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Hebrews Chapter
Five
I.
Content of the Chapter
Christ is the High Priest
Who is Better
than Aaron (II)
A. The honor of Aaron as a High Priest (v.1-4);
1. He is taken from among men and is appointed
for men in things pertaining to God (v.1);
2. He can have compassion on those who are
ignorant and going astray (v.2);
3. He offered sacrifices for sins for the
people and for himself (v.3);
4. He does not take this honor himself
but is
called by God (v.4);
B. Christ is a priest according
to the order of Melchizedek (v.5-10);
1. He did not glorify Himself to become High Priest
but it
was He who said to Him (v.5);
2. He is a priest according
to the order of Melchizedek (v.6
10);
3. His complete godliness and obedience in the
days of His suffering in the flesh make Him the perfect High Priest (v.7
4. He has become the author of eternal
salvation to all those who obey Him (v.9b).
C. We can only understand such a high priest
when we are of full age (v.11-14).
1. Not all believers are able to understand the
words concerning Melchizedek (v.11);
2. Though many have believed the Lord for many
years
they can still partake only of milk
instead of solid food (v.12);
3. Everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the
word of righteousness
for he is a babe (v.13);
4. Solid food belongs to those who are of full age
that is
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil (v.14);
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Heb. 5:1
“For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things
pertaining to God
that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
YLT: “For every chief priest --
out of men taken -- in behalf of men is set in things to God
that he may offer
both gifts and sacrifices for sins
”
Meaning of Words:
“appointed”: constitute
place down
ordain; “pertaining
to God”: as to God
toward God; “sacrifices”: offering;
Literal Meaning:
“for every high priest taken
from among men”
“for” shows that it continues the
previous narration that why Christ is a perfect High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16).
“From among men”
the High Priest should be a man with humanity so that he will
be able to sympathize with man’s weakness. Therefore
God has not appointed any
angel to be the High Priest. “Taken”
it indicates that
“Is
appointed for men in things pertaining to God”
“things pertaining to God”:
things that are toward God; this verse suggests that the ministry of the
High Priest in the Old Testament is to bring men to God and bring the grace of
God to men. Therefore
the High Priest is the mediator between God and men.
“That
he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins”
“gifts”: oblations; “sacrifices”: the offerings
with blood; “gifts and sacrifices (the original)” represent all the High
Priest’s works of sacrifices ---- the gifts are for the purpose of giving
thanks for having been pleased by God
and the sacrifices are for our
sins.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The High Priest is taken “among men” to deal
with things “for men”. Therefore
“men” occupy an important position in things
of service to God.
2) No matter how spiritual a servant of God is
he is still a man subject to like passions as we are (see James 5:17). And he
may also make the mistake that any man may make.
3) The one who is taken shall work utterly
according to the will of the one who takes him. Christians who are chosen by
the Lord have to do what they are supposed to do completely according to the
Lord’s commandment (John 15:16).
4) The sins that separate man God has created
from such a God who creates and loves him should be clearly dealt with so that
he will be enabled to come back to God again (see 1John 1:7).
Heb. 5:2 “He can have compassion on
those who are ignorant and going astray
since he himself is also subject to
weakness.”
YLT:
“able to be gentle to those ignorant and going astray
since himself also is
compassed with infirmity;”
Meaning
of Words: “have
compassion on”: sympathize
be
moderate in passion
gentle; “ignorant”: not know; “going astray”: deceive
wander
be out of the way; “subject to”: be enclosed
hang about;
Literal
Meaning: “he can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going
astray”
“have
compassion on”: sympathize with a
moderate attitude; though he sympathizes man’s weakness (Heb. 4:15)
he does
not take sides; “ignorant”: make mistakes because of ignorance (Num.
15:28); “going
astray”: sin against God
because of one’s erring in heart (Heb. 3:10). The High Priest has to be able to
properly sympathize with the mistakes man has made because of his ignorance or
carelessness
except for the purposeful sins against God (Num. 15:30).
“Since he himself is also subject to weakness”
“he himself”: the High Priest among men; “is also subject to weakness”
it indicates that he has also the human
defects.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Man’s sins are mostly caused by ignorance.
2) Concerning the things of spiritual pursuit
our ignorance is often the major reason for our failure. We do not know a lot
of truth in the scriptures
especially that we do not often realize that Christ
live in us.
3) Those who serve the Lord have to know themselves
first of all and confess they also have shortages and need the mercy of God.
Then
they will be enabled to serve others properly.
4) The most important character of a preacher
is the ability of having compassion on others. The preachers who stand high
above others and claim to be spiritual and are unable to sympathize with the
difficulties or troubles of others perhaps have little use in the Lord’s hands.
5) Only those who have experienced the same
weakness are enabled to understand the weakness of others.
Heb. 5:3 “Because of this he is
required as for the people
so also for himself
to offer sacrifices for sins.”
YLT:
“and because of this infirmity he ought
as for the people
so also for himself
to offer for sins;”
Literal
Meaning: the main responsibility of the High Priest
is “offering the sacrifices to make atonement” (see Lev. 9:7; 16:6
17). “For the people
so also for
himself”
as a man
the
High Priest may also commit sins
so he has to offer sacrifices for himself
before offering sacrifices for the people.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Many believers see only the faults of
others
but fail to see that they also make the same mistakes likewise. They
see only the mote in the eyes of men
but do not observe the beam in their own
eyes (Matt. 7:3).
2) Each believer in the New Covenant is a
priest (1Pet. 2:9). The works of the priest is to face the holy God. However
we and the man we represent are both filthy
so we have to appropriate the
precious blood of the Lord to deal with our sins every time when we come to
God.
Heb. 5:4 “And no man takes this
honor to himself
but he who is called by God
just as Aaron was.”
YLT:
“and no one to himself doth take the honour
but he who is called by God
as
also Aaron:”
Meaning
of Words: “honor”: value
preciousness; “take … to himself”: take by oneself;
Literal
Meaning: “no man takes this honor to himself”
God granted the ministry of the priest to
the house of Aaron in the history of the Israelites (see Ex. 28:1; 1Chr.
23:13). No one outside of his house is permitted to fulfill such ministry (see
Num. 18:7; 2Chr. 26:18).
“But he
who is called by God
just as Aaron was”
it indicates that God is the source of the
ministry of the high priest. No one is able to fulfill the ministry of the high
priest outside of the calling of God. Here
the name of Aaron is mentioned for
he was the first high priest chosen and called by God. Therefore
he is set as
a representation to have a contrast between his ministry and that of Christ.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Just as Aaron does not become the high
priest because of his honor but obtains such honor after he has become the high
priest
our value before God
honor or dishonor
depends on what kind of vessel
we are and what function we perform in the hands of God (see 2Tim. 2:20-21).
2) Though we are vessels to dishonor or to
honor
it is not of our will or running
but of God’s mercy and election (see
3) Apparently
those who are in the times of
the New Testament serve God out of their own readiness. However
it is of God’s
inspiration and calling.
Heb. 5:5 “So also Christ did not
glorify Himself to become High Priest
but it was He who said to Him: "You
are My Son
Today I have begotten You."”
YLT:
“so also the Christ did not glorify himself to become chief priest
but He who
spake unto him: `My Son thou art
I to-day have begotten thee;'”
Meaning
of Words: “glorify”: make glorious
full
of glory;
Literal
Meaning: “so also Christ did not glorify Himself to
become High Priest”
note that the writer of this epistle is very careful in
wording. Here
he mentions “Christ” instead of “Jesus” (see Heb. 4:14)
for
Jesus was the name of the Lord when he was a man in the flesh
and Christ was the
name when he was anointed and fulfilled his ministry. Meanwhile
he did not
“glorify” Himself (see v.4). This is because the high priest taken from among
men has only honor in the earth. However
Christ as the High Priest has both
human honor as well as divine honor (see Heb. 1:3)
“But it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son
Today I have begotten
You””
“You are My Son
Today I have begotten You”
it is quoted from the Book
of Psalm (2:7) (see Heb. 1:5); “He” refers to God the Father;
“You are My Son”
it shows that God the
Father declares and confesses Christ before all ---- He is not only the Son of
God who has the life and disposition of God but also He is the heir who will
inherit “all that God has” lawfully. “Today I have begotten You”
it mentions
the risen Christ (Acts 13:33)
who fulfill the ministry of the High Priest in
resurrection (see Heb. 4:14; 7:24-25).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ is the Son of God
so He has the life
of God. He that has the Son has life. He that has not the Son of God has not
life (1John 5:12).
2) Christ is the High Priest in resurrection
so death can not hinder Him. He often provides us with His risen power so that
we are enabled to overcome the power of death and manifest the odour of the
risen Christ (2Cor. 2:14).
Heb. 5:6 “As He also says in
another place: "You are a priest forever According to the order of
Melchizedek";”
YLT:
“as also in another He saith
`Thou a priest -- to the age
according to the
order of Melchisedek;'”
Meaning
of Words: “order”: fixed succession
regular arrangement;
Literal
Meaning: “as He also says in another place”
the
following words are quoted from the Book of Psalm (110:4)
and the scriptures
here typify Christ’s ascension and sitting on the throne.
“You are a priest according to the order of Melchizedek”
“Melchizedek”
is the priest of the Most High God. When Abraham defeated the five kings and
returned
Melchizedek brought bread and wine to receive him and blessed him
(Gen. 14:17-20). “According to the order of Melchizedek”
it means that it is
different from the high priests taken from among men (see v.1)
for Melchizedek
is the king of Salem
who is without father
without mother
without genealogy
having neither beginning of days
nor end of life
(see Heb. 7:2-3)
so the order
of Melchizedek refers to the order of the Son of God and king. “The high priest
forever”
any high priest from among men will die one day and be succeeded by
others. However
Christ
as the High Priest
has an unchangeable priesthood
(see Heb. 7:23-24).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The priesthood of the Lord Jesus is built on
the foundation that He is the Son of God and king (typified by Melchizedek). As
the Son of God
He has the perfect divinity. As a king
He has noble position.
2) Christ is the High Priest forever. He is
able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him
since He
always lives to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25).
Heb. 5:7 “who
in the days of His
flesh
when He had offered up prayers and supplications
with vehement cries
and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death
and was heard because of
His godly fear
”
YLT:
“who in the days of his flesh both prayers and supplications unto Him who was
able to save him from death -- with strong crying and tears -- having offered
up
and having been heard in respect to that which he feared
”
Meaning
of Words: “save…from”: save…out of; “godly fear”: reverence
dread;
Literal
Meaning: “who
in the days of His flesh”: in the days
of His incarnation
namely
from Mary’s pregnancy by the Spirit to His being
crucified on the cross. When He became flesh
he was limited and experienced
many persecutions and tribulations and had the same feelings like the common
people.
“When He had offered up prayers and supplications
with vehement cries
and tears”
this verse relates the conditions of the Lord’s praying in the
“Prayer” is expressing the true need before God; “supplication” is
pouring out the urgent and critical need before God. The former emphasizes the
words of the one who prays
and the latter focuses on the heart of the one who
makes supplications.
“To Him
who was able to save Him from death”
the Lord Jesus is in no wise the one who is afraid of death
for He foretold
His disciples that He would die in Jerusalem thrice (see Matt. 17:22-23; 20:28;
Mark. 10:45) and he set His mind to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). And even when
someone warned Him that Herod would kill Him (his palace was just in
Then
why did the Lord pray with tears and cries? The Bible exegetes
have given the following explanations:
1. He did not supplicate to be saved from the
dying on the cross
but dying in the
2. He supplicated to be saved from the death
that separates Him from God the Father (Matt. 27:46)
not that death in the
flesh. Actually
if he is not forsaken by God the Father because of bearing
sins of the world
His death will be of no meaning (1Pet. 2:24).
3. He does not pray not to die
but to be saved
from or out of death
so He is raised up three days after His dying (Acts
3:15). It is explained according to the word of “being saved from…”. Actually
He had early known that He would rise up in the third day (Matt. 16:21)
so
such supplication was unnecessary.
4. Satan attacked the Lord fiercely on that
day
which made Jesus began to be amazed and oppressed in spirit (Mark. 14:33).
Therefore
He prayed to God for strength so as to be delivered from the sorrow
in spirit caused by the power of death. Therefore
an angel appeared to him
from heaven strengthening him (Luke 22:43).
5. The Lord Jesus had indeed supplicated to
God: “if it be possible
let this cup pass away from me” (see Matt. 26:39; Mark
14:35-36; Luke 22:42). Therefore
what he asked for is to prove that the “cup”
is out of the will of God. Once he had known that “cup” is of the only will of
God
he had none other choice but said “the cup which the Father has given me
shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11). He became obedient even unto death
the
death of the cross (Phil. 2:8).
The next verse mentions that what he asked for was
granted
and he had experienced the death in fact. Therefore
I
the author
prefer to the fourth and fifth explanations.
“Was head because of His godly fear”
“godly fear”
it means that he only seeks the will of God
not his own will in his flesh (see
Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42); “was heard”
it is not being heard to be
saved from death
but to let him know the death of the cross (this cup) is the
only will of God the Father and strengthen him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Even the Lord Jesus who is the Son of God
needed prayers to God when he was on the earth
let alone we believers who have
many troubles in life. How can we see lightly our privilege of prayer given by
God?
2) Just as the Lord Jesus in the
Heb. 5:8 “though He was a Son
yet
He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”
YLT:
“through being a Son
did learn by the things which he suffered -- the
obedience
”
Meaning
of Words: “learn”: understand
know; “obedience”: compliance
submission;
Literal
Meaning: “though He was a Son”
“though”
it shows a
concessive mood. Though Christ is the Son of God
He had to experience
personally and be recognized in order to become the perfect and eternal High
Priest.
“Yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered”
“the things
which He suffered” and “learned”
both of them in the original are active in
meaning and beautiful in wording and respond to each other. The former refers
to the perfection of the experience pertaining to sufferings
and the latter
refers to the perfection of the experience of learning. “Obedience”
here it
clearly relates that the obedience of Christ before God is obtained from the
above two experiences.
Here
it is an additional explanation that what He prayed for in verse
seven is obedience of the will of God. And what God answers is the manifest to
His Son that the death of the cross is the changeless will of God. Though
Christ Jesus is the Son of God
He has to put His “all-knowing” divinity aside
and experienced the suffering in the flesh. Finally
He passed the trial of
“obedience”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is the duty and blessing for a man to
devote himself to God and obey to the end.
2) If a man has not suffered loss or affliction
on account of truth
he will not know what obedience is.
3) The whole life of Christians is a process of
learning. On one hand
we have to learn at the aspect of the objective truth.
On the other hand
the knowledge that we have learned should be proved through
subjective life experience.
Heb. 5:9 “And having been perfected
He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
”
YLT:
“and having been made perfect
he did become to all those obeying him a cause
of salvation age-during
”
Meaning
of Words: “perfect”: fulfill
complete; “author”: source
origin;
Literal
Meaning: “and having been perfected”
“perfect”
it
does not mean His nature and character are not perfect and He will be perfect
after the learning of obedience in suffering
but means that He is perfectly
fit to be the High Priest for believers after the experience of the suffering
in life (see Heb. 2:11
18) so that He is able to sympathize with the weakness
of men (see v.2
4:15).
“He became the another of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”
“all
who obey Him” refer to Christians who have believed and obeyed Christ. “Eternal
salvation”
it indicates that the salvation that God ordained to men is
eternal
which means that once one has received the salvation
it is eternal.
“Author”
it points that such eternal salvation is not according to man’s
condition
but Christ Himself
who is the author of our eternal salvation.
Controversial Clarification: some Bible scholars conclude that the
salvation that Christians have obtained is not eternal and has the possibility
of change and missing according to verse four to eight of the Epistle to the
Hebrews. It has become the topic for Bible exegetes of how to deal with the
controversy concerning the two places of verses. Since the Bible mentions “the
eternal salvation”
the salvation is absolutely eternal for the following
reasons:
1) Since God saves us according to His own will
(2Tim. 1:9)
and His will is changeless (Heb. 6:17)
our salvation will never
be lost (John 6:39).
2) Concerning our salvation
it is not we have
chosen God
but God has chosen us (John 15:16)
and the calling of God is
irrevocable (
3) Concerning our salvation
it is not we love
God
but God love us (1John 4:10). And nothing can separate us from the love of
God (
4) Concerning our salvation
it is not
according our deeds
but His grace (2Tim. 1:9). And the grace of God is too
rich and abundant (Eph. 1:9) to deal with all of our conditions and need.
5) Our salvation is for the purpose of
manifesting the righteousness of God (
6) Our salvation is the New Covenant that God
has made with us (Heb 8:8-13). And the covenant of God cannot be changed (Ps.
89:34)
neither can our salvation.
7) We are saved by the power of God (
8) We are saved to obtain the eternal life of
God
so we shall never perish (John 10:28).
9) Our salvation is out of God
and He is
changeless (James 1:17).
10) The perfect Christ is the author of our
eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9).
11) No one can take us out of the hands of
Christ (John 10:28).
12) The Lord promises that he that comes to Him
He will not at all cast out (John 6:37).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christ is the perfect “God” by nature.
However
in order to serve us
He has to undergo the incarnation
suffering and
death so become perfect
let alone we who are not perfect by nature. We shall
seek various spiritual experiences so as to become the useful vessels in the
hands of God.
2) Man’s perfection is the union with the will
of God. Obedience is the only for man to become perfect and the only proof of
the union of man and the will of God’s.
3) If Christ has not obeyed
He cannot
accomplish salvation. If we do not obey
we cannot enjoy the salvation.
Therefore
the obedience of both ours and the Lord’s is the important element
of salvation.
4) If we desire to enjoy the fullness of Christ
more and experienced the reality of the Spirit
we shall learn more lessons of
obedience. Our degree of obedience to God decides the effect of our service
among men.
5) That salvation that we have obtained is the
eternal salvation. The effect and result and profit have eternal nature
and
never change because of the vicissitude of time.
Heb. 5:10 “called by God as High
Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek
"”
YLT:
“having been addressed by God a chief priest
according to the order of
Melchisedek
”
Meaning
of Words: “order”: regular
arrangement
fixed succession; “call”: address
declare
praise;
Literal
Meaning: “by God “according to the order of
Melchizedek””
“the order of Melchizedek” is the order of the Son of God and
king (see the commentary of verse six)
which is superior to the order of Aaron
(see v.4).
“Called as High Priest”
“call”: the declaration of recognition; “call
as High Priest”
the declaration is given to the people of God throughout the
generation through the psalm of David (see v.6; Ps. 110:4).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The High Priest according to the order of
Aaron is to bring the need of man to God (see v.1
3). And the High Priest
according to the order of Melchizedek is out of God and given to men in order
to distribute all things of God to men.
2) Christ Jesus is both God and man
who owns
all things that are of God
and has experienced all things and troubles of man
(see Heb. 4:15). Therefore
He is fit for the High Priest between God and men
to deal with all the need of us.
Heb. 5:11 “of whom we have much to
say
and hard to explain
since you have become dull of hearing.”
YLT:
“concerning whom we have much discourse and of hard explanation to say
since
ye have become dull of hearing
”
Meaning
of Words: “dull of hearing”: lazy
slothful
stupid;
Literal
Meaning: “of whom”
if we desire to understand Christ
as the High Priest
“We have much to say and hard to explain”
“have much to say”
several
words cannot mention it sufficiently (see Heb. 7:1-19); “hard to explain”
it
is difficult to find the words that are proper to those who heard.
“Since you have become dull of hearing”
“dull of hearing”
there are
several meaning: 1) you are uninterested in it; 2) you have preconceived views
and thoughts and so refuse to hear; 3) you are too young to understand the
word.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) To those who are slothful in the learning of
the truth and who do not desire to seek the truth in the Scriptures
they are
dull of hearing the truth.
2) Spiritual things are only discerned by those
who are spiritual. Spiritual truth can only be understood by those who seek to
know God and are even willing to sacrifice the apparent gain with a spiritual
and yearning heart.
3) Now
many believers in the church hear the
word for the purpose of judgment instead of receiving. One who is filled with
his own views can never accept the words of others.
Heb. 5:12 “For though by this time
you ought to be teachers
you need someone to teach you again the first
principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid
food.”
YLT:
“for even owing to be teachers
because of the time
again ye have need that
one teach you what the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God
and ye
have become having need of milk
and not of strong food
”
Meaning
of Words: “oracles”: word; “principle”: element
rudiment; “first”:
preliminary
first;
Literal
Meaning: “for though by this time you ought to be teachers”
“this time”
it
means that you have believed the Lord for a long time. “Ought to be teachers”
it indicates that they ought to know a lot of truth in the Scriptures and be
able to teach others.
“You need someone to teach you again the first principles
of the oracles of God”
at that time
the
Greeks regarded the sun and the moon and water and fire and wind as the origin
of all things
and called them “first principles”. “The first principles of the oracles of
God”
it refers to the fundamentals of God’s
word.
“And you have come to need milk and not solid food”
“milk” is the nutritious food for a baby
so drinking mink represents the immature spiritual life (1Cor. 3:1-2). “Solid
food” is the daily food for those who have grown up
so eating solid food
stands for the mature spiritual life.
According to the context
“solid food” is to
know the truth that Christ is the High Priest according to the order of
Melchizedek (see v.10-11)
namely
the truth of righteousness (see v.13).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The condition of one’s spiritual life can
not be measured by the length of one’s believing the Lord
but by one’s
judgment power upon the biblical knowledge.
2) If a Christian does not know how to value
the time and is unwilling to the catch the opportunity to study and seek to be
grown up
he must be foolish (Eph. 5:16-17) and let the precious days slip
away.
Heb. 5:13 “For everyone who partakes
only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness
for he is a babe.”
YLT:
“for every one who is partaking of milk unskilled in the word of righteousness
-- for he is an infant
”
Meaning
of Words: “unskilled”: have not
experienced
have not tried; “righteousness”: justice;
Literal
Meaning: “for everyone who partakes only of milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness”
“everyone who partakes only of milk”
refers to the believer who is young in spiritual life (see v.12); “the word of
righteousness”
it relates the word that manifests the righteousness of God
which is opposite to the word of comfort and nourishment.
“For he is a babe”
“babe”
it means that one has not grown up in
spiritual life and still remains in the carnal stage (see 1Cor. 3:1-2)
who is
only able to enjoy the word of grace and loving-kindness and comfort but unable
to discern both good and evil (see v.14; 1Thess. 5:21-22).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The righteous truth concerning God’s way in
the Scriptures is deeper than that the truth pertaining to God’s grace
and
thus requires a more mature life to understand it.
2) Some Christian is always a baby all his
life
for he is unwilling to pay the cost to pursue progress and is indisposed
to leave all things to follow Jesus. Therefore
he always needs the help of
others
but is unable to help others.
Heb. 5:14 “But solid food belongs to
those who are of full age
that is
those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
YLT:
“and of perfect men is the strong food
who because of the use are having the
senses exercised
unto the discernment both of good and of evil.”
Meaning
of Words: “full
age”: growth
perfect
completeness
reach the goal; “sense”: an organ of perception
judgment;
“use”: habit
practice; “exercised”: trained
practiced
experienced; “discern”: distinguish the difference;
Literal
Meaning: “but solid food belongs to those who are of
full age”
“those who are of full age”: those who have grown up and mature in
spiritual life ---- opposite to babes (v.13)
“Those who by reason of use have their senses exercised”
the organ that
discerns the spiritual things becomes gradually experienced through constant
use and practice (see 1Cor. 2:15-16).
“To discern both good and evil”: to distinguish what is good and what is
evil (1Thess. 5:21-22).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Who are of full age”
it carries the
meaning of “destination” or “goal” in the original. All those who are dedicated
to seek to reach the goal will be no longer babes. All those who have reached
the goal have been of full age.
2) The spiritual life will not become naturally
mature as the physical life grows up. Instead
we have to pursue the growth in
spiritual life by complete obedience to the will of God and utter devotion of
our all to God and paying the price with a willing heart.
3) If we desire to know Christ completely and
thoroughly
we have to be grown up in life. The mystery of God cannot be hidden
to those who have grown up.
4) One shall not hear the interpretations of
others on the Scriptures only
but also search the scriptures by himself and
become familiar with the biblical truth and learn to practice them so that he
will be enabled to teach others.
5) To understand the deep truth
it is not of
talent
or knowledge or intellect or wittiness
but utterly of a heart ready to
be taught and of daily practice of discernment of good and evil.
6) If we practice faithfully according to the
light given by God
our spiritual sense will become acute to realize the
smallest sin. Such spiritual faculty is a sign of growth in spiritual life.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Indispensable Requirements for the High
Priest
A. He must be a man (v
B. He has to fulfill the ministry of the high
priest (v.1b).
C. He has to be able to have compassion on man’s infirmity (v.2).
D. He has to offer sacrifices for sins (v.3).
E. He has to be appointed by God (v.4).
The Similarities and Differences between
Christ and Aaron as the High Priest
A. Similarities:
1. He does not take this honor to himself
but
is called by God (v.4
2. He is appointed for men in things pertaining
to God that he may offer sacrifices for sins (v.1; Heb. 2:17).
3. He himself is subject to weakness
so he can
have compassion on man’s weakness (v.2; Heb. 4:15).
B. Differences:
1. Aaron is taken from among men
but Christ is
begotten by God (v.1
5);
2. Aaron is always subject to weakness
but
Christ is perfect (v.2
9);
3. Aaron has to offer sacrifices for sins
but Christ is totally innocent (v.3
Heb.
4:15);
4. Aaron is the high priest in the flesh
but
Christ is the High Priest forever (v.6);
5. Aaron offers the sacrifices for a temporary
effect
but Christ has become the author of our eternal salvation (v.9);
Christ is a High Priest Who is
A. Christ is the High Priest in His humanity to
meet men’s need in the flesh:
1. He is able to deal with the things
pertaining to God on behalf of men (v.1).
2. He is able to have compassion on men’s
weakness (v.2).
3. He offered the sacrifice to deal with the
problems of men’s sins (v.3).
4. He is called to be the High Priest
which
proves that God does not give men up at all (v.4
B. Christ is the High Priest in His
resurrection to meet men’s eternal need:
1. He manifests that the Son of God gives the
life of God to us (v.5b).
2. His resurrection makes us overcome the power
of death (v.5b).
3. He is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek so that he can serve us forever (v.6).
C. The experience of Christ who becomes the
High Priest because of obedience meets the need of all those who obey Him:
1. His learning of obedience in affliction
meets for the need of all those who are in affliction (v.7-8).
2. He is perfected because of obedience and has
become the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (v.9).
3. He is called as High Priest by God because
of His obedience
which shows that obedience is the only way for us to be
accepted by God and be perfected (v.10).
Christ as the High Priest is More Excellent
than Aaron
A. Christ is set according to another order
(v.5-6).
B. Christ is the High Priest who is utterly
obedient (v.7-8).
C. Christ is the High Priest who brings eternal
salvation to men (v.9).
D. Christ is called as the eternal High Priest
(v.10).
The Conditions of Christians Who Are Not of
Full Age
A. Who lack of discernment:
1. Who have become dull of hearing (v.11);
2. Who are unskilled in the word of righteousness (v.13);
B. Who waste the time of learning:
1. Who ought to be teachers
and still need someone to teach them again (v.12);
2. Who by reason of use have not their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil (v.14);
C. Who can partake only of preliminary
spiritual food:
1. Who partake only of milk (v.13) ---- who are
able to eat only the food digested by others;
2. Who cannot eat solid food (v.12) ---- who
are unable to digest by themselves;
D. Who are slow and even stagnant in spiritual
growth:
1. They are babies (v.13) ---- who need the
attendance of others;
2. They have not grown up (v.14) ---- who are
unable to help others;
The Comparison between Two Kinds of
Christians; v.12-14
A. Who can only partake of milk ---- who can
eat solid food;
B. Who are babes ---- who are of full age;
C. Who are unskilled ---- who by reason of use
have their senses exercised;
D. Who are unskilled in the word of
righteousness ---- who can discern both good and evil;
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou