Moses includes the meaning of the names ‘king of righteousness’ and ‘king of peace’. But he also points out that he appears ‘out of nowhere’ (also there is no record of his death) and so can be a picture of the Son of God – a priest for ever.
Hebrews 7:4-6
4 Just think how great he was: even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people – that is, from their fellow Israelites – even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
God had instructed Moses that only the sons of Aaron, son of Levi, could be priests (Exodus 28) – but that was still to come (400 years later). Here the triumphant warrior Abraham recognised in Melchizedek a representative of the God who he worshipped, and so made an offering.
Hebrews 7:7-10
7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
A bit convoluted I know, but the argument seems to be that priests collected tithes as an offering to God. And the priests, and Aaron, and Levi were all descended from Abraham who made the offering to God through Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:11-17
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood – and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood – why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
‘You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ (Psalm 110:4)
Starting with verse 17, we are introduced to Jesus our great High Priest. If you wanted to check his credentials you find that he was from the tribe of Judah (like King David – verse 14). So we have verse 16: Jesus was not descended from Levi, but was accepted ‘on the basis of the power of an indestructible life’.
Hebrews 7:18-22
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest for ever.”’ (Psalm 110:4)
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
Now we are introduced to the New Covenant. In the past, those who sinned had to make an offering – which only covered their sin - only Jesus could make the perfect sacrifice to remove it completely.
Hebrews 7:23-25
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
It’s worth just taking time to dwell on the words ‘he is able to save completely’ and ‘he always lives to intercede for them’.
Hebrews 7:26-28
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect for ever.
What three words do we particularly need to take from this section? ‘once for all’
Now we can add here 3 verses we skipped earlier: Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus is the only priest we ever need to lead us to God and grant us forgiveness and full salvation from our sins. (Personally I am a little uncomfortable when ministers take this title and act as some form of intermediary – although all Christians can claim to be priests – see 1 Peter 2:5 & 9 ‘you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.’ and ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’ )
The theme continues in chapter 8 – again you may wish to read the whole chapter first.
Hebrews 8:1-2
1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: we do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
The primary role of Jesus as high Priest was to make full and final offering of himself as the perfect sacrifice for sins. Beyond that we don’t know what service is required of him in the Heavenly Sanctuary – the holiest place where God dwells, but we do know that he continually intercedes with God on our behalf.
This will be developed more in chapters 9 and 10.
Read Hebrews 8:3-5
3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ (Exodus 25:40)
While Jesus was on earth he never adopted a position as Temple priest. There were far too many of them already! Those priests were operating under a shell of the old covenant; a covenant broken so often by the people not keeping their side of the bargain.
I find it interesting that when the people were finally punished and taken into captivity to Babylon, the Ark of the covenant was taken and the Temple destroyed. Then when the people returned from exile and rebuilt the Temple, the Ark was no longer there – the symbol of God’s presence with his people was missing. That remained true even in Herod’s splendid new Temple.
Read Hebrews 8:6-7
6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to he old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
The old covenant relied on the people playing their part – Leviticus chapter 26 contains many dire warnings if they failed – which they did, repeatedly.
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
8 But God found fault with the people and said: (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
‘The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel: after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbours, or say to one another, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’
13 By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Firstly, we need to accept that when God spoke through his prophets it was truly God, not the prophet speaking. Sometimes I’m tempted to skip over the prophets – as did the people of Israel, yet generally the prophets were giving warning messages from God aimed at the corrupt people and their kings to warn them of the consequences of their actions.
Here in Jeremiah God explained that he punished his people because they continually broke the old covenant (verse 9). Now he is introducing a new covenant (only made possible by the sacrifice of his son – verse 12) in which his own Spirit will now work in the minds and hearts of those who acknowledge him as Lord.
When we say ‘I give my life to Jesus’ he takes us at our word, and in return says ‘In that case, I will show you how I want you to live for me.’
Next time we will expand on this ‘New Covenant’
