November 4, 2012
Morning Service

Heb. 5.

 

Review:

1.     God has chosen, by giving us a letter, by which has no name for an author, no date in which it was written, and from no certain location from which it is written.

2.    He has given us His reasons for remaining in the Christian faith, and it has been addressed to the Hebrews.

3.    The writer has used many O.T. Scriptures to make His arguments.  In the first 4 chapters He has issued 3 warnings to the Hebrews, and to us.

1. Heb 2:3 KJVR  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
2. Heb 3:12-13 KJVR  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  (13)  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3. Heb 4:1 KJVR  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

4.    Heb 4:9-11 KJVR  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (10)  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  (11)  Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

5.    The writer closes with this admonition;  Heb 4:14-16 KJVR  Seeing 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.  (15)  For we have not a 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.  (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.

 

In chapter 5 the writer continues with Jesus as our Great High Priest;

 

Heb 5:1-14 KJVR  For 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:  (2)  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  (3)  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.  (4)  And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 

• The office of High Priest was the highest ranking office in Judaism.
• He was splendidly dressed above the other Priests, and had the final say in all religious judgments.
• He alone was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies once a year, on the day of Atonement, and offer sacrifices for sins of the people.  And for himself, as the writer has said.
• Even though this was a very high office, he recognized that he also was a sinner.
• The High Priest office was originally designed to be a descendant from Aaron, from the tribe of Levi.  However, Greg mentioned Wednesday evening that at the time Luke wrote his gospel, there were two High Priests. 
• In the time of the Romans it had become corrupt, and the Mosaic regulation was disregarded; 2 Macc. 4:7; Josephus, Ant. xv. 3. 1. It was no longer held for life, so that there were several persons at one time to whom was given the title of high priest. 

(5)  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.  (6)  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.   

• We have recorded time and again where God spoke of Jesus as His beloved Son.
• The writer quotes Psa. 110:4;  saying that this is speaking of Jesus.

 

 

(7)  Who in the days of his flesh,

• Referring to Jesus.

when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 

• We read of the account where Jesus prayed in the garden.
• Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

(8)  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  (9)  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  (10)  Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

• Here is your Father, and Son relationship.  Even such a high, and wonderful state of relationship, the Son should always walk in obedience to His Father, and there should be a reverent, and loving fear of the power, and strength of the Father.
• By being obedient, He was made perfect, and became the author of eternal salvation UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM.
• You see, we also as sons, and daughters of God, have this responsibility to walk in obedience to our Heavenly Father.

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

• Of Whom, this Melchizedek, the writer will speak more concerning him later in the letter.
• He says, “you are dull of hearing.”  You are not ready accept what I am about to teach you.
• For this reason we should always come before the Throne of God, our hearts prepared to receive God’s Word.  Leaving the things of the world behind, and entering God’s presence with a heart of praise, and thanksgiving.  WE ARE TO BE A SPIRITUAL PEOPLE IN TUNE WITH GOD.

WARNING # 4.

(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;

• Now the writer will tell us what these principles are in the next chapter.
• He says that these are the first things in the oracles, or doctrine of God.  He is going to reveal to us some deeper things of God as we continue in this letter.
• He shames them by telling them they should already know these things, and be teaching others concerning them.   BUT YOUR NOT READY.

and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

• He says, you need to be taught these things again
• By reason of use!  Someone who is striving to do the will of God.

 

Jesus said this;  Joh 14:23 KJVR  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 

John said this;  1Jo 2:26-27 KJVR  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.  (27)  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

 

The Anointing you received is the abiding presence of the Spirit of God, Who will lead, and guide you into all truth.  When you read your Bible, pray, and ask Him for understanding, and you shall receive it.