Introduction to Our Melchizadek
Hebrews 5:1-11
I. Contrast in the similarities of two Priesthood's. 5:1-4
A. Earthly priest taken from among men—a difference in their humanity, not their calling.
1. Contrast Jesus, the High Priest—He is not taken from among men, but sent from God to share in our humanity. 2:9, 10-11, 14. 17—"made like His brethren".
2. Similarity: "appointed for men in things pertaining to God." 5:1/2:17. We will look at "appointed" shortly!
3. Similarity, sort of! "He may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins". 2:17 "to make propitiation for the sins of the people." That is so much more!
4. Similarity: "He can have compassion on the ignorant and the strays." 4:15 "For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities."
5. Contrast: "Since He Himself is also beset by weakness." 4:15 "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." The "from among men" priest, because of his own sin "is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins." The "made like His brethren" Priest, the "without sin" priest, makes propitiation for the sins of the people."
II. The necessity of Divine appointment. 5:4-5
A. Vs 4 "No man takes this honor/called of God." Ex 28:1; Num 3:10, 18:7
1. Num 16-17:8 The very sons of Aaron ignored this to their doom!
2. Num 17:1-13 God verifies Aaron's appointment!
a. Aarons rod "sprouted and put forth buds, and produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds".
3. Aaron's "fruitful rod" was put in the ark of the testimony, a testimony to the sure fact that a greater High Priest was to come!
Note: Our aliveness unto fruit bearing depends solely upon the appointed authority of our Great High Priest!
B. Our High Priests' appointment 5:5-6
1. Our High Priest's appointment is to a new kind of Priesthood.
a. He is the begotten Son of God, verified by His resurrection. Acts13:33-34
b. This is essential for Him to be a priest forever—and that distinguishes the Melchizedek priesthood. Melchizedek occurs 9 times in chapters 5-7. 7:15-16 Jesus' Melchizedek Priesthood means that he ministers "according to the power of an endless life." And that changes everything!
2. Vs 7 Remember, he took upon Himself our flesh! 2:14 See how human He is-cries and tears! Matt 26:36-46, Luke 39:44!
a. He was heard because of His Godly Fear! The true Fear of God bows before the will of God! "not my will, but Thine be done!"
3. Vs 8 Even though He was the Son of God, He learned obedience by the things He suffered. We learn obedience from the textbook of disobedience. Jesus learned obedience like a child learns to tie his shoe. He was in our flesh, sharing intimately with all our weaknesses—hunger, pain, the need for sleep, and on and on, and in our infirmity, He walked without sin, with out "why ?"s, ever seeking His Father's will, no matter the infirm, weak flesh!
What are we learning by the things we suffer????????
Note: There is nothing wrong with asking, "if it be possible" if we are willing to rest in, "not my will, but Thine be done."
4. Vs 9 Perfected by sufferings, verified by resurrection! That was necessary for Him to be the Author of our Salvation. He had to be the "firstborn" human from the dead!
5. Vs 10 Here it is again! Called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek. This is a crucial title an ministry of our Lord. Without it, we could not be saved!
Verse 11-6:12 is a splash of cold water in the face! "Clean your ears out!" the author is saying. But it is more than wax in the ears, it is the dull hearts of perpetual babies. Beware!
Hebrews 5:1-11
I. Contrast in the similarities of two Priesthood's. 5:1-4
A. Earthly priest taken from among men—a difference in their humanity, not their calling.
1. Contrast Jesus, the High Priest—He is not taken from among men, but sent from God to share in our humanity. 2:9, 10-11, 14. 17—"made like His brethren".
2. Similarity: "appointed for men in things pertaining to God." 5:1/2:17. We will look at "appointed" shortly!
3. Similarity, sort of! "He may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins". 2:17 "to make propitiation for the sins of the people." That is so much more!
4. Similarity: "He can have compassion on the ignorant and the strays." 4:15 "For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities."
5. Contrast: "Since He Himself is also beset by weakness." 4:15 "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." The "from among men" priest, because of his own sin "is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins." The "made like His brethren" Priest, the "without sin" priest, makes propitiation for the sins of the people."
II. The necessity of Divine appointment. 5:4-5
A. Vs 4 "No man takes this honor/called of God." Ex 28:1; Num 3:10, 18:7
1. Num 16-17:8 The very sons of Aaron ignored this to their doom!
2. Num 17:1-13 God verifies Aaron's appointment!
a. Aarons rod "sprouted and put forth buds, and produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds".
3. Aaron's "fruitful rod" was put in the ark of the testimony, a testimony to the sure fact that a greater High Priest was to come!
Note: Our aliveness unto fruit bearing depends solely upon the appointed authority of our Great High Priest!
B. Our High Priests' appointment 5:5-6
1. Our High Priest's appointment is to a new kind of Priesthood.
a. He is the begotten Son of God, verified by His resurrection. Acts13:33-34
b. This is essential for Him to be a priest forever—and that distinguishes the Melchizedek priesthood. Melchizedek occurs 9 times in chapters 5-7. 7:15-16 Jesus' Melchizedek Priesthood means that he ministers "according to the power of an endless life." And that changes everything!
2. Vs 7 Remember, he took upon Himself our flesh! 2:14 See how human He is-cries and tears! Matt 26:36-46, Luke 39:44!
a. He was heard because of His Godly Fear! The true Fear of God bows before the will of God! "not my will, but Thine be done!"
3. Vs 8 Even though He was the Son of God, He learned obedience by the things He suffered. We learn obedience from the textbook of disobedience. Jesus learned obedience like a child learns to tie his shoe. He was in our flesh, sharing intimately with all our weaknesses—hunger, pain, the need for sleep, and on and on, and in our infirmity, He walked without sin, with out "why ?"s, ever seeking His Father's will, no matter the infirm, weak flesh!
What are we learning by the things we suffer????????
Note: There is nothing wrong with asking, "if it be possible" if we are willing to rest in, "not my will, but Thine be done."
4. Vs 9 Perfected by sufferings, verified by resurrection! That was necessary for Him to be the Author of our Salvation. He had to be the "firstborn" human from the dead!
5. Vs 10 Here it is again! Called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek. This is a crucial title an ministry of our Lord. Without it, we could not be saved!
Verse 11-6:12 is a splash of cold water in the face! "Clean your ears out!" the author is saying. But it is more than wax in the ears, it is the dull hearts of perpetual babies. Beware!