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HUMAN HIGH PRIEST VS HEAVENLY HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 5:8-12

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.  In Hebrews 5, the inspired penman begins to expand on the subject of Jesus as our High Priest.

 

B.   This, however, is not the first time Jesus has been mentioned as a High Priest.

 

C.  In chapter five, we see the “Human High Priest vs. Heavenly High Priest.”

 

D.  Outline:

 

i.             The Human High Priest (Heb. 5:1-4)

ii.            The Heavenly High Priest (Heb. 5:5-10)

iii.           The Hearing of the Hebrews (Heb. 5:11-14)

 

I.         THE HUMAN HIGH PRIEST (Heb. 5:1-4)

 

II.       THE HEAVENLY HIGH PRIEST (Heb. 5:5-10)

 

A.  Humbled in Position (Heb. 5:5-6)

 

B.   Humbled in Pain (Heb. 5:7)

 

C.  The Humility of Passing (Heb. 5:8-10)

 

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

1.    No Exemption:  Though he were a Son, yet learned…

2.    New Experience:  learned he obedience by the things which he suffered

a.    Learned what is invested in obedience

b.    Learned the difficulties of obedience

c.    Learned the pain of obedience

3.    Noble End:  and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

a.    Perfect means “full grown, mature, complete

b.    Jesus was not a complete man until He suffered death.  He had then tasted all of life, from birth till death.

c.    LESSON:  No living person is complete or full-grown until he has experienced all of life, including death.

4.    Named Employment:  called of God a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

III.      THE HEARING OF THE HEBREWS (Heb. 5:11-14)

 

A.  The Circumstances (Heb. 5:11-12)

1.    The Affliction:  ye are dull of hearing

 

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 

 

a.    Paul had entered into a contrast between the human high priest and the heavenly high priest.

b.    He said that he had many more things to tell them about this, but there was a problem, dullness of hearing on the part of the Hebrew Christians.

c.    Dull

1)     Strong (3576):  sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid

2)    Thayer:  slow, sluggish, indolent, dull, languid

3)     Vine:  slow, sluggish, indolent, dull…”There is a deeper, more inborn sluggishness implied in nothros, and this bound up as it were in the very life…” (335).

4)     Clarke:  signifies one who walks heavily and makes little speed

d.   Note the nature of the things Paul had to tell them:

1)     Many things

2)    Hard to be uttered (Lit, hard of interpretation, to speak, Vincent)

3)     Lesson:  The Scriptures contain some things that take time and length to understand because they are difficult (See II Pet. 3:16a).

 

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which some things are hard to be understood…

 

2.    The Admonition (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.

 

a.    The rebuke:  ye ought to be teachers

1)     God’s expects growth out of His children

2)    One of the growth marks is becoming one who can teach.

b.    Their rank:

1)     Beginner students:  ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God

2)    Babes in Christ:  are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat