Composite Heb — Jesus Our High Priest

Heb - Jesus, High Priest of Our Confession

Note	For reference use: Hebrews My Outline-html — Outline-pdf

Note

Hebrews 1, 2, 3:1

The Son is God’s spokesman to man today, 1:2
The Son is the creator, 1:2,10
He is the Son of God and he is God, 1:3,5
The Son upholds all things today through his powerful word, 1:3
The Son (identified as Jesus, 2:9), for a little while, a little lower than angels, 2:6-8
Everything is subjected to him, 2:8
The Son was perfected through suffering, 2:9,10
The Son made purification for our sins, 1:3
The Son was exalted above the angels, 1:4
He sat down at the right hand of God 1:3,13
He was crowned (He’s a king), 2:9
He has a throne, scepter, and a kingdom, 1:8
He sanctifies those who are sanctified, 2:11
He teaches the children about God, 2:11-13
They sing praise to God, 2:12
In church (his kingdom), worshiping God together!, 2:12,13
He had to be made just like us, 2:14-17
Jesus became our high priest, 2:17
He is able to help those who are tempted, 2:18
He is God’s apostle and the high priest of our confession, 3:1
Hebrews 3:2 - 4:13 - Jesus, God’s apostle

Interestingly, after the four gospels and the book of Acts

There are 17+ occurrences of the term "high priest" in the New Testament.
All occurrences are in the book of Hebrews.
No other book after Acts except Hebrews uses the term.
The only other reference of Jesus (the Messiah) AS A PRIEST/HIGH PRIEST in the Bible (other than Hebrews) is:

Psalm 110:4 (WEB)

⁴ Yahweh has sworn,
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek."

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The first mention in Hebrews of Jesus as a high priest is made twice in a four verse paragraph in Hebrews 2:17-3:2

Hebrews 2:17 - 3:2 (WEB)

¹⁷ Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. ¹ Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus; ² who was faithful to him (i.e. God) who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.

Hebrews 2:5-13, Jesus, the Founder of our salvation

Hebrews 2:5-13 (ESV)

⁵ For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. ⁶ It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
⁷ You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
⁸ putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. ⁹ But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰ For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. ¹¹ For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, ¹² saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation
I will sing your praise.”

¹³ And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

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Hebrews 2:14-3:2a, Jesus just like us to become the High Priest of our confession

Hebrews 2:14 - 3:2 (ESV): ¹⁴ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 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. ¹⁸ For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

¹ Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, ² who was faithful to him who appointed him,…

Hebrews 4:14-5:10, Jesus, our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14 - 5:10 (ESV)

¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

¹ For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. ³ Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

⁶ as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

⁷ In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. ⁹ And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, ¹⁰ being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

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My Notes from Hebrews Study

Hebrews 2:5-13, Jesus, the Founder of our salvation

Hebrews 2:5-8

The angels will not control this "new world," it will not be subjected to angels…
The who will control it?
"What is man,… Or the son of man,…
- Why do you [God] think of them? Or care for him [Son of Man]?
For in that he subjected all things to him,
- he left nothing that is not subject to him.
- But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet. (Compare Hebrews 1:13)

Note	The writer cites the two times in the Psalms that mention that God will put all things, including his enemies, in subjection to him under his feet, as a footstool of his feet, *(Psa 110:1 & Psa 8:6)*. This idea of things being subjected.

Hebrews 2:9 (WEB)

Jesus is finally named as the Messiah, the Son of God
- The writer identifies the one made a little lower than the angels as "Jesus"
- Crowned (ie made King) with glory & honor because of His death & suffering
- That He should "taste" death for everyone by God’s gift-giving-ness (grace).

Hebrews 2:10 (WEB)

…him, for whom [all things exist], and through whom [all things exist]
- So, if everything exists for Jesus (ie the Savior) and everything was brought into being by Jesus (ie the Savior)…
- Why are we here? So Jesus can fulfill his purpose:
"in bringing many children to glory (ie in saving many children)"
Therefore,
- It was fitting… to make the author of their salvation perfect
- Jesus made perfect (ie suitable-, able- to save) through sufferings.

Hebrews 2:11 (WEB)

Jesus sanctifies, those He sanctifies are all from one Father, family
- Jesus sanctifies, sets us apart (makes us holy) for a purpose
- God, the Father, justifies (gives us Jesus' righteousness) as a gift, Romans 3:21-26.
Jesus not ashamed to call them: "brothers, brothers & sisters, siblings"

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PAGE 5

Hebrews 2:12 (WEB)

Jesus declare God’s name to his brothers.
Where? In the midst of the congregation
What’s he doing there? I will sing your praise." cited from Psalm 22:22
- Jesus is worshipping with his brothers/siblings in the assembly

We are told where this takes place, (i.e. Jesus sanctifying, setting us apart and God justifying,) in the midst of the congregation, assembly, church… greek: g1577, ἐκκλησία ekklēsia;

Hebrews 2:13 (WEB)

"I will put my trust in him," cited from Psa 18:2; Isa 8:17; 12:2 This is Jesus telling us that He trusts-, has faith in- Him (God the Father).
"Behold, here am I and the children whom God has given me" cited from Isa 8:18
- The writer is pointing out [Jesus] and his brothers [siblings] are together…
- The point: Where does Jesus declare God’s name to his brothers, sing His praise and sanctify those who are sanctified?… where they are together?…
- "…in the midst of the congregation," In church, worshiping God!.

Hebrews 2:14-3:2a, Jesus Obligated To Be Made Just Like Us

How Was the Son "Perfected?"

Hebrews 2:14 (WEB)

Since we are flesh & blood, he also… partook of the same,
- which means he wasn’t flesh & blood before he partook
  - Jesus, is a spiritual being
  - He puts on flesh (physical body) for a while,
  - Then as a result of His atoning death is transformed into a spiritual being with an immortal spiritual body. (1 Cor 15:42,44,47,49; Phil 3:20,21)
"that through DEATH he MIGHT bring to nothing"
- This is another objective that Jesus' death achieved
- Notice the word "MIGHT"
"him who had POWER OF DEATH… the devil," (i.e. the vanquishing of Satan)
- In some way the devil had/has the power of death

Hebrews 2:15 (WEB)

"he MIGHT deliver all"
"fear of death" ("the wages of sin")
"all their lifetime subject to bondage" ("you gotta serve somebody")

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PAGE 6

Hebrews 2:16 (WEB)

Not angels he helps — See "Other Ideas" at the end of this document
But Abraham’s descendants
- Helping Abraham’s descendants, the heirs according to the promise, fulfill Jesus' purpose as a savior.

Hebrews 2:17 (WEB)

He was OBLIGATED… to be made like his brothers — see: [Inferior Sacrifices-html] [-pdf]
- What’s the problem with an animal sacrifice?
  - Why is it impossible for the blood of bulls & goats to take away sin? (Heb 10:4)
  - They are not made like us in every way
  - They are not under law
  - They are not tempted, nor can they sin
  - How do we know they couldn’t take away sin? They had to be offered over and over. (Heb 10:1-4)
  - Does that mean the worshiper’s sins weren’t forgiven? NO! Though the sacrifices were incapable of taking away sin, God still forgave their sins and credited them with righteousness.
    
    Their faith was that God was able to take away their sins though their sacrifices were worthless.
To be perfected "Jesus HAD to- was OBLIGATED to- be made like us"
- To be tempted like us
- To have a choice like us to obey or disobey
- To suffer like us
"That he MIGHT become a merciful & faithful high priest"
- Another reason He was made like us was to become our high priest
"To make atonement for [our] sins" (the reason WHY he HAD to be perfected)
- He is our high priest that offers the atoning sacrifice for us
- A perfect or perfected sacrifice
- One that ACTUALLY can take away sin
- How do we know Jesus' sacrifice ACTUALLY worked?
  - He rose from the dead! Death could not keep him! (Acts 2:24; Rom 1:4)
- How do we know His sacrifice works for us?
  - He only had to be offered ONCE! (Heb 10:11-18)

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PAGE 7

Hebrews 2:18 (WEB)

"For… he suffered being tempted," this is a part of being perfected
- Jesus being tempted, that is, offered the choice to sin, he suffered being tempted. His choosing to do right is what perfects him and makes him a suitable sacrifice for us.
"He is able to help those who are tempted", another objective (benefit) of Jesus being perfected
- The empathy he learns in the perfection process allows/enables him to help us when we are tempted.

One would think that as God, Jesus would, know what man is going though when he is tempted. And God does know. Still Jesus as man, made just like us, must go though a learning process, an experiential learning process like we do.

Hebrews 3:1 (WEB)

Partakers of a heavenly calling
par·take | pärˈtāk |

verb (past partook | pärˈto͝ok | ; past participle partaken | -ˈtākən | ) [no object] formal

(partake of) eat or drink (something): she had partaken of a cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee.

(partake in) join in (an activity): visitors can partake in golfing or clay pigeon shooting.

(partake of) be characterized by (a quality): the birth of twins became an event that partook of the mythic.
call·ing | ˈkôliNG |

noun

the loud cries or shouts of an animal or person: the calling of a cuckoo.

[in singular] a strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; a vocation: those who have a special calling to minister to others' needs.

a profession or occupation: he considered engineering one of the highest possible callings.
Newer translations say: "who share in a/the heavenly calling"
Older translations say: "partakers in a heavenly calling"

Using the definitions: "be characterized by" a "strong urge toward a particular (heavenly) way of life"

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…consider… [the] High Priest of our confession, Jesus

This is the first use of the term "our confession in Hebrews." As we noted when we studied Hebrews 4:11-7:28, where again the writer uses that phrase, that he uses it to remind us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our great confession.

Putting this together with high priest we have: the "high priest" (the one who makes atonement for our sins) of "our confession" (the Son of God) is Jesus. Or as they say later in Acts… Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

So… holy brothers "be characterized by" a "strong urge toward a (heavenly) way of life" and consider the one sent forth with orders and "high priest" (the one who makes atonement for our sins) of (the Son of God), Jesus. "our confession"

The context of Peter, being the first to make our confession, has Jesus saying that "on this rock (our confession) I will build my church…" (Matthew 16:15-18). The writer will shortly explore the building metaphor.
Jesus was faithful, i.e. trustworthy, to the one [God] who appointed him… as his apostle (from the context).

faith | fāTH |

noun

1 complete trust or confidence in someone or something…
2 strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof…
• a system of religious belief: the Christian faith. • a strongly held belief or theory: the faith that life will expand until it fills the universe.

Note	Hebrews 3:2 - 4:13 Jesus God’s Apostle to God’s House Under Moses

Hebrews 4:14-5:10, Jesus, our great High Priest

The writer is returning to tell us about Jesus, our great High Priest.
And has just told us about Jesus the Apostle, See the discussion on Hebrews 2:27 - 4:13.
The writer’s presentation of the Son of God and angels, Heb 1 & 2
- led us to discover the Angel of Jehovah being Jesus. (see Jesus & the Angel of Jehovah)
- The person of the Godhead who led the Israelites out of Egypt (Judges 2:1-5).
This is the same person who interacts with the "house of God" that wandered in the wilderness.
- Therefore, Hebrews 2:27-4:13 is a portrayal of Jesus the Apostle

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PAGE 9

Now on to Jesus our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14 (WEB)

Having then a great high priest,
- We HAVE a HIGH PRIEST!
- Our attention is now directed to Jesus as our high priest.
- What does that mean?
  - What is a high priest?
  - What is his purpose?
- The Hebrew writer IS THE ONLY writer in the New Testament that mentions Jesus as a High Priest.
- David, the only OTHER & first writer to connect the messiah with being a high priest, mentions:
  - that God ("Jehovah") says to his (David’s) descendant ("my Lord"), "Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.", Psa 110:1
  - Then in the same psalm three verses later David says: "Jehovah has sworn, and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.'", Psa 110:4
- Jesus as Lord, is a KING, the descendant of King David, who sits on his throne.
- Jesus is ALSO a PRIEST after the order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron
who has passed through the heavens
- Heb 1:3, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
- Psa 110:1; Heb 1:13,
  Yahweh says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet."
- We have a high priest who has already gone on before us (past tense)
- and he knows the way (through the heavens).
Jesus, the Son of God
- Our high priest is identified, Jesus the second person of the Godhead
let us hold tightly to our confession
- Our confession IS: Jesus is the Son of God
- Our call to action upon learning that Jesus is our great High Priest is to "hold tightly to our confession"
- This is (to me) an unexpected statement, I expected a "faith" statement perhaps
  - Or maybe something previously stated repeated, like:
    
    Pay closer attention, 2:1-4
    
    Don’t be like those who rebelled, 3:7-19
    
    Give diligence lest we fall by disobedience, 4:11-13
    
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    PAGE 10
- But we are being told to hold on tightly to the belief that Jesus IS the Son of God. (i.e. hold… to our confession - the ROCK upon which Jesus said He would build His church)

Hebrews 4:15 (WEB)

We have a high priest who CAN BE touched
- with the feeling of our infirmities
But one who has been IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED like we are, yet without sin.
- Heb 2:17, He was obligated to be made just like us
  - That he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God
  - To make atonement for the sins of the people
- Heb 2:18, For in that he himself has suffered being tempted,
  - he is able to help those who are tempted.
I believe these points in 2:17,18 & 4:15 are WHY Jesus' sacrifice succeeds and ALL OTHER’S fail.

Hebrews 4:16 (WEB)

Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace,
- We are being told to draw near WITH BOLDNESS (confidence, courageous)
- We are not taking this action on our own will, NOT presumptuously (not failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate)
- We are being given permission to approach with boldness
the throne of grace
- We can approach the King, who sits on the throne
- The throne where God, our Father and Jesus our High Priest are seated
that we may receive mercy,
- mercy vs justice
- We deserve justice — "the wages of sin is death"
- We are given and may receive mercy and no merit on our part brought this about — Rom 5:17, …much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
and may find grace for help.
- grace - standard definition: God’s unmerited favor.
  - I like: God’s gift-giving-ness, our God likes to give gifts.
  - for help [in our temptations!] We are promised help (God’s favor, his gift-giving-ness)

in time of need
- God is aware of our personal situations
- AND He intervenes on our behalf regulating what temptations come our way.
  
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  PAGE 11
  
  1 Corinthians 10:13 (WEB)
  
  ¹³ No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
  
  Romans 8:26-28 (WEB)
  
  ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. ²⁷ He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God. ²⁸ We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

Hebrews 5:1-4, The Levitical High Priest

Hebrews 5:1 (WEB)

For every high priest, Some qualifications & purposes of a high priest are:
Comes from among men — he is human.
- At the time Hebrews was written, the law that defined and AUTHORIZED the priesthood would be the Law of Moses, the priesthood would be the Levitical priesthood
- Though we saw also that it was necessary that Jesus too should share in our humanity, Hebrews 2:14,17-18.
- Our first inclination is to think that:
  - that is why Jesus "had to", was "obligated to" be made like his brothers, Hebrews 2:17
  - But think about this, in actuality, that since Jesus was going to be made flesh just like his brothers IS WHY the high priest had to come from among his brothers, that the mediator between man & God would be a man… and not some celestial being, an angel perhaps (like the angel of Jehovah). Just a thought.
is appointed for
- "for" (KJV, NKJV, WEB) in this context means
- to act on behalf of (ESV),
- on behalf of (NASB),
- to represent [the people] (NIV)
In things pertaining to God, [to] offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

It is the purpose of the high priest to act on behalf of the people before God — to be the go-between.

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Hebrews 5:2 (WEB)

The high priest can deal gently
- This is specifically talking about the high priest here, but God wants us to deal "gently" with those who may need correction! see Galatians 6:1, and others
- Wouldn’t you rather that our high priest deal gently with us?
with those who are ignorant and going astray

Note
ignorant - lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated
- Again, look at the concern of the Hebrews writer, that his audience is lacking in knowledge and in danger of going astray.
because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. Since the High Priest comes from among men, he is of necessity subject to temptation. And since we all fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23, he to sinned. Therefore, he understands the troubles and temptations the people are facing.

Hebrews 5:3 (WEB)

To perform his duties the high priest:
- is obligated to (ESV, NASB)
- has to (NIV)
- is required to (NKJV)
- ought to (KJV)
- must (WEB)
offer sacrifices, not only for the people,

It is the high priest’s responsibility to make sacrifices for the people, to atone (make amends/compensate) for their sins. THAT’S HIS JOB.
but also for himself

One of the problems with the Levitical priesthood is that the high priest himself was a sinner and needed to make atonement. So before he can make sacrifices for the people he had to offer sacrifices for his own sins.
Another problem is the sacrifice itself used as we shall see in later chapters

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PAGE 13

Hebrews 5:4 (WEB)

Taking our cue from the Writer, let’s look briefly at God calling Aaron to be his high priest

Exodus 28:1 (WEB)

God authorizing Aaron and sons as His priests through Moses
"Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

Numbers 18:7 (WEB)

God speaking to Aaron about his priesthood
You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and you shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

The point here is that Aaron and his sons did not become priests by their own will or because of Moses, but because they were called by God to be His priests.

Hebrews 5:5-10, Jesus, appointed by God, A High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 5:5 (WEB)

(cited from Psalm 2:7)

Hebrews 5:5: ⁵ So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your father."
Psalms 2:7 (WEB): ⁷ I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, "You are my son. Today I have become your father."

Here again is, to me, an unexpected statement.
- Not that Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest
- But that the 1^st supporting point is that Jesus is God’s Son.
- He could have just gone to Psalm 110:4 that says the Messiah will be a priest
- But it is evidently important to the writer to emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God. He has been making this point through five chapters now.
God calls Jesus to be High Priest by first declaring Him to be His Son He establishes a father/son relationship with Jesus

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PAGE 14

Psalm 2:7 says that the anointed, the Messiah, the Christ will be God’s Son. And God will be the father of the Messiah. This idea originates in the Old Testament. It is not a New Testament imagination.

Philippians 2:5-11 (WEB): ⁵ Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 5:17-18 (WEB): ¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, so I am working, too." ¹⁸ For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
John 10:32-36 (WEB): ³² Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?" ³³ The Jews answered him, "We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God." ³⁴ Jesus answered them, "Isn’t it written in your law, 'I said, you are gods?' ³⁵ If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), ³⁶ Do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You blaspheme,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God?' (cited from Psalm 82:6)

So what is the significance of Jesus being God’s son?

When the Messiah comes, AS A MAN, he will of necessity ALSO be deity, that is, Man & God.

Hebrews 5:6 (WEB)

(quoted from Psalm 110:4)

Psalms 110:4 (WEB): ⁴ Yahweh has sworn,
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek."

This is the 1^st of nine references to Melchizedek in Hebrews. There are only two other references to him in the entire Bible: Genesis 14:18 and Psalm 110:4.

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Why must the Messiah be a priest?

As noted earlier, it the the responsibility of the High Priest to make atonement for the people, 5:1,3
Jesus said He came to save us from our sins

Luke 19:10 (WEB)

¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."
Being a priest in the Order of Melchizedek solves a problem that the writer will mention later. Namely, that Jesus doesn’t come from the tribe of Levi. Only Levites from the lineage of Aaron could be priests.
- The problem is if Jesus were a levite, then he couldn’t be King. The King must be a descendant of King David, who was from the tribe of Judah
- The problem if Jesus was from Judah (which he is), He could be King, but not a priest.
- The solution, He is not a priest in the order of Aaron, but he is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. That is, he is a priest from a different priesthood.

Hebrews 5:7 (WEB)

While Jesus was human on earth (the days of his flesh)

He prayed and petitioned God, strong crying & tears
to "him who was able to save him from death,"
- the implications of this statement are mind boggling!
- Jesus prayed to God that he would be spared death on the cross
- and here it states that God "was able to save him from death."
Of course, our salvation becomes non-existent if God does that.
However, Jesus asking God to do that (three times)
- with strong crying and tears IS POSSIBLY an immense testing of God.
  - For God to answer that prayer positively is our doom
  - To answer no is the death of Jesus on the cross

Hebrews 5:8 (WEB)

Though he was a Son (one would think he would be privileged), YET
He learned OBEDIENCE by the things he suffered
- He suffered when tempted, Hebrews 2:18
- He suffered in death, Hebrews 13:12; 1 Peter 2:19-25
  
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- Jesus had to learn!

Note	learn verb 1 gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught commit to memory. become aware of (something) by information or from observation

Isaiah 7:14-16 (ESV): ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ¹⁵ He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. ¹⁶ For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.

Hebrews 5:9 (WEB)

Having been made perfect

Since he became obedient through suffering he has been made perfect
- What is the law able to do? Determine compliance to a standard (ie law), nothing more.
The reason Jesus had to be made just like us is so that he could be tempted in all ways like us. AND NOT SIN!
- What good is a sacrifice that can’t be tempted?
- That was the problem with animal sacrifices,
  - they can’t be tempted in all ways like us.
  - Jesus also must have had the choice to obey or not

he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation

Since he chose to obey, he became the author of eternal salvation for all those who… OBEY. Those that do the same thing that He did… OBEY.

Hebrews 5:10 (WEB)

named by God a high priest

ONCE PERFECTED JESUS THEN is appointed by God a high priest
(mediator/intercessor) between God and Man…

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PAGE 17

after the order of Melchizedek

IN THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK
The writer repeats a point he made in verses 5 & 6, that Jesus did not exalt himself to be high priest, but it was God who said… "You are a priest in the order…"

The writer will interrupt his discussion with his audience here to address his audience.

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