Hebrews 5:6-10

 

Heb 5:6 (KJB)
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
 
(Psa 110:4 KJV) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The other place which the writer quotes from is Psalm 110:4. Here he is showing us the difference between the temporary Aaronic priesthood and the eternal priesthood of Melchisedec. The name “Melchisedec” means “King of Righteousness.” The quote from Psalm 110:4 is a messianic quote. This verse teaches that this order of priesthood is an eternal one. Further on in the Epistle the writer expands upon Melchisedec.
 
Heb 5:7 (KJB)
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;
 
Supplications - Requests, prayer, or petitions
Strong - Powerful or forcible
Crying - Outcry or shouts
 
The writer does an abrupt allusion to the Lord Jesus Christ when He was facing death. (Luke 22:44 KJV) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. The emphasis in this verse is on the humanity of Christ in that before He went to the cross he had asked His Father if there was any other way this could be accomplished. The humanity of Jesus at this point was being tested because of what was about to happen. It would have been the first time in eternity that He would be separated from His Father and that was the focus and not the coming suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane He had already begun to suffer for the sins of His people by means of the great anxiety He was already encountering.
 
Heb 5:8 (KJB)
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
 
Learned he - Discovered or understand
Obedience - Responsive obedience
 
This verse presents a little difficulty in that Christ was divine yet he learned obedience. When we look at the meanings of the words “learned he” and “obedience” we get a clearer picture of what is in view. Never in history did the Lord Jesus Christ have to face obedience to the law in such a manner. He became the vicarious atonement for all those He came to save. In this manner, He learned what it was to be responsively obedient to the law of God in the arena of payment for sins. Christ paid the penalty for the sins of His people and this was something He never experienced before to the point that God the Father had to turn His back on Him when He was on Calvary bearing all the sins of all the Elect. His greatest suffering was to be separated from His Father and this had to happen as He paid the price of atonement on behalf of His people. Even though He was a Son, yet through the sufferings of separation from His Father and the bearing of all the billions of sins of His people, He understood what the horrible penalty of sin was under the law of God. One must keep in mind that it was in His humanity was where He suffered for His people and being made flesh was how He learned through the sufferings. This is not Open Theism which teaches that God learns as He goes along because He is not omniscient. That is a rank heresy. This verse is teaching us that as Christ learned through His sufferings, we too, will learn through ours if we commit them unto God.
 
Heb 5:9 (KJB)
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
 
Perfect - Bring to completion or make perfect (having been perfected)
The author - Cause or source
 
The sufferings of Christ was His perfection and His consecration to the office of High Priest. This resulted in Him being the author or the cause of salvation which means that those who are In Christ are eternally saved. The term “obey” does not mean we obey unto salvation but the obedience comes after salvation. Being obedient to Christ is a proof of one being in Christ. One can never work for their salvation because the reason Christ suffered was to save His people. If a person could work for their salvation, then the suffering of Christ would have been unnecessary.
 
Heb 5:10 (KJB)
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
 
This verse emphasizes the fact the eternal priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ was ordained of God. The Son’s High Priestly office was not after the order of Aaron which was temporary. Christ’s High priestly office was one of divine calling and nature as He performs this duty in Heaven on behalf of His Elect.

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