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This is a sermon based on Hebrews 4:14-5:10 that speaks about the ministry of Jesus Christ as our heavenly high priest.
Written excerpts:
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Introduction:
In our sermons we have been picking out selected passages in the book of Hebrews that I had underlined or highlighted in my Bible at some point. These were texts that had caught my attention and interest in a particular way and I felt would be important to share with you.
Today, I want to continue by selecting a portion of scripture in chapter four. We will be discussing an entire segment of verses that speak about the high-priestly ministry of our Lord. Remember that we have previously said how the author of this letter has been presenting his arguments for how Jesus, the Son of God is much better than angels, the prophets, Moses and Joshua.
Now, he is continuing by arguing the point that this Jesus is even better than Aaron, the first high priest under the Old Covenant. One writer (Wuest) suggests that this is the greatest in the progression of examples to which Jesus is compared, because Aaron represented the one who was “mediator” between God and man. For that reason, Aaron was greater than the prophets or Moses or Joshua. But now, Jesus Christ is shown to be greater than Aaron.
As we consider what the author has to say in this regard, we want to focus on three main thoughts that he has expressed in these verses. Let us review together the Identity of our High Priest; the Qualifications of our High Priest; and the Impact of His Ministry upon all Believers.
I. The Identity of Our High Priest
In this group of verses the author provides us with important details regarding the identity of our great high priest. If you recall, the priests in the OT were required to be members of the tribe of Levi and the direct descendants of Aaron. In similar fashion, the author of this letter emphasizes the all-important identity of this new high priest.
A. He is identified with deity.
There are two different emphases that are presented in regards to the priest’s identity – deity and humanity.
1. His deity is expressed in His greatness. (4:14)
“…we have a great high priest…”
Lit. – “having therefore a high priest, a great one…”
Scholars (Barclay & Wuest) emphasize that the text here is not simply stating that Jesus is a really awesome priest, but the structure is emphasizing His greatness in addition to His priesthood. This emphasis seems to be alluding to His deity or divinity. i.e. He is “The Great One”.
2. His deity is expressed in His relationship. (4:14; 5:5)
His relationship is defined as “the Son of God.”
In 5:5, he is described as the “begotton Son.”
B. He is identified with humanity.
This high priest, the Messiah, is not only divine, but he is truly human.
1. His humanity is emphasized by physical weakness. (4:15; 5:7,8)
He is touched (lit. suffers with) our infirmities (physical weaknesses). This point expresses his ability to sympathize by entering into the experiences of others. He understands and sympathizes with being in pain, being tired, being pressured, and any number of other experiences that humans go through in their frailties.
2. His humanity is emphasized by testing. (4:15)
“…tested in all points as we are…”
(Barclay) We may be inclined to think that His temptations and tests were less than ours because He was divine and had powers that we don’t have. But, in reality, His tests and temptations were greater because “…we fall to temptation long before the tempter has put out the whole of his power. We never know temptation at its fiercest because we fall long before that stage is reached.
II. The Qualifications of Our High Priest
The author of this letter is writing to Jewish believers trying to exhort them against leaving their faith in Christ and returning to Judaism. For these people, who are beginning to think that the Old Covenant was the right way to go, the author must convince them that Jesus is not only better than Aaron, but that He is qualified to take the place of Aaron.
A. He is fit because He was called by God. (5:4-6, 10)
In the old covenant, no one just decides one day, “I’m going to be a priest.” He must be called by God like Aaron (and his family) was chosen by God. The Scripture goes on to show that Jesus did not assume this role on His own, but He was chosen by God, His Father, as well. The exact incident the author refers to is the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River .
In addition to the incident at the Jordan River , the author applies OT prophecies from Psalms to the Lord by stating that it was Jesus whom God was referring to when He made or called Him to be a “priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. There are some other references in Hebrews to this king/priest, Melchisedec, which I won’t take the time to get into now. But, the emphasis here seems to be that the author knows Jesus was not from the family of Aaron and did not “inherit” the priestly office, but He still did not just assume it on His own. He was called and ordained by God His Father to be a priest forever.
B. He is fit because He is able to empathize. (4:15; cf. 5:2)
Another qualification or requirement that is mentioned by this author is the fact that a priest must be able to empathize with those for whom he intercedes. In 5:2, the emphasis is on the fact that the priest is sinful and full of need just as much as the people for whom he is sacrificing and interceding. Aaron and the other OT priests knew that they were making sacrifices for their own sins as well as the sins of the people.
However, 4:15 expresses another picture of Jesus. He did not make sacrifices for His own sins, because He never sinned. Yet, He did experience the severest kind of temptations and trials common to humanity.
C. He is fit because He obeyed. (5:8-9)
Jesus perfectly and completely obeyed and fulfilled all that God asked Him to do.
Needing to learn obedience (v.8) is primarily a reference to His humanity and the fact that He experienced in actual human life what obedience involved, by going through the suffering that He endured.
“…being made perfect”
This phrase does not imply that Jesus had any defect or imperfections. The word used here refers to anything that exactly carries out or fulfills the purpose for which it was designed. If it does so, then it is perfect. (Barclay) Jesus “came to do the Father’s will.” He came to suffer and to die for the sins of humanity. Therefore, He was “made perfect” (He fulfilled His purposed) by obediently suffering all the pains of our sins.
D. He is fit because He completed His sacrifice. (4:14)
In this very first verse of the whole passage we have been considering today, the author emphasizes a truth that is so inspiring.
“Jesus passed into the heavens.”
Language scholars tell us that the sentence structure requires this translation, “He passed through the heavens with the result that He is in heaven.”
The opinion of some writers is that this is meant to be a parallel image to the OT high priest taking the blood from the bronze altar, passing through the outer court, and through the holy place, to go into the most holy place (KJV, holy of holies) in order to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat for the atonement.
In similar fashion, Jesus took His own blood from the cross of Calvary , “passed through the heaven of the clouds, the heaven of the stars, into the heaven of heavens, the centralized abode of Deity” where He made the atonement once and for all on the heavenly mercy seat. (Wuest)
Cf. Hebrews 9:12 “By His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
III. The Impact of His Ministry on Believers
Now, what is the impact of all this for believers in Palestine
The recipients of this letter were strongly tempted to return to the old system of sacrifices because of the persecution they suffered. The author is telling them all this about the high priestly work of Christ for a reason. Here is the impact of what he has been saying to them.
A. He provided eternal salvation for all believers. (5:9; cf. 5:6)
The salvation provided by the sacrifice offered by Jesus is a permanent sacrifice providing an eternal salvation (v.9) because He is a “priest forever” (v.6).
B. Believers may persevere. (4:14)
Secondly, as a result of what Jesus has accomplished (passing through the heavens to make atonement for all sins)…
“Let us hold fast our profession” – Let us not give up what we believe. In light of what Jesus has done, we can persevere, we can endure, we can grip onto our faith and never let it go.
C. Believers are showered with gracious gifts. (4:16)
The final impact we want to mention is found in v. 16 with the second use of the phrase, “let us.”
All believers have the privilege of coming into the throne room of grace to receive grace rather than judgment. In this throne room of grace we find mercy (rather than judgment) for past sins – that is justification; the removal of our criminal record. And, in this throne room of grace we find grace for our present and future needs. (Barclay)
We find grace (blessing, favor, strength) to help us in our hour of need. The Priest is in heaven and He waits for you and for me to come with our need. He waits for us to come with the confidence that He will provide all the grace we need for every situation we face.
Conclusion:
This truth is not only important for first-century believers in Palestine
Therefore, let US hold fast what we believe. Let US
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