We continue the discussion of the Jewish high priest, one sympathetic with our human frailties, yet divinely appointed to stand for us.
5:1-3
5:1-3
Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
The high priest is human, sympathetic to humans. Like us, he is Frail (by Jars of Clay).
5:4-10
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
The position of high priest, given to a frail human being, required a divine appointment. This, too, Jesus had.
The Bible passages are from Psalm 2, verse 7, and Psalm 110, verse 4. Both psalms are messianic passage about the coronation of David and David's line.
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
So Jesus is both the Son and a human high priest, both savior and sympathetic brother. The author is apparently alluding to events in Jesus's life when he prayed with "loud cries and tears". It is not clear to which events the author is thinking, but the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane comes to mind. If so, the author provides that as evidence of Jesus's submission and process of being "made perfect."
Once again, Melchizedek is mentioned. But the discussion of Melchizedek must wait, for the writer of this letter has a serous concern.
5:11-14
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
The high priest is human, sympathetic to humans. Like us, he is Frail (by Jars of Clay).
5:4-10
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
The position of high priest, given to a frail human being, required a divine appointment. This, too, Jesus had.
The Bible passages are from Psalm 2, verse 7, and Psalm 110, verse 4. Both psalms are messianic passage about the coronation of David and David's line.
So Jesus is both the Son and a human high priest, both savior and sympathetic brother. The author is apparently alluding to events in Jesus's life when he prayed with "loud cries and tears". It is not clear to which events the author is thinking, but the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane comes to mind. If so, the author provides that as evidence of Jesus's submission and process of being "made perfect."
Once again, Melchizedek is mentioned. But the discussion of Melchizedek must wait, for the writer of this letter has a serous concern.
5:11-14
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
The author of Hebrews digresses to chide his readers for their lack of maturity. They have been Christians for some time....
This passage ends with a note of frustration. The frustration builds throughout the next chapter, to become a serious scolding.
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