Hebrews 5
Hebrews 5 can be divided into two parts.
If the doctrinal part of Hebrews 13: 1 to 10:18 is “Who is Jesus? is recorded as
Among the words of that exhortation, the 11th chapter of Hebrews, called the chapter of faith, is also included. For this reason, the book of Hebrews is often called the epistle of faith or the epistle of exhortation.
In particular, in response to the question of who is Jesus in the first half of the book of Hebrews, the author of Hebrews focuses on the superiority and excellence of Jesus Christ and delivers it to the Hebrews at that time and to us who live today.
Among them, 4:14 to 7:18 are articles arguing about the superiority of Jesus as high priest compared to the Levitical priests, while
Today's text, 5:1-10, narrows it down a bit and clearly reveals the superiority of Jesus Christ's high priesthood by directly comparing the high priesthood of Aaron's descendants and Christ's high priesthood through a cross-correspondence structure.
If so, what would the high priests of Aaron's descendants look like in comparison with Jesus?
This can be seen through the words of verses 1-4 of the text.
The first is that they are essentially human beings chosen and appointed from among men, and that they have the role of offering the sacrifice of atonement. However, they cannot overcome their imperfections as human high priests.
It is weakness and the limit of having to offer the sacrifice of atonement for oneself because it cannot solve one's own sins.
Also, there must be a calling.
Of course, the subject of this call is God.
Therefore, under God's sovereignty, we have the responsibility to receive the high priesthood by God's calling and to perform the high priesthood according to God's will.
Next, the writer of Hebrews explains through the words of verses 5-10, by applying the qualifications of the high priest mentioned above to Jesus this time.
The first is that, like Aaron's descendants, Jesus did not exalt himself to be glorified as high priest, but instead became high priest by appointment from God.
The second is that although he existed in a human body, Jesus was perfect unlike a human high priest, so he can lead us all to eternal salvation.
Third, Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
The meaning of ‘order’ here is a word interpreted as line, lineage, order, etc., and it means that Jesus Christ was ordained as a priest according to the line of Melchizedek.
This, in addition to being perfect, reveals Jesus' superiority, distinctly different from the human high priest.
Why, then, does the writer of Hebrews explain Jesus Christ in comparison with the high priests of the descendants of Aaron that the Jews knew?
This is because Jewish Christians cannot break free from the bondage of ethnic religion and Judaism, and do not know who Jesus Christ is.
Therefore, by quoting the Old Testament words familiar to them, the author of Hebrews clearly clarifies such a reality, and through verses 11-14 in the text, he is rebuking the spiritual condition of the Hebrews at that time.
Verse 11 begins with this: (Verse 11)
There is much to be said about Melchizedek, but it is difficult to explain because your ears have been dulled.
Melchizedek appears only once in the Bible.
He is the Prince of Peace, the person before the promulgation of the law, and a type of perfection in the priesthood of Christ.
In particular, right after the statement that he went out to meet Abraham with bread and wine, the Bible even testifies that ‘he is a priest of the Most High God’ (Genesis 14:18).
The author of Hebrews has much to say about such a mysterious figure, but he is reluctant to say any further.
The reason is that their ears have become dull.
In other words, it is because we are spiritually lazy.
No matter how much they talk about drawing, they cannot be heard in their present spiritual state.
To those who have become so deaf, the Bible reveals a more specific reality through verse 12. (Verse 12)
They are being rebuked for being spiritually young.
According to the time I went to church and believed in Jesus, I should now be a teacher who teaches, intercedes, and builds up others, but I still have to learn basic principles and rebuke that I am just a child who cannot eat solid foods.
At the same time, he exhorts the recipients of the book of Hebrews and we who live in the present to go out to a mature state with repentance from dead works and faith in God.
What is the difference between you and a child? Which side do you currently belong to? .