Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”[a]
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”[b]
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Called by God as High Priest Text: Hebrews 5:1-10
Introduction: A. It is a terrible sin to usurp a divine office. – Numbers 16 :1-40
B. The inspired writer claims for Jesus the exalted office of High Priest.- Hebrews 5:10
C. How is Jesus qualified to be our High Priest?
I. A qualified high priest must meet certain requirements. – Hebrews 5:1-4
A. He must be taken from among men. – verse 1; Exodus 28:1
- He represents men to God. – verse 1
- He offers “gifts and sacrifices”* for sins. – verse 1 B. He must have compassion on the people. – Hebrews 5:2-3; cf. Exodus 32:1-5; Numbers 12:1-2; 20:1-12; Leviticus 16:6
- His compassion is for the “those who are ignorant and going astray” (“ignorant and misguided” – NASB); Numbers 15:28
- There was no forgiveness for rebellious sins. – Numbers 15:30-31 C. He must be called by God.- Hebrews 5:4; cf. Numbers 16:1 – 18:7 II. Christ meets these qualifications.- Hebrews 5:5-10 A. He was called by God.- Hebrews 5:5-6; cf. John 8:54; Psalm 2:7; 110:4 B. He is compassionate.- Hebrews 5:7-9
- By learning obedience unto suffering, he was preeminently qualified to be compassionate.- verses 7-8; cf. Matthew 26:36-45; Luke 22:43-44
- He was thus perfected as Savior and High Priest. – verse 9
- He saves and intercedes for those who obey him. – verse 9 Conclusion: A. Thus, Christ is “called by God as High Priest.” – Hebrews 5:10 B. If you will obey him, He will save you and intercede for you. – Hebrews 5:8-9
- “When… the words are used together as here, the distinction between them is that which generally holds in Classical Greek. Sacrifices (thusias) in that context is never used except to refer to ‘slain beasts’ and thus to ‘blood offerings,’ and gifts (dora) connotes ‘meal offerings.’” (Daniel H. King, Truth Commentaries: The Book of Hebrews. 149).