A Greater Priesthood
Heb 5:1 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:
The high priest was a mediator between God and man offering sacrifices for the people's sins. Let us see some of the requirements for a high priest after Aaron, the first high priest of the Hebrews who followed God's commands.
Lev 21:10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
Lev 21:11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;
Lev 21:12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
Jesus met all the requirements as a high priest and he was greater. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit, and God the Father was his covering. Jesus was the dwelling place of God, wherever he went he was God with man, without sin. He was born of a virgin according to the prophecy of Micah.
Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Lev 21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
Jesus was the Lamb of God without spot or blemish and he was the bread of life, offered for us.
1 Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1 Pet 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
More duties of the high priest.
Lev 22:19 Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
Lev 22:20 But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
Jesus, the Great High priest was himself offered for the sins of his people. The Lamb of God was without spot or blemish. The earthly high priest that offered him sinned in whipping and marring the perfect sacrifice. Isaiah had prophesied that this sacrifice was for our healing, first the healing of our sinful souls, and also for our infirmities. He is our sin remover and the healer, as shown with the man with the palsy.
Mat 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Mat 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
Mat 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
Mat 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
Mat 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Heb 5:2 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.
The high priest of the Hebrews was to have compassion on the ignorant and those going astray. He wore two stones on his shoulders the names of the tribes engraved on each stone, as if he bore their burdens.
Exo 28:9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
Exo 28:10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
He also wore 12 stones on a breastplate over his heart, one for each of the 12 tribes. He has the people on his heart.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Heb 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
The high priest offered for himself and for the people. Christ gave himself with great love to be the offering for his people. He was flesh, knowing their weaknesses of the flesh, but without sin.
Heb 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
One had to be called of God, to be a priest. Jesus was God the Word, called of his Father to come as the man Jesus. Who obeyed God in His calling. From this he became our savior and great high priest.
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus was greater than the high priests after Aaron, but he was after the example of another high priest, Melchisedec.
Priest after Melchisedec
Heb 5:5 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.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father, God in heaven. Jesus was created in the flesh, but always was with the Father as the Living Word. God who created the worlds came down to be in the man Jesus. Having suffered as a man he was able to perform the duties of our great high priest.
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
More will be said about Melchisadec in Chapter seven. He was a priest before Abraham who had no known beginning or end. Jesus was as this, the eternal one who came down in frail flesh as a rose from heaven to be crushed and to shed his blood in our place for our sins and salvation.
Song 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
Heb 5:7 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;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
The Spirit chose not to speak more of the high priest, Melchisedec at this time. But the name is planted as a seed in our hearts to remember later when more is spoken of this Priest, who was before the time of Aaron. Jesus was called as the Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us, the savior of all who come to him in faith. He was greater than Aaron. Was Jesus also Melchisedec, the one with no known beginning or end?
Need of Milk
Heb 5:12 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.
The Spirit is speaking to those Hebrews who were not strong in faith. Those who because of persecution were thinking of returning to the ways of the Hebrew religion. They should know better. They should be teachers, yet they are still without understanding. There is no other way but through faith in Jesus Christ. They must drink milk and learn the simple truths, when they could be eating the strong meat of the word. These were people who had spent years in the faith and should be strong in the word of God.
1 Cor 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1 Cor 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
The new believer has not learned with understanding the word of God within the Bible. He must increase in wisdom and in faith. Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
Heb 5:14 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.
Those who have studied should have discernment, judgment, knowing right from wrong.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
The Spiritual babes will believe any voice. The mature will discern the spirits.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
If you listen to and follow heretics in the church you will be led astray, left blowing in the wind as a tumbleweed blown about with no discernment or direction for your life.
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