Study Notes on Epistle to Hebrews - 5. High priest hood of Lord Jesus Christ

Part 5: High-priesthood of Lord Jesus Christ

(Hebrews 4: 14 to 5:10 And 6:19 to 8: 13)

·        High priest - a mediator between men and God

·        In tabernacle /temple service - priests work daily sacrifices and other ceremonial things 

·        But the high priest has one specific work to do. Once in a year, he takes blood and goes into the most holy places and intercedes for the sins of his people. 

·        This makes him a mediator between sinful men and Holy God to get forgiveness of sins of men. (Not going deep here) 

·        Jesus came as the mediator between men and God. 1 Tim 2:5.

·        This way He was doing the job of the high priest. 

·        Book of Hebrews says that Lord Jesus is the true high priest who works in the true tabernacle not made by human hands (i.e,made by God). Human high priests were just shadows/images. 

 

Let us see what Hebrews has to say about Lord Jesus as high priest. 

 

Hebrews 5:1

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

1. Appointment                     2. Act on behalf of men (to offer gifts and sacrifices)

 

          Let us see the eligibility criteria of Lord Jesus as high priest. 

 

1. Appointment 

Hebrews 8:1 we have such a high priest

Hebrews 7:26 we should have such a high priest

 

What kind of high priest the Lord Jesus is. 

 

i) Appointed by God   Hebrews 5:4,5

Sent by God to be a mediator between God and men

 

Appointing authority 

·        Central government employees in India get appointment letters by the order of the President of India. 

·        This shows authority and power behind their appointment and work. 

·        In the same way, along with appointment, God the Father also gave several authorities to Lord Jesus as high priest which earthly priests did not possess. 

o   Authority to forgive sins (Mt 9:6, Mk 2:10, Lk 5:24)

o   Authority to lay down and take back life (Jn 10:18), i.e., to pay the price of our redemption.

 

ii) Lord Jesus is high priest in the order of Melchizedek, but not in the order of Aaron . Hebrews 5:6

 

Two orders of priests in the Bible. Order of Aaron & order of Melchizedek. 

 

·        In the order of Aaron, high priests were physical descents of Aaron. 

·        But Melchizedek has no bloodline recorded in the Bible. No father, no mother, no son, or grandson. His birth and death are not recorded.  Hebrews 7:3

 

In that way, Melchizedek represents (is the picture of) the son of God (equal to God) 

And also is high priest (mediator between God and men) 

 

Hebrews 7:16 Jesus became high priest by the power of indestructible life

Power is in his life. 

·        Melchizedek was both king and priest. This was not possible in levitical priesthood. 

·        So, Jesus is also both king and priest. He is our Lord as well as mediator.  

 

iii) Melchizedek is superior to Abraham

This means, the priesthood of Lord Jesus is superior to that of Aaron (who is descendent of Abraham). 

 

Hebrews 7:1

Melchizedek...met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

 

Hebrews 7:8

It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

 

·        Abraham is returning from the slaughter of the Kings. He is already rich. He's already blessed physically. 

·        Children?

Hebrews 7:6 (Melchizedek) blessed him who had the promises.

Abraham already has the promise of God about children.

·        However, Melchizedek has met him and blessed him. 

 

                    What are these blessings?

 

·        This shows that Melchizedek's blessings are high above physical things. they are spiritual blessings

·        The blessings the Lord Jesus brought as high priest are above physical blessings, they are spiritual blessings. Eph 1:3

 

 

Melchizedek is superior to Abraham (your father) or Levitical priesthood. 

This means, spiritual blessings are superior to physical blessings. 

 

iv) He (Melchizedek) is … king of righteousness, ... peace. Hebrews 7:2

In a court scene: when there is no peace between two parties, they come to the law. The law gives judgment or enforces the righteousness. 

 

In the general human scenario, righteousness and peace are separated, against each other. 

 

Melchizedek is a picture of a person in whom both righteousness and peace are united together. 

 

Ps 85:10 Mercy & truth kissed each other. A prophecy, a man’s deep desire. 

 

This resembles the nature of Lord Jesus, who was full of grace and truth. John 1:14

It is in the Lord Jesus, the true high priest, the Mercy & truth, truth & grace, Righteousness & Peace met. 

 

He fulfilled the righteousness of God, took the judgment of God upon himself. Granted us the grace, mercy, and peace. 

Study Notes on Epistle to Hebrews - 4. Interlude

Study Notes on Epistle to Hebrews - 3. God's Promised Rest

 Part 3: Promise of entering God's Rest (Heb 3:7 - 4:13 )

Heb 3:7-11 ~ Ps 95: 7(6)-11 (Read from psalms for better understanding)

Meriba = Rebellion

Massa = Testing (the LORD)

Two places were named Meriba and on two occasions Israelites showed rebellion in the same situation. 

1. Ex 17:1-7

Vs. 1. Actual name of the place: Rephidim (wilderness of Sin) 

VS. 7. Moses named the place Massah & Meliba.

Vs. 2,3 Situation/Problem: Thirst (no water)

Response of the people: Quarrelling / rebellion & Testing the LORD

Vs. 6. Nevertheless, God, in His goodness & kindness, met their need.

2.            Num 20:2-13 

This is almost 40 years after the first occassion.

Vs. 1. Actual name of the place: Kadesh (wilderness of Zin)

      Vs. 13. Moses named it Meriba

VS. 2-5 Same situation/problem as in Ex 17.

Same behavior/response of the people.

 

Their lives did not change, no progress/growth.

Vs. 11. God met their need again.

But, what was the feeling of God?

Ps 95:10. God says: I loathed (hated strongly) that generation

Unfortunately, they did not understand God's heart.

Vs. 10.. People who go astray in their hearts

Not known my ways. (They have seen God’s works, but did not know God’s ways)

Vs. 11 God swore in wrath

"They shall not enter my left"

Heb 3:11 some have lost it

Heb 4:6,7 God is giving another opportunity saying "Today".

What is this rest?

The author is comparing this rest with two rests mentioned in the Old Testament. 

1. Heb 4:4-6.  “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

It is compared with God's rest. 

vs. 10 He who has rested from "his" (amp: human) works enters God's rest. 

Jn 6:28,29 life of believing is the life of rest. Not works, but faith.

To enter means to stay inside. It’s not just a one time event, but a continuous life of faith.

2.            Heb 4: 8 Joshua did not give this rest

 Comparing with Israelites possessing the promised inheritance, the rest that God had promised

How does it apply to us?

 

Heb 3:14 We have come to share in Christ

Enjoying the abundant life offered in Christ is the promised inheritance for New Testament believers. 

     Who missed / lost this rest?

Heb 3:16 who Rebelled?

Those who left Egypt. That means, they were the people who were redeemed by the blood of the lamb. They also passed through red sea.

This means, not all redeemed (or born again) by the blood of Christ enter this rest.

How did they miss it?

1.  Vs: 12, 19. Unbelieving heart (Not knowledge in mind, but Faith in heart is required) 

Why did it happen?

Heb 4: 2,1. No fellowship with believers 

There are two types of fellowships:

• Physical fellowship (Meeting physically)
• Mental fellowship(Being united in mind)

Physical Fellowship:

Ex. A stick catching file is not enough but it needs to be with other burning sticks (may not be strong but burning)

Heb 10:25 Some have habit of neglecting the fellowship.

Lk 4:16 Practice / habit of Jesus was to attend fellowship

No one is more/exception

Remember: “We are what we are because of our habits”

Let's make sure we have this habit of attending the fellowship of saints. 

     Mental fellowship

•       Uniting with those who have faith

Num 13:25-14:10

12 Spies -Two groups, Two reports

Both groups heard the good news. Ex 3:17, Lev 20:24

Majority (10 people) - Faithless report, bad report (Num 13:32)

Minority (2 people) - Faith Report, good report

13:30. Caleb speaks alone first with strong faith, not discouraged/afraid to stand alone, no self-pity either

14:6 Joshua supported - United with those who have faith

What about the rest of the congregation?

Num 14:1 they wept & grumbled

14:10 wanted to stone these 2 people.

They were "united" with faithless majority.

Result: Num 14:30

Not one shall enter, except Jashua & Caleb

2.  Heb 3:18,17,13 Disobedience

Faith leads to obedience

Eg. Abraham - left his home & offered his only son because he had faith

Unbelief leads to disobedience.

Disobedience to God’s word is sin. 

Continuing in sin leads to hardness of heart.(Judg 16:20)

Heb 4:11-13 God’s word is still powerful.

→ Living: It has life in it. It gives life to the dead. It is new and fresh. 

→ Active: powered up / charged up always

→ Sharper: Cuts hurts (It depends on our sensitivity to God’s word). Some may have seared conscience for whom God’s work does not work. (1 Tim 4:2)

→ Piercing: Division of soul & spirit or carnal & spiritual things. 

→ Discerning thoughts & intentions

(Not only words & actions II Cor. 5:16)

Vs.13 Nothing can be hidden from God / God's ward

→ To him we must give account. 

- In the light of God's word

- Keep short accounts with God. It means, keep confessing and correcting regularly as frequently as possible.

Here are the warnings:

Heb 3:12 Take care, brothers

4:1 Let us fear

4:11 Let us strive (work hard) to enter the rest