Hebrews Chapter 5
The Perfect High Priest
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 verse is very similar to what we will subsequently read in Hebrews 8:3, “¶For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.” The point being (reading down a little further to Hebrews 8:4-6) that the earthly priests are still only men who “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,” whereas Jesus “obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
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.”
The earthly priests understood (just as Jesus understands) that they themselves needed compassion for their own sins, just as other men require compassion due to their ignorance and for being “out of the way”. (and we should remember that Jesus is The Way)
Hebrews 5:3, “And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.”
Therefore the priests in the Old Testament had to not only offer sacrifices for the sins of others, but also for themselves for their own sins, as we read in Leviticus 4:3, “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.” (the rest of the priest’s steps can be found reading further in Leviticus 4:4-12)
Hebrews 5:4, “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.”
John 3:27, tells us, “¶John (the Baptist) answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” and regarding Aaron, he was indeed called of God as we read where God told Mose the following in Exodus 28:1, “¶And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, [even] Aaron, Nadaband Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.“
No man can claim a right to the priesthood, it has to be bestowed by God according to God’s Will Alone or as some would say, “it is a calling”.
Think of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.“
or, in 2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
Hebrews 5:5, “¶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.“
Jesus was bestowed the mantle of High Priest by God the Father. This is just as Jesus said in John 8:54, “¶Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:”
The latter part of the verse hearkens us back to Psalm 2:7, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.“
And we should also remember, Proverbs 27:2(a), “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;“
John 7:16, “¶Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.“
Hebrews 5:6, “¶As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.“
This verse hearkens us back to Psalm 110:4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art a] priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” The point being that Jesus is not a “Levite” because Jesus is of the tribe of Judah, and God is saying that Jesus has a higher ordination, one that is patterned after Melchizedek (Abraham’s priest, who was before Levi was even born…and that is addressed more clearly in Hebrews 7:9&10).
We should take a moment to remember who Melchizedek was. Melchizedek, in the original Hebrew, is מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (malkî-ṣeḏeq)H4442, which means (“King of Righteousness”). Melchizedek was also the “king of Salem” (Jerusalem), and “priest of the most high God.” Genesis 14:18 as we read in “¶And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.” Who else brought forth “bread and wine”? Jesus in the “Last Supper” brought forth bread and wine to establish the communion between Himself and His Church, as a representation in remembrance of His sacrificed Body and Blood as we read in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (see also Matthew 26:26-28, and Luke 22:19&20).
We should also remember that Melchizedek was no ordinary “man” as we read in Hebrews 7:3, “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Melchizedek could also be called a “theophany“, as he is an example of how God can be manifested in bodily form to serve God’s purpose to point us to the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we know that Jesus is our High Priest Forever! (We will take an even closer look at Melchizedek later in our study of Hebrews chapter 7.)
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;
Psalm 22:1, “¶[[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” which points us to Jesus on the cross in Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?“
Matthew 26:38&39, “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. ¶And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].” and…
Mark 14:32-36, “¶And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed (ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeō)G1568 “terrified” or “astonished”), and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. ¶ And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not whatI will, but what thou wilt.”
And yes, God the Father could have saved Jesus from death as we read in Matthew 26:53&54, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?“
John 12:27, “¶Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.“
Hebrews 5:8, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;“
Philippians 2:8, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.“
Hebrews 5:9, “And being made perfect τελειόω (teleioō)G5048, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;“
Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
2 Timothy 2:10, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.“
Revelation 19:1, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:“
Hebrews 5:10, “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.“
This is a reiteration of verse 6 and another prelude to chapter 7.
Hebrews 5:11, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.“
In John 16:12, Jesus said “¶ I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” and made it clear that the Holy Spirit would provide the means of understanding as we read in John 16:13-15.
We are also reminded of Peter describing Paul’s letters (epistles) and other scriptures, which ultimately relates to all of God’s Word in 2 Peter 3:16, “As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.“
This brings to mind what we read in Matthew 13:15, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” For more on this, please see: “The Hearing Ear and Seeing Eye“.
Nonetheless, while Paul is admonishing the Hebrews, Paul does not give up hope…
Hebrews 5:12, “¶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.“
1 Corinthians 3:1&2, “¶And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.” Note that being a “babe in Christ” is to be the same as carnal and NOT Spiritual. That is saying that they were not yet believers (see below).
Regarding the “oracles of God”, please see Chapter 6.
Hebrews 5:13, “For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.“
The key here is that Paul is admonishing the Hebrews to be grounded and settled in the Truth and be mature in the Word (be of full age, hence “saved”)…He wants them to know The Word, Jesus, and not just the word, the scriptures.
Colossians 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and[ be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;“
Ephesians 4:14, “That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;“
Isaiah 28:9, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.“
1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:“
Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (τέλειος (teleios))G5046, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.“
A mature believer will not believe a lie. They will not be “tossed to a fro” “with every wind of doctrine“. The believer will have discernment by the Spirit of Truth* to know the Truth versus what is said by purveyors of false gospels that will only lead to death and Hell.
Romans 8:1-14 makes clear the difference between the saved (the believers, who are Spiritually minded) and the unsaved (the unbelievers, who are carnally/fleshly minded).
“¶[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ¶But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.¶Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.“
We must have the Spirit of God, The Holy Spirit, to no longer be babes (unsaved in the congregation). And to be mature, or of “Full Age” is also to be considered “Perfect” as we next read.
1 Corinthians 2:6, “¶Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (τέλειος (teleios))G5046: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:“
Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect (τέλειος (teleios))G5046, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (τέλειος (teleios)) G5046.
1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men (τέλειος (teleios)) G5046.
Colossians 1:28, (Paul discussing Jesus Christ) “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching everyman in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (τέλειος (teleios))G5046 in Christ Jesus:”
Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.“
1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.“
1 Corinthians 2:13&14, “¶Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.“
And finally, we should all be like the Bereans in Acts 17:10, who “…searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
*The Spirit of Truth
John 14:16&17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
1 John 4:6, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
1 John 5:6, “This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.“
Explore posts in the same categories: Bible Studies
Bereansearching Bible Studies 
Leave a comment