College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 5:1-4
B.
The office of the priesthood. Hebrews 5:1-4.
Text
Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Hebrews 5:2 who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity; Hebrews 5:3 and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. Hebrews 5:4 And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 5:1 Now, to show that Christ is a real High Priest, I will describe the designation, the duties, and the qualifications of an high priest. Every high priest taken from among men is appointed, by persons having a right to confer the office, to perform for men the things pertaining to the public worship of God, and especially that he may offer both free-will offerings and sacrifices for sins.
Hebrews 5:2 He must be able to have a right measure of compassion on the ignorant, and those who err through ignorance, because he himself also is clothed with infirmity; so that he will officiate for them with the greater kindness and assiduity.
Hebrews 5:3 And because he himself is a sinner, he must, as for the people, so also for himself, offer sacrifices for sins, (Leviticus 16:6.)
Hebrews 5:4 Now, to apply these things to the Christ, I observe, first, that as in the gospel church no one can take this honourable office to himself but he who is thereto called of God, as Aaron was in the Jewish church;
Comment
For every high priest, being taken from among men
God's high priests were men:
a.
The first indication that Aaron and his sons were to care for the tabernacle is found in Exodus 28:1.
b.
Their first distinct separation to the office of the priesthood is recorded, in Exodus 28.
c.
After this, the legal head of the house of Aaron became high priest. Usually the eldest son succeeded in office.
The task was theoretically for life.
is appointed for men
God does not do things because of Himself, but because of men:
a.
Mark 2:27: Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.
b.
John 3:16: God so loved the world.
The world is God's object of love, not Himself.
in things pertaining to God
Aaron and his sons were not appointed to secular things, but unto God:
a.
They were to minister to holy things.
b.
Their responsibility was not cultivation of the soil, commerce, etc., but to minister in holy things.
that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins
What is the difference between gifts and sacrifices?
a.
Gifts usually appear first. See Hebrews 8:3 and Hebrews 9:9.
1.
Milligan says gifts and sacrifices are used interchangeably as in Genesis 4:3-5.
2.
Milligan says gifts refer to bloodless sacrifices, and offerings to those that require the life of the sacrifice.
3.
Mathew Henry says gifts refers to free-will offering.
4.
Newell says gifts appear first because the chief and normal business of a priest was to receive the gifts and direct the worship.
b.
Sacrifices for sins generally is understood to be the blood offerings:
1.
All the sins and iniquities of Israel were confessed by the priest on the great day of Atonement, and during the year all sacrifices were under his direction.
2.
The priest goes to God on man's behalf; the prophet comes from God representing God to men.
who can bear gently
The prophet can cry out against the sins of a people, Repent or be destroyed.
a.
The priest is to be sympathetic, and to aid in the forgiving of sins.
b.
The word bear gently means have compassion.
1.
The priest had to decide whether a sacrifice for sin could be given legally. Leviticus 10:8-11; Deuteronomy 12:8-13; Deuteronomy 24:8; Deuteronomy 33:10; Malachi 2:7.
2.
A bitter judge could be just.
with the ignorant and erring
The ignorantsee Leviticus 5:17-19.
a.
If a man sinned through ignorance or in error, or in an occasion where temptation might obscure for a time the guilt, a sacrifice could be given, sin be forgiven. Numbers 15:22-29.
b.
If it was the sin of the high hand, in the spirit of haughty insolence, there could be no sacrifice. He could be put to death at the testimony of two or three witnesses. Numbers 15:30-31; Deuteronomy 17:6.
The erringthose deceived by passions. See Leviticus 6:1-7.
a.
This was hard to judge, and the high priest hearing gently could sometimes bring a person to repentance.
b.
Calvin feels that the word, erring, does not refer to the sinners.
for that he himself is compassed with infirmity
The high priest was in a condition of temptation:
a.
Paul could understand the Jew having infirmity, for he was one of the best Jews.
Romans 9:2-3: I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
b.
Infirmity was a physical condition, meaning frailty, feebleness, distress of the soul, 2 Corinthians 12:5-10.
And by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins
Consider the Old Testament priest:
a.
To offer for himself as well as for the sins of others. Leviticus 4:3-12: Leviticus 4:3, If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people, then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering.
b.
Occasion of sacrifice for self:
1.
He offered sacrifices for special sins. Leviticus 4:3-12. On special occasions.
2.
He, in the regular daily, weekly, monthly, yearly sacrifice, recognized his own sin.
3.
On the day of Atonement he was required to go into the most holy place and there make an offering for his own sins first and then for the people. cf. Hebrews 9:7; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:25.
Compare the priest with Jesus. He need not offer sacrifices for His sins:
Isaiah 53:9: For He had done no violence, neither was there and deceit in His mouth.
Pilate, in Matthew 27:24, could find no sin in Christ's life. cf. Hebrews 4:14.
and no man taketh the honor to himself
No priest can be self-appointed. It is a task appointed by God:
a.
Where do priests get their appointments today? Not from God.
1.
Some have been tried in the past and have suffered: Numbers 16:10-11: When Korah sought the position of priest, the earth swallowed all of them up who were faithful to Korah.
2.
Jude 1:11 speaks of the gainsaying of Korah.
3.
Uzziah meddled with an office and became a leper. 2 Chronicles 26:18.
4.
Saul. 1 Samuel 13:8-10.
b.
A thousand priests can do no good, if not appointed, and it is a sin of which we must have no part.
Read the warning for those who follow false priests. Revelation 18:4.
but when he is called of God even as was Aaron
See Exodus 24:1 and Exodus 28 for his appointment.
See Numbers 16:8 for the sons of Levi being made priests.
Study Questions
695.
Describe the high priest taken from among men.
696.
When was the priestly system started?
697.
What family was selected to serve?
698.
When did the family first serve?
699.
What is significant in the statement, appointed for men?
700.
Does God do things for Himself or for men?
701.
Was the high priest's job secular or religious according to this verse?
702.
What is meant by offer both gifts and sacrifices?
703.
Is there a difference?
704.
Is this expression a common one? Cf. Hebrews 8:3; Hebrews 9:9.
705.
Would sacrifices refer to the blood portion of worship?
706.
What is the actual difference between the work of the prophet and priest?
707.
What is significant in the expression, bear gently?
708.
With what or whom was he to bear gentlythe sacrifice or the sacrificer?
709.
Did the prophet bear gently?
710.
In what way did he have opportunity either to judge harshly or bear gently? Cf. Leviticus 10:8-11; Deuteronomy 12:8-13; Deuteronomy 24:8; Deuteronomy 33:10; Malachi 2:7.
711.
Who would be ignorant worshippers? Cf. Leviticus 5:17-19.
712.
Were they necessarily interested in being forgiven?
713.
How could one sin ignorantly? Cf. Numbers 15:22-29.
714.
Were the ignorant and erring two different groups? Cf. Leviticus 6:1-7.
715.
How did the high-handed sinner fare?
716.
Was there a sacrifice for him?
717.
What could be done with him? Cf. Numbers 15:30-31; Deuteronomy 17:6.
718.
In what way was the priest like the worshippers?
719.
Can you name instances when priests fell in their infirmities?
720.
What was the priest bound to do for the people? For himself? Cf, Leviticus 4:3-12.
721.
Did the high priest have sacrifices for special sins? Cf. Leviticus 4:3-12.
722.
Which sacrifice came first, the one for himself or for the people? Hebrews 9:7; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:25.
723.
Did Jesus need to make sacrifice for Himself?
724.
How did a priest secure his position?
725.
Could he usurp the privilege?
726.
Did any men ever try? Numbers 16:10-11; Jude 1:11.
727.
How did Uzziah meddle with the office of priest. 2 Chronicles 26:18.
728.
Did Saul dare to act as a priest? 1 Samuel 13:8-10.
729.
What is the danger of following a false priest? Cf. Revelation 18:4.
730.
Whom did God call to be priest besides Aaron? Cf. Numbers 16:8.
731.
Would calling and appointing carry the same idea?