4:14 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.
Seeing then that {ie., Therefore, since} we have a great high priest...-
The greatness of our High Priest has been the subject of this epistle, from its beginning. Jesus, the Son of God...
is God's Word to man, superior to the prophets (Heb 1:1,2).
is God the Son: the essence of God's Person, the Creator and Sustainer of all (1:1-3).
by Himself purged our sins, and sat down at God's right hand (1:3).
is superior to the angels, as attested by Scripture (1:4-f).
became perfect man, to redeem fallen men (2:14-17).
is superior to Moses, who was a servant in His house (3:1,5-6).
finished the work of salvation, providing true rest for believers (4:9-11).
Now, the High Priesthood of Christ will be considered in detail (4:14- 10:18), in two aspects:
His Priestly Person is superior to that of Aaron and sons (4:14- 7:28).
His Priestly Ministry is superior to its earthly patterns (ch.8-10).
Verse 14 sumarizes and encapsulates both of these points:
In His Person, our Great High Priest is "Jesus, the Son of God."
In His Ministry, our Great High Priest "is passed into {through} the heavens."
He has entered, not merely through the veil into the Holy Place of an earthly temple, but into the very Presence of God. Heb 1:3; 6:19,20; 10:19-23
let us hold fast our profession {GK=homologia, lit., "speaking the same thing," confession}
We are to 'hold fast' {ie., seize, retain} the truth which we confess. What truth?
The truth that Christ, our High Priest, being superior to all, is all we need (eg., 3:1; 10:23).
We dare not turn back from Him, to put our trust in fleshly priests and ritual.
4:15 For we have not an 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.
touched with the feeling {GK= sumpatheo, compassion}
Christ can sympathize with our fleshly weakness. As a man, He became weary and thirsty (eg., Joh 4:6,7), He wept over death and destruction (Joh 11:34,35; Luk 19:41-44), He was touched by the effects of sin (Heb 2:17,18; Mat 8:17).
[He] was in all points tempted {ie., tested} like as we are...
There are three common points of temptation, which lead men to sin:
"The lust of the flesh, The lust of the eyes, and The pride of life." 1Joh 2:16
[For more about these points, see the Book Notes at 1John 2:16.]
Satan used all three, in attacking Eve (Gen 3:1-6), Jesus (Luke 4:1-13), and you and me.
We, like Eve, fail on all three points. But Jesus is...
yet, without {apart from} sin.- As the God-Man, He could not sin.
But He did not have it easy. He endured pressure, far beyond any test to which we are subjected. It doesn't take much to break us. The weight which He endured was intense, to prove that He is unbreakable. Like a ship grounded on the Rock, He was battered more than any storm tossed boat, to prove that He is immovable. Joh 14:30; Heb 7:26
4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
therefore...- ie., Because we have such a High Priest...
let us come boldly {GK=parrhesia, lit., "with all speech," with freedom of speech}
(Not 'brazenly' or 'flippantly' as the English word 'boldly' might imply.)
We can come 'freely' with complete 'openness,' knowing that He understands.
unto the throne of grace...-
The Throne of Judgment has become the Throne of Grace {undeserved favor} because our High Priest is seated there.
to obtain {ie., receive}... mercy {GK=eleos, compassion, kindness}...-
5:1 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:
Verses 1-4 define the requirements of 'every high priest' in the Aaronic (Levitical) Priesthood.
A priest must...
Be called by God and ordained {appointed} to serve God. (v.1 and v.4)
Be a man- 'taken from among men...'
So that he can be a representative "for men" before God. (v.1,2)
Bring acceptable sacrifices for sins (plural) to God. (v.3)
5:2 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.
compassion {GK=metriopatheo, lit., "measured emotions," care without undue harshness}...
...on the ignorant - Those who should have known better.
...on the wayward - Those who should have done better. Prov 14:12; Rom 3:12
The Aaronic priest, because of his own physical and moral weakness,
can understand the weakness of the men whom he represents before God.
5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people,
so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Because every Aaronic priest is himself a sinner,
he must make sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. Lev 16:1-24
5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself,
but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.
Every true priest must be appointed by God, not by man, not by self.
Those who intrude into the priestly office, without being called and appointed as a priest by God, suffer severe consequences. Examples: Korah (Num 16:1-35), king Saul (1Sam 13:9-14), and king Uzziah (2Chr 26:16-21)
5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest;
but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. {Psa 2:7}
Verses 5-10 demonstrate that Christ satisfies the above requirements for Priesthood.
The following points will be developed in subsequent chapters.
1. Christ was Appointed by God.-
A. Not as the multitude of Aaronic priests, but as God's unique Son.
The day of this glorification was the day of His resurrection. Acts 13:33; Rom 1:1-4
5:6 As he saith also in another [place],
Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. {Psa 110:4}
B. Not as a priest in the common Levitical order (of Aaron), but as a unique priest in a unique priestly order.
The Aaronic priesthood pictures Christ's ministry, but the picture is flawed and incomplete. The Melchizedek priesthood completes the picture (as ch.7 will explain).
Jesus could not have been an Aaronic priest because He was of the tribe of Judah, not of Levi. There is no lineage connected with the Melchizedek priesthood. Heb 7:13-16
5:7 Who in the days of his flesh,
when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears
unto him that was able to save him from {out of} death,
and was heard in that he feared;
2. Christ, as a man, demonstrated that...
He understands our weakness because 'in the days of his flesh...'
He was 'touched with the feelings our infirmities' (Heb 4:15).
He is fit to represent us before God.
He offered powerful prayer to God... for others... for Himself. (v.7)
His prayers were heard, because He feared {had 'godly fear' (as trans. in Heb 12:28)}.
ie., He looked always to God, even in the midst of His sorrows. Psa 27:11-14
His own resurrection is a primary example of answered prayer. Psa 21:4; 40:1-3
5:8 Though he were a Son,
yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
obedience {GK=hupoakoe [hupo- of, by, under; akouo- to hear with discernment, cp. Heb 4:7]}
He was, as a man, in submission to God. He conducted Himself according to that which He discerned was God's will, even at the high cost of suffering and death.
The Son, "who had always commanded, learned practically what obedience meant."
3. Christ suffered as the final sacrifice for sin. (cp. Psa 40:6)
(This will be developed in subsequent chapters.)
5:9 And being made perfect {GK=teleioo, complete},
he became the author {GK=aitios, causer} of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
cp. Heb 2:9,10 (where the word for 'author' is translated 'captain')
Note that salvation is...
eternal. He offers no other kind. Salvation which can be lost is not eternal.
The One, who is "priest for ever," secures eternal salvation (cp. v.6; Heb 7:25).
for them that obey Him.- 'obey' {GK=hupoakouo, see note a v.8 note above}
Those who 'obey' the Author of Salvation, submit to Him, of whom they have heard, and in whom they believe. cp. Joh 6:28,29; Rom 10:15,16; cf. 2The 1:8
5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. {see v.6}
The perfection, or completeness, of Christ as our High Priest will be better understood when compared with the priesthood of Melchizedek (in ch. 7).
5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered,
seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Verses 11-14 rebuke the spiritual immaturity of the readers.
of whom...- ie., about Christ and Melchizedek...
seeing {since} you are dull {slothful, sluggish} of hearing.
ie., This profoundly important subject matter is difficult to communicate, because of the spiritual imperception of the hearers.
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.
the time - ie., considering the time elapsed since you first believed.
the first principles - ie., the primary elements, rudimentary principles, the ABC's (eg., Heb 6:1,2).
the oracles of God - ie., God's written Word, Rom 3:1,2
strong meat - ie., solid food.
5:13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness:
for he is a babe.
Milk is essential for babies. But it is not an adequate diet for mature men.
Believers, who neglect chewing on the Word, stunt their own growth. 1Pet 2:1-3; 1Cor 3:1,2
5:14 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.
Having rebuked us for our spiritual immaturity (in v.11-14), the writer now seeks to build us up with stronger spiritual food and exercise. The goal is discernment (cp. Heb 4:12) between good (GK=kalos) and evil (GK=kakos) doctrine. Note that, to the untrained ear, these two Greek words sound similar. But their meanings are opposites.