This text will be presented in two parts. Both parts have the same name and the same scriptural passage. This chapter will be Part I and next chapter will be Part II.
Moses did not lead the people of Israel into the promised rest. In fact, he himself was forbidden to enter the promise land. Joshua led them into their physical rest but not into the promised spiritual rest (Hebrews 4:8). But what about Aaron, the first high priest? Is it possible that the Aaronic priesthood, with all its sacrifices and ceremonies, can bring a troubled soul into this rest?
The Hebrew Christians who received this letter were sorely tempted to return to the religion of their fathers. After all, any Jew could travel to Jerusalem and see the temple and the priests as the ministered at the altar. When a person is going through persecution, as these Hebrews were, it is much easier to walk by sight than it is to walk by faith. Some of us have doubted the Lord under much less provocation than these people had.
The central theme of Hebrews is the priesthood of Jesus Christ and what He is now doing in heaven on behalf of His people. Is the high priest ministry of Jesus Christ superior to that of Aaron and his successors? The answer is "Yes"!
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JESUS CHRIST HAS A SUPERIOR TITLE
Hebrews 4:14-16: 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we
have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need.
Note verse 14, " Seeing then (therefore) that we have a great high priest... ." Aaron was a high priest, but Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest. No Old Testament priest could assume that title.
But in what does our Lord's greatness consist?
His person
Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Son of man. Jesus is both God and man, the God-man. He is Jesus Christ the Son of God (John 20:31).
John 20:31: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father
hath sent me, even so send I you.
The name Jesus means Savior and identifies His humanity and His ministry on earth. Son of God affirms His deity and the fact that He is God. In His unique person, Jesus Christ unites deity and humanity, so that He can bring people to God and bring to people all that God the Father has for them.
His position
Aaron and his successors ministered in the tabernacle and temple precincts once a year entering into the Holy of Holies. But Jesus Christ has "passed through the heavens." Jesus Christ is now in the third heaven where He ministers on our behalf. The word "through” is the clue that opens up the truth here which shows that the Messiah is better than Aaron. Aaron, as high priest in Israel, passed through the court of the tabernacle, through the Holy Place, and into the Holy of Holies, where were all figures or types of the realities.
Exodus 25:40 : And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was
shewed thee in the mount.
Jesus Christ, as the Great High Priest, passed through the heaven of clouds and air, the heaven of the stars, and into the heaven of heavens, the third heaven that is the abode of Deity. Since Jesus Christ passed through the realities of which the tabernacle was only a picture of the true, and Aaron passed through the things that were the types, Jesus Christ is better than Aaron.
Jesus is not only in heaven, but he is enthroned. His throne is "the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).
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The mercy seat on the ark of the covenant was God's throne in Israel (Exodus 25:17-22). But it could never be called a "throne of grace." Grace does not veil itself from the people.
Exodus 25:17-22: 17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits
and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make
them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19And make one cherub on the one end,
and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the
cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their
wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall
look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou
shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22And there I will meet with thee,
and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two
cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give
thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
The common people were not permitted to enter the holy precincts of the tabernacle and the temple.
The priests got only as far as the veil. The high priest alone went beyond the veil, and went in only on the Day of Atonement (Levitus 16). But every believer in Christ in invited and is even encouraged to "come boldly unto the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus Christ is ministering mercy and grace to those who come for help. Mercy means that God does not give us what we deserve. Grace means that God gives us what we do not deserve. No Old Testament high priest could minister mercy and grace in quite the same way. When an Israelite was tempted, he could not easily run to the high priest for help, and he certainly could not enter the Holy of Holies for God's help. But as believers in Jesus Christ, we can run to our Great High Priest at any time, in any circumstances, and find the help we need.
Two important conclusions
There is no need in giving up our profession or actually our confession just because we are going though testing and trial (Hebrews 4:14, 15). (The word translated "profession" means "confession.) These Hebrew Christians were tempted to give up their confession of faith in Jesus Christ and their confidence in Him (See Hebrews 3:6, 14). It was not a matter of giving up their salvation, since salvation through Jesus Christ is eternal (Hebrews 5:8, 9). It was a matter of their public confession of faith. By returning to the Old Testament system, they would be telling everyone that they had no faith in Christ. Galatians 2:11-21. This kind of unbelief would only bring reproach to the name of Christ.
Hebrews 4:14, 15: 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we
have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 3:6, 14: 6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we,
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if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the
end….14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end;
Hebrews 5:8, 9: 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things
which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him;
Galatians 2:11-21: 11But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the
face, because he was to be blamed. 12For before that certain came from James,
he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated
himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews
dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away
with their dissimulation. 14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou,
being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why
compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15We who are Jews by nature,
and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16Knowing that a man is not justified by the
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of
the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17But if, while we
seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore
Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18For if I build again the things which I
destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19For I through the law am dead to the
law, that I might live unto God. 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not
frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is
dead in vain.
There is no need to go back because we can come boldly into the presence of God and get the help we need (Hebrews 4:16). No trial is too great, no temptation is too strong, but that Jesus Christ can give us the mercy and grace we need when we need it. When Jesus Christ ministered on earth in a human body, He experienced all that we experience, and even more. After all, a sinless person would feel temptation and trials in a much greater way that you and I ever could feel them. Christ was tempted or tested, yet He did not sin. He is able to help us when we are tempted. If we fail to hold fast our confession, we are not proving that Jesus Christ has failed. We are only telling the world that we failed to draw on His grace and mercy when it was freely available to us.
Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
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In Verse 15, the expression "touched with" comes from the Greek word "sunpatheo" which means
"to suffer with another person, thus, to sympathize with him to the extent of entering into his experience and feeling his heartache." The use of the word here means more than knowledge of human infirmity. It points to knowledge that has in it a feeling for the other person by reason of common experience with that person.
Jesus Christ felt in His own consciousness the difficulty of being righteous in this world. He has felt pressing upon Himself the reasons and inducements that entice men to choose sin that they may escape suffering and death. In every part of His human constitution, Jesus has known pain and conflict with which alone temptation can be overcome. The one difference between our temptations and those of Jesus is that His were without sin.
JESUS CHRIST HAS A SUPERIOR ORDINATION
Hebrews 5:1, 4-6: 1For 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:…4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God,
as was Aaron. 5So 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. 6As he
saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec.
No man could appoint himself as priest, let alone as high priest (Hebrews 5:4). King Saul invaded the priesthood and lost his kingdom (1 Samuel 13).
1 Samuel 13: 1Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over
Israel, 2Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand
were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with
Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to
his tent. 3And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba,
and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land,
saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a
garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the
Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. 5And the
Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand
chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea
shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from
Bethaven. 6When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people
were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets,
and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7And some of the Hebrews went
over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and
all the people followed him trembling. 8And he tarried seven days, according to
the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the
people were scattered from him. 9And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to
me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10And it came to
pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold,
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Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11And
Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people
were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and
that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12Therefore said
I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made
supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt
offering. 13And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not
kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for
now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14But
now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his
own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people,
because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. 15And
Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul
numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. 16And
Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode
in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17And the
spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company
turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: 18And
another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to
the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
19Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the
Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 20But all the
Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his
coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 21Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and
for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
22So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear
found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but
with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 23And the garrison of the
Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
Korah and his fellow rebels tried to make themselves priests, and God judged them (Numbers 16).
Numbers 16: 1Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi,
and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of
Reuben, took men: 2And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children
of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the
congregation, men of renown: 3And they gathered themselves together against
Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing
all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them:
wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 4And
when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: 5And he spake unto Korah and unto
all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and
who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath
chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 6This do; Take you censers, Korah,
and all his company; 7And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the
LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he
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shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. 8And Moses said unto
Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9Seemeth it but a small thing unto you,
that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring
you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand
before the congregation to minister unto them? 10And he hath brought thee near
to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood
also? 11For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together
against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? 12And
Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not
come up: 13Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that
floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself
altogether a prince over us? 14Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land
that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards:
wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up. 15And Moses was
very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not
taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. 16And Moses said unto
Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and
Aaron, to morrow: 17And take every man his censer, and put incense in them,
and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty
censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 18And they took every
man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. 19And Korah
gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
20And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21Separate
yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
22And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all
flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? 23And
the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get
you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25And Moses
rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
26And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents
of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their
sins. 27So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on
every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents,
and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28And Moses said,
Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I
have not done them of mine own mind. 29If these men die the common death of
all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath
not sent me. 30But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth,
and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick
into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
31And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that
the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32And the earth opened her
mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that
appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33They, and all that appertained to
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them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they
perished from among the congregation. 34And all Israel that were round about
them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
35And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and
fifty men that offered incense. 36And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
37Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out
of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. 38The
censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates
for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they
are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. 39And Eleazar
the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered;
and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: 40To be a memorial
unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron,
come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his
company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. 41But on the morrow
all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and
against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. 42And it came to
pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that
they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud
covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43And Moses and Aaron came
before the tabernacle of the congregation. 44And the LORD spake unto Moses,
saying, 45Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them
as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. 46And Moses said unto Aaron,
Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go
quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is
wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. 47And Aaron took as Moses
commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague
was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for
the people. 48And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was
stayed. 49Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven
hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 50And Aaron returned
unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague
was stayed.
When King Uzziah tried to enter the temple and burn incense, God smote him with leprosy (2
Chronicles 26:16-23).
2 Chronicles 26:16-23: 16But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his
destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the
temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17And Azariah
the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that
were valiant men: 18And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It
appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the
priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the
sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the
LORD God. 19Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn
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incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his
forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense
altar. 20And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and,
behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea,
himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21And Uzziah
the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being
a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was
over the king's house, judging the people of the land. 22Now the rest of the acts
of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write. 23So
Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of
the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham
his son reigned in his stead.
Aaron was chosen by God to be the high priest, and he was duly ordained and installed into office (Exodus 28).
Exodus 28: 1And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him,
from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's
office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. 2And
thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the
spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that
he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 4And these are the garments which
they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a
mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother,
and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 5And they shall
take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. 6And they shall make
the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with
cunning work. 7It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two
edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. 8And the curious girdle of the
ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even
of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9And thou shalt
take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
10Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the
other stone, according to their birth. 11With the work of an engraver in stone,
like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names
of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. 12And
thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of
memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before
the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial. 13And thou shalt make ouches
of gold; 14And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou
make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches. 15And thou shalt make
the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou
shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined
linen, shalt thou make it. 16Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall
be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. 17And thou shalt
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set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius,
a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. 18And the second row shall
be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19And the third row a ligure, an agate,
and an amethyst. 20And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they
shall be set in gold in their inclosings. 21And the stones shall be with the names
of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of
a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
22And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work
of pure gold. 23And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and
shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 24And thou shalt put
the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the
breastplate. 25And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt
fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before
it. 26And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the
two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod
inward. 27And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on
the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against
the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 28And they
shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a
lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the
breastplate be not loosed from the ephod. 29And Aaron shall bear the names of
the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he
goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. 30And
thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and
they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron
shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD
continually. 31And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32And there
shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of
woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that
it be not rent. 33And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates
of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of
gold between them round about: 34A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden
bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. 35And it shall be
upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the
holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. 36And
thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a
signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 37And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that
it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. 38And it shall
be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things,
which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be
always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. 39And
thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine
linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. 40And for Aaron's sons thou
shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou
make for them, for glory and for beauty. 41And thou shalt put them upon Aaron
thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them,
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and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. 42And
thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins
even unto the thighs they shall reach: 43And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon
his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when
they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not
iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.
Aaron was chosen from men to minister to men. For a priest to officiate on behalf of men, he must be taken from among men. A priest must partake of the nature of the person for whom he officiates.
His work is to minister to men in things that involve man's relationship to God. This he does by offering gifts and sacrifices which God had appointed (Hebrews 8:3-4; 9:14). The word "offer" is the translation of "prosphero" which means "to carry toward or to." It was often used of the priest's bringing the sacrifice to the altar. The word gift (dora) refers to the gifts in general which the word sacrifices (thusias) speak of the blood sacrifices. These were for the sins of the individual. Unless the sacrifices were offered in the right place by the right person, they were not accepted by God.
Hebrews 8:3, 4: 3For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:
wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4For if he
were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer
gifts according to the law:
Hebrews 9:14: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God?
Jesus Christ did not appoint Himself as High Priest. He was appointed by God the Father (Hebrews 5:1, 5-6). The quotation of Verse 5 is from Psalm 2:7. This verse was already quoted in Hebrews 1:5 and was used to prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. But the emphasis of Hebrews 5:5 is on the priesthood of Jesus Christ, not on His deity.
Hebrews 5:1, 5, 6: 1For 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:…5So 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. 6As he saith also in
another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Psalm 2:7: I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my
Son; this day have I begotten thee.
What is the significance of this quotation as it relates to this discussion of the Priesthood of Jesus?
In Acts 13:33-34, the Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 2:7 and explained what it meant. Acts 13:33-34,
"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it
is written in the second psalm, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten Thee. And as
concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said
on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David." The phrase "today have I begotten thee"
does not refer to the birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem, but to His resurrection from the dead. The 68
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Son of God was "begotten" into a glorious new life in His resurrection. He ascended to heaven in a glorified body to become our High Priest at the throne of grace. When Aaron was ordained to the priesthood, he offered animal sacrifices. But Jesus Christ, to become our High Priest, offered the sacrifice of Himself, and then He arose from the dead.
But God the Father not only said, "Thou art my Son" in Psalm 2:7, but He also said, "Thou are a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 5:6 is a quotation from Psalm 110:4. When Aaron was ordained, God did not speak directly to him and declare his priesthood. But the Father did make this special declaration concerning His Son.
Two factors make Christ's Priesthood unique, and therefore His ordination greater than Aaron's.
He is a High Priest forever. No Old Testament priest ministered forever because each priest died and relinquished the office to his successor. The word "forever" is an important word in this letter.
At least six times the writer affirms that Christ's high priesthood is forever (Hebrews 5:6; 6:20; 7:17, 21, 24, 28). Since He is a priest forever, He gives His people salvation forever (Hebrews 7:23-28). Christ's ordination is unique because He belongs to the order of Melchisedec. This is key concept in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 5:6: As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an
high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:17, 21, 24, 28: 17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec….21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this
with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou
art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)….24But this man, because
he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood….28For the law maketh
men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since
the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Hebrews 7:23-28: 23And they truly were many priests, because they were not
suffered to continue by reason of death: 24But this man, because he continueth
ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25Wherefore he is able also to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them. 26For such an high priest became us, who is holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his
own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up
himself. 28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the
word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated
for evermore.
Melchisedec is mentioned in only two places in the entire Old Testament (Genesis 14:17-24: Psalm 110:4). His name means "King of righteousness." He was also "King of Salem." Thus, Melchisedec 69
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was both a priest and a king. King Uzziah wanted to be both a priest and a king, and God judged him. Only in Jesus and in the pre-law Melchisedec were these two offices combined. Jesus Christ is a High Priest on a Throne.
Genesis 14:17-24: 17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return
from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the
valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18And Melchizedek king of Salem
brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And
he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of
heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered
thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21And the king of
Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD,
the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23That I will not take from
a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest
thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24Save only that which the young
men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol,
and Mamre; let them take their portion.
Psalm 110:4: The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for
ever after the order of Melchizedek.
The reason Jesus can be "a priest forever" is because He belongs to the "order of Melchisedec. As far as the Old Testament record is concerned, Melchisedec did not die (Hebrews 7:1-3). Of course, because he is a real man, he did die at some time, but the record is not given to us. So Melchisedec becomes a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who is a priest forever.
Hebrews 7:1-3: 1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God,
who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation
King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of
days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest
continually.
But Melchisedec also pictures our Lord as a heavenly High Priest. Jesus Christ could never have served as a priest when He was on earth because He did not belong to the tribe of Levi. Jesus was born of the seed of David of the tribe of Judah. He became the sacrifice on earth that He might become the High Priest in heaven. All of the truths will be developed in Hebrews 7-10, but they are introduced here.
Conclusion
Jesus is greater than Aaron the high priest because He has a superior title. Jesus is the Great High Priest. Jesus is greater than Aaron the high priest because he has a superior ordination.
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Believers have a Great High Priest upon whom we can call and receive mercy and grace. Jesus is at the right hand of God the Father. His Throne is now a throne of grace.
Jesus Christ gives eternal life to all who believe on Him.
Have you repented of sin and believed on Him for salvation?
As a believer, do you come often to the throne of grace in order that you may receive mercy and grace to help in time of need?
This concludes Part One of Hebrews 4:14-5:10. We will continue with Part II in Chapter Nine.
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