Jesus, our superior High Priest!

Our confession is only as solid as the foundation on which it is built. For Christians, our solid foundation is Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 5:1-10, the writer compares the qualifications of a human high priest to the qualifications of Jesus. Our confession is most certainly solid as we find Jesus to be our superior High Priest.

There are several qualifications for a high priest in the line of Aaron. He was one chosen by God. His primary responsibility was to represent man to God. He had to have a soft heart that could sympathize with weak humanity since he was a sinner, as well. Of course, he presented offerings of worship and sacrifices for his sins and those of the people he represented. R. Kent Hughes, The solidarity factor was essential to effective priestly ministry, as it is today in pastoral ministry, and the universal requirement is, as it has always been, a real man with a real link to God and a real bond to man. . . His work was never a career. It was a divine calling.

This passage looks at Jesus in respect to His function as the great and forever high priest. His appointment by God was superior to those in the line of Aaron because Jesus was appointed as God’s Son. In His deity, Jesus has always been the Son of God but His incarnation brought more. William L. Lane,. . . he entered into a new dimension in the experience of sonship by virtue of his incarnation, his sacrificial death, and his subsequent exaltation. Also, Jesus was appointed high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Leon Morris, There was no succession of priests from Melchizedek and thus no ‘order.’ Jesus, however, was a priest of this kind—not like Aaron and his successors. Donald Hagner, . . . Melchizedek was both a king and a priest (Gen. 14:18). Jesus is also king and priest, and thus corresponds to Melchizedek.

The writer of Hebrews identifies the superior priesthood of Jesus in His humanity. Hebrews 5:7b declares, he was heard because of his reverence. It means reverence toward God with the force of obedience. R. Kent Hughes, His reverence for the Father determined that his humanity would do nothing but please the Father. Also, Jesus fully suffered. Ray Stedman,

. . . he learned how it feels to obey when such obedience only promises further pain . . even though he was a son who loved to obey his Father, yet he learned obedience the hard way through his experience in Gethsemane. Consider the claim of Charles Spurgeon, God had one Son without sin, but He never had a son without suffering. Because Jesus is not only an eternal King and priest who can relate to us, He is the superior high priest. Why would anyone turn away from Him?

Jesus is also superior in His deity. Consider verse 9a, And being made perfect. It does not concern His nature since He is fully God but it concerns his function as High Priest. Warren Wiersbe, As God, He needed to learn nothing. But as the Son of God come in human flesh, He had to experience that which His people would experience, so that He might be able to minister as their High Priest. Interestingly, Jesus is said to be the source of eternal salvation. Jesus is not only our priest but He is our salvation, the sacrificial lamb of God. Once for all, full sacrifice was made on behalf of those who trust Him alone, to all who obey him. Charles Spurgeon, The moment you put yourself into His hands you must obey Him, or you have not trusted Him. It is a matter of trust in God’s gift of eternal life but also a matter of inheritance (reward). Thomas Constable, . . . it may be that he was also referring here to the ultimate aspect of our salvation, our eternal inheritance (1:14; 9:15). We obtain this to the extent that we “obey” God, and obey Him through suffering as Jesus did (cf. Mark 8:34–35).

The writer concludes this section by reminding us of our great high priest’s designation, a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. More concerning that priesthood will be revealed in Hebrews 7. But now, join the study of Hebrews 5:1-10 which may be found under the Books of the Bible tab. What a foundation on which to build, Jesus, King, Priest, Sacrifice.

The necessity of a theanthropic confession!

One should never put an unfamiliar word in a title unless it is to grab readers’ attention. I hope you will read on and see how important is the word theanthropic. It is a descriptive word of our Savior, a part of our confession of faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrew 4:14-16 is a reminder to hold fast our confession. Warren Wiersbe, These Hebrew Christians were tempted to give up their confession of faith in Christ and their confidence in Him . . . This kind of unbelief would only bring reproach to Christ’s name. May we who claim Christ be mindful of our confession with reverence and boldness. Raymond Brown, This is not merely an appeal for endurance but an exhortation to fearless witness. Don’t be robbed of your faith; advertise it. Hold it fast and hold it forth.

In these three verses, we have a confession of faith on which we can stand despite life’s trials and tribulations. Certainly, our confession is built on a solid foundation, Jesus Christ, our great high priest! Raymond Brown, He far surpasses all of his priestly predecessors. Their priestly work cannot possibly be compared with his in its range, nature, cost and efficacy. He alone is truly ‘great.’ In these verses, we will be reminded that our superior confession is a declaration that who Jesus is determines what He can do.

First, the writer gives the human name of our great high priest, Jesus. Hebrews 2:17, Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Douglas Mangum, The author makes the logical point that the Son had to be made like humanity in every way in order to serve as the faithful high priest who makes atonement for their sins.

Next, our confession proclaims that our great high priest is the Son of God. Charles Spurgeon, There is His deity. He is the Only-begotten of the Father: as glorious in His Godhead as He is gracious in His manhood. Human high priests can’t compare with a high priest who is God incarnate. Warren Wiersbe, How much better is it to have a High Priest who ministers in a heavenly tabernacle than in an earthly one!

Then, the writer of Hebrews declares that our great high priest has passed through the heavens. Here, we can picture the descriptive word theanthropic. It means one person with two natures. We confess Jesus Christ as fully man and fully God! Donald Hagner, This indeed is no ordinary high priest. He is the man Jesus, but also the unique Son of God, the one who has gone through the heavens. Because Jesus is theanthropic, He can meet our every need.

Again, who He is determines what He can do. He can sympathize with our weaknesses. Raymond Brown, No-one on earth, before or since, has ever been through such spiritual desolation and human anguish. For this reason he can help us in our moments of temptation. He is aware of our needs because he has experienced to the full the pressures and testings of life in this godless world. He was fully tempted like us yet sinless. C. S. Lewis, We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means . . .

Our confession declares we can confidently draw near the throne of grace. Thomas Constable, The high priests of Judaism could only approach God at His earthly throne, in the holy of holies in the tabernacle or temple, once a year. God’s throne of judgment has become a throne of grace (undeserved help) for us now. We have access to His mercy which is not receiving what we deserve. We have access to His grace which is receiving what we do not deserve. Warren Wiersbe, No trial is too great, no temptation is too strong, but that Jesus Christ can give us the mercy and grace that we need, when we need it.

We have quite a confession. It is definitely the Good News. I pray each of us will hold fast our confession. R. Kent Hughes, Some in that beleaguered little house-church of the first century had allowed the mounting hardships to draw them away from God, rather than closer by prayer. Their confidence was gone. What about you? Has life made you draw away from the throne of grace or draw near?

Join the study of Hebrews 4:14-16 which may be found under the Books of the Bible tab. Our confession is a reminder of our great High Priest who is worthy to be served and proclaimed in this desperately needy world.

Do a self-exam with the Word of God!

The writer of Hebrews has spent much time discussing the importance of God’s rest. In Hebrews 4:1-13, he declares that God’s rest is still available with an emphasis on its present and future impact. There is a somber warning concerning the importance of maintaining one’s faith in Christ despite increasing persecution. R. Kent Hughes, Their experience of Christ was not living up to expectations. Instead of rest, there was turmoil. They had given up their ancient religion but were suffering for their new faith. To some it seemed that the initial experience of rest was a cruel delusion. . . It is to these endangered hearts that the writer now focuses his remarks in chapter 4 as he instructs and exhorts them on participation in the rest of God.

There is much to be learned concerning God’s rest in this warning passage. Now, I want to focus on Hebrews 4:12-13, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Some have difficulty understanding how these verses fit in relationship to this warning passage. Consider these verses as a warning from the heart of a pastor to his flock. Each of us need to know that entering God’s rest is not based on one’s opinion of oneself but God’s opinion based on the light of His Word. Thomas Constable, Many Christians use this verse to show that God will judge unbelievers with His piercing Word, but in the context it refers to God judging believers to determine rewards (1 Cor. 3:11–15).

In verse 12, we see that God’s Word discerns the condition of one’s heart. Let’s consider the writer’s words that describe the nature of the Word of God. First, he declares that the Word of God is living and active. Charles Spurgeon, This is a living Book. This is a mystery that only living men, quickened by the Spirit of God, will fully comprehend. Take up any other book except the Bible, and there may be a measure of power in it, but there is not that indescribable vitality in it that breathes, and speaks, and pleads, and conquers in the case of this sacred volume. Also, the writer emphasizes the penetrating power of God’s Word, sharper than any two-edged sword. William L. Lane, The word of God poses a judgment that is more threatening and sharper than any double-edged sword because it exposes the intentions of the heart and renders one defenseless before God's scrutinizing gaze.

The following phrases enhance the precision and effectiveness of God’s Word. Note the writer’s statement, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow. William Barclay, It penetrates to the division of soul and spirit. . . It is as if the writer to the Hebrews were saying that the word of God tests our earthly life and our spiritual existence. Also, the writer notes, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Raymond Brown, This word probes more deeply than the mere voice of man however interesting or eloquent. It goes to ‘the inmost recesses of our spiritual being and brings the subconscious motives to light’ (F. F. Bruce).

In verse 13, the writer declares that everyone must be examined and give account to God. None of God’s creation can hide from their Creator. Leon Morris, We must not think that we can bluff our way out of anything, for there are no secrets hidden from God. We cannot keep our thoughts to ourselves. God sees us as we really are. Warren Wiersbe, In the Word we see God, and we also see how God sees us. We see ourselves as we really are. This experience enables us to be honest with God, to trust His will, and to obey Him.

The writer of Hebrews warns Jewish Christians not to turn back to Judaism which provided a type of God’s rest. The readers of Hebrews are encouraged to continue with Christ who is the reality. Faith in Christ alone enables every Christian to be examined by God’s Word without judgment because God judges a Christian’s new heart not his old. Our responsibility is noted by Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! The Word of God truly is a two-edges sword, R. Kent Hughes, Blessed be the double-edged sword of judgment and sanctification. God cuts us deeply that we might die. God cuts us again with his Word, that we might live.

If I am not living a life that is conforming to the image of Christ, I need to examine my life in light of the Word of God. If I fail the test, I need to turn to Christ and place my faith in Him alone. Join the study of Hebrews 4:1-13 under the Books of the Bible tab. God’s rest is worth self-examination.