Hebrews 5:1-5

 

Heb 5:1 (KJB)

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:

 

Is ordained - Appointed or set

 

Now the subject turns to the superiority of the Lord Jesus Christ over the Aaronic priesthood. First, the priest must be taken from among men and then upon qualification they were ordained into the active service of being a priest, either in the Tabernacle when they were in the wilderness or the Temple. In the previous chapters the humanity of Christ had already been mentioned. Secondly, after the priest was ordained, he was then to partake in his duties of representing the people of Israel to God, just as the High Priest did once a year. Part of his duties was to accept gifts on behalf of the people who gave unto the Lord and also to offer the appropriate sacrifices for sin and trespasses.

 

Heb 5:2 (KJB)

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.

 

Have compassion - Deal gently with or be gently with

On the ignorant - Unknowing or not understanding

On them that are out of the way - Mislead, gone astray, or deceived

Is compassed - Surrounded by

With infirmity - Weakness

 

The earthly priest, being human himself, will be able to have compassion on those who have sinned, especially those who sinned unknowingly. A person can commit a sin but intent was lacking. The priest would be able to understand this and deal with them in a compassionate way. Then the priest would deal with those who have been mislead or deceived. He could deal with them compassionately knowing that it is possible to act upon or to believe a false doctrine or tenet of a doctrine. As humans it is not very hard to stray. The priest can deal compassionately with these type of people because the priest himself is also susceptible to drifting and deception. As with all other humans, priests are human too and are surrounded with the weakness of the flesh. This verse should be of interest to Pastors too because they are human and can fall because of the weakness of the flesh. It is because of this that they should be able to identify with those who have succumbed to the desires of the flesh. There is no such thing as a super spiritual class of Christians which can never fall to the lusts of the flesh. Christian position and calling does not guarantee one will never give in to the lusts of the flesh.

 

Heb 5:3 (KJB)

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

 

Since the priest was also human and fallible, it was necessary to offer a sin sacrifice for himself also. (Lev 9:7 KJV) And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded. Aaron was the High Priest and the brother of Moses but this position and relationship was no guarantee that he would not commit sin, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore, before he could offer the offerings for the people or their sin offerings, he had to be covered by a sacrifice himself so he could be clean before the Lord. This verse is important because it shows us that no matter what position somebody holds, they are vulnerable to sinning and this means regardless of calling, we are all equal at the foot of the cross. High position does not mean sinlessness, in fact, the higher the position the harder the fall as we have witnessed in these last years by so many TV preachers.

 

Heb 5:4 (KJB)

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

 

Here is a very vital bit of information. A person could not just walk into the tabernacle or temple and begin to start serving the Lord. There was no such thing as self-initiative in becoming a Priest. This was a divine calling only. In ancient Israel God had set aside the tribe of Levi as the priests who would do the service of the tabernacle and temple. In the wilderness wandering Aaron was God’s choice of High Priest. He did not just take a test and then became High Priest. In the temple service those who were Priests were called by God for this service. Since God called them, He also empowered them to do the service properly and seriously. Here is one of the great problems in Christianity today. So many are calling themselves to public ministry when they are not called by God to do that ministry. Not everyone is called to be a Pastor or Evangelist. Too many see these people on TV ministries and then sit down and think to themselves that they can do better then them. There are many women who have called themselves to the ministry such as Joyce Meyer or Paula White thinking it was God who called them. God will not violate His Word in any area. (1 Tim 2:12 KJV) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. This is not Paul speaking but God Himself in His Word.

 

Not only have many women called themselves to the ministry but many men too. Whenever you see someone with a title like Apostle, Disciple, or something similar to that, then they have called themselves because these titles are not given as titles in the church, they are titles which draw people to the one claiming the title. Too many Christians are working outside the realm where God has not empowered them and this is why Christianity seems to be in such disarray. God has given each Christian a spiritual gift and it is within that gift where we are empowered to work. If we go outside the parameters, then we are working in a weakened mode. One way we find out where we are supposed to be ministering is slowly. We do a little here and a little there, maybe go on a short term mission trip, or hand out tracts, or do some work in the church and eventually God will show us where He has empowered us to work and will refine us so we will be able to work properly and with the most power and effect.

 

Heb 5:5 (KJB)

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.

 

This verse gives us a good insight into the mindset of the Lord Jesus Christ. He did not call Himself to the office of Divine High Priest, it was God the Father which placed Him into that position by means of His sacrifice upon Calvary on behalf of all those He came to die for. The principle is further strengthened in that the Lord Jesus Christ did not call Himself to this office, so Christians must follow that example and not call themselves to any office they are not qualified to hold. Anticipated qualification is a lot different than actual qualification. What I mean by that is anyone can think they are qualified to do something but when reality hits, they fall way short of the ability to do it. Ministry is no place for someone to manifest their pride of self because eternal souls are at stake.

 

God stated that Jesus was His Son which goes back to the fact that Jesus was superior to the angels which we saw in previous chapters. (Psa 2:7 KJV) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. God also confirmed Jesus as His Son on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:5. The word” begotten” shows a uniqueness of relationship between the Father and the Son. They have an eternal relationship between each other in contrast to the relationship we Christians have with God the Father from the point of becoming born again.

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