Hebrews 5 – Thoughts On The High Priest, Paying Attention, & Maturity

Let’s take a closer look at the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 5, and see what insights we can glean out for Christian living.

Give us your thoughts on this short study below by using the comments section.

Function and Fallibility of the High Priest 1-4

In verses 1-4, the author reminds his Jewish audience of some key points about the priesthood in order to set –up his arguments for Christ as high priest. List three key points:

1. The high priest is not self-appointed, he is ultimately selected by GodThe author knows that claiming Christ as high priest is going to take some explanation for his audience. The Jews accepted the fact that the high priest is appointed by God in the fact that he would have gained the appointment through his lineage – being born into the right family of the right tribe. Christ is not from the tribe of Levi – the priestly tribe. He is from Judah. How does the author work around this road block (see v.5-6)?
2. The high priest brings offerings and sacrifices before God for himself as well as others
3. The high priest is able to sympathize with the weaknesses of man as he is subject to the same

Christ As High Priest 5-10

In verses 5-10, he makes the same claims for Christ. List the parallel claims:

• Appointed by God the Father v.5-6 – This is the legal answer for anyone who would challenge Christ’s priesthood on technical grounds – that He is not from Levi. What are the two arguments?
• Christ is not Levi’s son – He is God’s Son – He uses Psalm 2 – a Messianic Psalm – as support for this.
• Christ is not like Levi, He is like Melchizadek – For those who would claim that no one could be a priest except those from the tribe of Levi, the author gives evidence to the contrary in the example of Melchizadek quoting from Psalm 110. The only reference to Melchizadek outside of eight references in Hebrews is one reference in Gen.14:18-20 and one reference in Psalm 110:4.
• He offered prayers and petitions and was Himself submissive v.7
• He is able to sympathize with us as He was not exempt from suffering or learning obedience v.8 – In what sense is Christ “made perfect?” This has to be understood in the context of verse 8. Christ was made perfect, not in the moral sense, but in the sense of being complete, even learning obedience.
• Does v.9 suggest that salvation if for those who obey? One possibility is that obedience means believing in Christ. (1 Pet.2:7). This verse could merely be stating that salvation is for all who believe in Him. However, the context of v.8 indicates that this obedience is not from faith but from suffering. In this case, salvation is not regeneration but fits more with the context of entering the rest – earning the right to rule with Christ.
• How does this speak to the situation for these Jews?

Another Warning About Paying Attention 5:11-14

On the heels of some pretty technical arguments for Christ as high priest, the author issues another warning. Again, in trying to prevent the Hebrews from falling away completely, the answer is to pay attention to solid doctrine and grow in an understanding of God’s Word.

List the deficiencies the author calls them out for:

• Slow to learn
• Still in need of milk – the elementary truths
• Not acquainted with teaching about righteousness
• Not trained to distinguish good from evil

MARKS OF THE IMMATURE

• Slow to learn
• Student
• Milk
• Not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness
• Ignorant of the difference between good and evil

MARKS OF THE MATURE

• Eager to learn
• Teacher
• Solid food
• Teaches these things described in this chapter
• Distinguishes good from evil

How do you train yourself to discern good from evil?

Use the comments section below to answer. Feel free to answer anonymously.

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