1 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: 2 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. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
The chapter division interrupts the topic of the High Priest which began a few verses earlier (Heb 4:14) and forms the centerpiece of the book (to Heb 10:22). While these chapters also contain side topics, they comprise a remarkable exposition of several types and shadows of the old office of High Priest to the position of Christ as the new High Priest of God. The present verses describe the general function of the High Priest, which compares well with the intermediary function of Christ recently expounded (see Heb 4:12-16). Under the Law, the people could not offer their sacrifices directly. An intermediary priest was required to perform the rituals and offer the gifts and sacrifices for sins. In detail however, Christ far exceeds the High Priests of the Old Covenant as this chapter begins to show. The first detail the Apostle gives is that Jesus is not compassed with infirmity and so does not need to offer sacrifices for His own sins (v2-3).
Under the Old Covenant, the family of Aaron was chosen (taken from among men) by God to be the holy priests of the Temple. Only they were authorized to administer the sacrifices and rituals of the Temple. The High Priest was ordained to be the person who would approach the Divine on behalf of the people. For instance, he alone could enter the Holy of Holies, just once a year, carrying the blood of atonement. The High Priest was required to follow stricter rules of life and had to fulfill many special commandments of the Law. The most sacred ceremonies in the Temple were performed by the High Priest.
In one sense, every Christian is a priest (Rev 1:6; 5:10) and a true member in the royal priesthood (1Pet 2:9). Instead of bringing presents of grain and animals, we present our very bodies a living sacrifice to God (Rom 12:1), offering up the sacrifices of thanksgiving and doing good (Heb 13:15-16). In fact, many details concerning the tribe of Levi prefigure the chosen, new generation of Christ. The Levites were not numbered with the rest of the tribes and were not permitted to go to war. Nor were they given an inheritance in the land of Israel alongside the other tribes. Instead, God said, Behold I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn…therefore the Levites shall be Mine (Num 3:12). It is a special calling that parallels the Christian’s unique vocation as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, passing through this life with no continuing city (Heb 13:14).
Yet among many priests there is just one High Priest. And in the New Covenant, His name is Jesus Christ. One of the few prophecies that show Jesus as an High Priest is found in an intriguing passage in Zechariah 6:9-15. At that time, the High Priest’s name was Joshua (Jesus in the LXX). The Lord told Zechariah to go to Joshua and prophecy of a coming Man whose name is The Branch, who would grow up and build the Temple of the Lord in glory and rule as a priest upon His throne.
Compare the Greek of verse 2 metriopathein dunamenos (“is able to suffer”) with that of Heb 4:15, dunamenon sumpathasai (is able to sympathize”). The Jewish High Priest, being a mere man himself, was able to sympathize with the faults of others and so was willing to present their gifts and sacrifices on the altars of the Temple so that they might attain God’s mercy. So too with the Christian High Priest, who is additionally Eternal, Righteous and Merciful.
5 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. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Aaron did not appoint himself to be the High Priest and neither did Christ (John 8:54), who was called and identified by God many centuries before His birth: Thou art My son (see my note for Heb 1:5). The Psalms are filled with prophesies of the Messiah. David, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave us the very messianic Psalms 110 which includes this mystifying statement, The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. A contemporary of Abraham, Melchizedek is mentioned only once in the Scriptures (Gen 14:17-20), yet he is called the priest of the most high God. Chapter 7 will detail the typology of Melchizedek to Christ.
7 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;
This refers chiefly to that terrible moment in Gethsemane, which was the culminating scene of Jesus’ struggle to yield Himself in obedience and perform His Father’s will (Mat 26:38-42; Luke 22:41-44). Jesus always knew this was His mission (John 12:27), but that did not make it easier to do it (Mark 14:36). Yet not only at Gethsemane, but during all the days of His flesh Jesus offered up prayers and supplications. A lifetime of reverential connection (he feared) with the Father caused His petitions to be heard.
Jesus shrank from obeying these requirements of the Father. He must lay down His God-powers and give Himself up into the hands of the wicked. Contemplating that hour in which the Power of Darkness would seemingly possess His soul (Luke 22:53) provoked the greatest agony in the history of the world, even to sweating as it were drops of blood. He did not so much fear the pains of physical death, but the thought of being made sin (2Cor 5:21), of suffering in some incomprehensible way the just penalty for the sins of the entire world. Three days He was in the heart of the earth (Mat 12:40), tasting death for every man (Heb 2:9).
Jesus prayed to the One that was able to save Him from death, and was heard. Does this refer to physical death or spiritual death? Jesus was not saved from experiencing physical death, although He was saved from its finality by the Resurrection. Perhaps in the same way He was saved from spiritual death, that eternal separation from God in the regions of Hell. For, out of the belly of Hell cried I, and thou heardest My voice (Jonah 2:2). The prayer of Jonah was divinely fashioned so that it parallels these prayers and supplications of Christ before entering the heart of the earth. Indeed, Jonah’s words are too exaggerated to apply to himself, but they mirror Christ’s experience. Thou hadst cast Me into the deep….all thy billows and thy waves passed over Me…The waters compassed Me about, even to the soul: the depth closed Me round about…I went down to the bottoms of the mountains, the earth with her bars was about Me for ever. (Jonah 2:3-6).
Did Jesus fear the pangs of physical death? Surely yes, for He was human! Yet, the manner of His death defies that answer. He suffered every stroke, every strike of the nail, every piercing of the sword without panic and without anger. It is no weakness, even for Christians, to face death with apprehension. In that moment pray, as Christ did, to be saved from that spiritual death (Rev 21:8).
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
The Apostle shows that Jesus was chosen by God to be High Priest on account of His obedience and submission. He feared means that He obeyed and thereby learned about obedience. Christ’s submission to the Father came at the cost of much suffering. His humility and obedience is a stark contrast to the pride and rebellion of Satan.
Moreover, Jesus’ life of perfect obedience to God gave Him authority to be the author (aitios) of eternal salvation. This Greek word occurs elsewhere in the New Testament only in Acts 19:40, where it means “cause” (also 1Sam 22:22 LXX). If not for the perfect obedience of Christ, eternal salvation would be forever impossible for Mankind. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
The idea of the Calvinists is crushed by these verses. Christ is become the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him. Jesus was saved from death after offering, suffering and obeying. Now He holds out eternal salvation unto Man – all them that obey Him. Let us never be deceived by the false teachers of today that make obedience to Christ’s Word to be frivolous or unnecessary. They say that Jesus obeyed for us; since He obeyed we don’t have to. This Scripture and many others disprove that notion. We are appalled and stunned at the blatant, conscious disobedience of many church leaders and evangelists to Christ. They literally ignore any and every commandment that they find too difficult. Would God have made Jesus the author of eternal salvation if Christ had not obeyed Him? Impossible. Will Jesus save those who do not obey Him? No.
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
God made Jesus to be His high priest – not in the lineage of Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedek. This man will be the subject of chapter seven. Yet, the Apostle is concerned that his audience will find it difficult to understand him, for they were dull of hearing and immature – in need of teaching to re-learn the first principles of the oracles of God. Apparently enough time had elapsed that the Apostle expected them to have grown in spiritual stature more than what they had. Here again is a strong hint that the book of Hebrews was written to a particular church (see note for Heb 1:1).
Called (prosagoreutheis) of God (v10). The Greek word apparently means to salute, address or introduce someone. God introduced Christ by His own oath as, A priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4). Earlier in this chapter we find a different Greek word (kaleo) that indicates God’s choice or selection – no man exalts himself to be priest, but he that is called (kaleo) of God (Heb 5:4).
He that useth milk…is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age. If any doubt that the Apostle Paul wrote this, read his similar words in 1Cor 3:1-2 and call to mind the authoritative style which is the hallmark of that Apostle’s writings. The whole family rejoices when a babe is born into the family! They are happy to feed it milk. Yet, that rejoicing would turn to concern if the babe would not grow up to be an adult. So too for the Christian.
It is a weighty term: the word of righteousness (logou dikaiosunas). The spiritual senses must be tuned according to the teachings and commandments of the Word of Righteousness. A discerning person is able to ascertain the full truth of the matter. He can perceive the hidden parts, for things are rarely as they seem at first sight, and he is able to foresee the effects that a particular decision will have. Not just the immediate outcome, but the long-term implications. Finally, a discerning person is able to correctly choose between good and better. He has the bigger picture in mind along with the short-term vision (see note Heb 4:12).
This maturity does not happen overnight, but comes by reason of use. Christian, exercise your senses constantly so that they will quickly and accurately discern both good and evil. In the same way that an athlete exercises his physical body in order to excel, the Christian must exercise his spiritual senses. The athlete who does not exercise is sure to lose the contest, so also the Christian. The Word of God is our exercise manual (Heb 4:12).
There are several ways to categorize sins. One way is by human response to temptation (as Adam and Eve) which has only two categories – rebellion or deception. Another way is by general truth or error, which also has only two categories – ignorance or weakness. Many do not know the Scriptures and sin on account of ignorance. Others do know them, but fail to keep them due to personal weakness. Yet another way to classify sins is by their foundations – pride and fear. Pride is the seat of many dreadful sins, while simple fear is the reason that many others fail (Rev 21:8).