Hebrews Chapter 5

• Hebrews 5:1 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:

This is how it was before Christ. Priests had to offer sacrifices on altars to atone for the sins of the Israelites. They had to do everything according to the law and ordinances of that time. It had to be done with a perfect spotless animal. This pointed to the perfect one to come that would be the perfect sacrifice for the sins not only of Jews but Gentiles. This would be done once and for all abolishing the old law of animal sacrifices which could not make anyone without sin.

Now we have not only forgiveness of sin but the spirit of God comes within each believer, as a gift from God. When he or she repents and receives Jesus and the sacrifice He did on their behalf, the free gift of salvation is available and also the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is now this high priest that atones for sin. The old priesthood is no longer necessary. In fact if we try to resume the use of priests, rituals and other ordinances to make us more holy than we are, we are actually causing people not to trust in what Christ has already done. Now Christ alone takes away sin, not the keeping of the law apart from Christ.

• Hebrews 5:2 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.

The priest had to offer sacrifices for himself as well as the people because he also was a sinner.

• Hebrews 5:4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

God called the priests into service. He made Christ the high priest forever. Christ did not glorify Himself and did not make Himself a high priest but was appointed that position by God. Now the service of earthly priests are no longer necessary since the perfect sacrifice has been accomplished by Jesus Christ.

• Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.
• 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

As Melchizedek's priesthood was on going, so is the priesthood of Christ.

• Psalms 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

This is a prophecy fulfilled. Jesus became a priest by the order of Melchizedek and not by the priesthood of Aaron. The priesthood of Aaron was temporary only until the death of the priest. The order of Melchizedek is eternal.

• Hebrews 5:7 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;

Not only did our beloved savior know that He was going to suffer physical pain but He knew that He would die for every ugly sin mankind has ever done. He paid the price of that sin so that we could live without sin and be partakers of God's holiness.

• Hebrews 5:8 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;

Jesus never failed in one thing He was called to do. He did no sin enabling Him to be the sacrifice for our sins. Had He sinned just once, it would have prevented Him from being a perfect sinless sacrifice. He had to be perfect just as the animals sacrificed in the Old Testament had to be without spot or blemish. The innocent had to suffer for the guilty. Jesus was innocent as a lamb without spot or blemish. This had to be because mankind had sinned and was facing eternity in hell for that sin. Jesus came to step in the gap and pay for our sins so that we could go free.

• Hebrews 5:10 Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
• 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
• 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

The book of Hebrews gets us into the deep spiritual things of God that some of us have a hard time understanding. Yet we can understand by the help of the Holy Sprit.

• Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

This is how a new convert is and we must have patience and kindness toward those that are still weak in the word of God.

• Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

As we grow in the word and walk in the spirit we have more discernment and can more easily spot heresy and know good from evil. That is why the New Testament church should have the young ministers learn from the ones that are older in the faith.

Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed and in the New Testament revealed. We can understand and find Him if we search with our whole heart. Also, if we are determined to understand the word of God, we can understand it. Even, the King James Version which so many believe is hard to understand in today's world. I downloaded a copy of the original King James version that was written in 1611. It is a real challenge to read but worth taking the time to do so. DC