OUR FATHER WHO CALLED JESUS TO BE THE ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

In chapter 5, the writer of the book of Hebrews continues the theme from the last chapter related to role of Christ as our eternal priest by pointing out that the appointed levitical priests were subject to all temptation that were common to man, the author tells us that they were able to have compassion for those who were ignorant and continuously going astray because they too were subject to weakness.

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. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

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.”

6 As He also says in another place:

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek”;

In the case of Christ, even though He was appointed to the role as the eternal High Priest, in the days when He lived on earth, out of godly fear, offered up tearful prayers and supplications to the God who could save Him in His status as a Son, yet remained obedient through the suffering that He went through. 

By the proving of His perfection, He became the author of eternal salvation for any and all who obeyed Him. Jesus would be their High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

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, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

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. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of [d]use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Amen.

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