Hebrews 5:1-6 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. 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. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus Came To Lead Israel From Old Covenant
To New Covenant

I do a lot of reading – and studying – because I’m fascinated with the Bible. I read an article the other day from a College Professor (Emeritus, City University of N.Y) named Bernard Starr (Ph.D). This learned man made the statement:

“Christianity began as a Jewish sect and that Jesus was a thoroughly dedicated practicing Jew who never suggested the launch of a new religion … Jesus lived and died a dedicated Jew, as observed by Christian writer Jean Guitton in his book ‘Great Heresies and Church Councils’ … Jesus did not mean to found a new religion. In his historical humanity, Jesus was a devout Israelite, practicing the law to the full, from circumcision to Pesach, paying the half-shekel for the Temple. Jerusalem, the capital of his nation, was the city he loved: Jesus wept over it”.

As many of the “great theologians” of the Scripture have done, they often ignore passages of Scripture while pushing their own doctrines. Jesus was a Jew, born of the lineage of David, of the Tribe of Judah. The Bible says that as Messiah:

John 1:11-12 (NKJV) {Jesus} came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name …

Jesus came to the Jews first, the Messiah, to save whosoever would believe in Him. Jesus followed the laws of Judaism insofar as they were correctly interpreted. Jesus said,

Matthew 5:17-18 (NKJV) … Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, BUT TO FULFILL. 18 till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled ..

Jesus Came To Make The New Covenant Possible:Jesus came to fulfill the Law of God, the Ceremonial and Sacrificial portions that were shadows that would be fulfilled by the Messiah. The Bible is very clear that “the Law was a SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME” (Hebrews 10:1). The Feasts and Animal Sacrifices could not make a permanent covering for sin. The Messiah would have to come and, being perfect and holy, without sin, He would have to willingly go to an altar of sacrifice for sinners. His blood being shed would provide a covering for sin once and for all. As we are told in:

Hebrews 7:27 (NKJV) {Jesus} does not need daily, as those high priests {of Israel}, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses, but He did not save us from the Law of Moses to bring in a new religion, but a NEW COVENANT. Jesus made this clear when He instituted the “Lord’s Table” out of the Feast of the Passover. Giving His disciples the “cup” of new wine, He said:

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new (kainos, “recently made, a new kind of, unprecedented, novel, unheard of, new or fresh”) testament (diathēkē, a covenant, a will or “testament” like “last will & testament”), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mark 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new (kainos) testament (diathēkē), which is shed for many.

Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new (kainos) testament (diathēkē) in my blood, which is shed for you.

God spoke of this New Covenant to His Old Testament Israel through the Prophet

Jeremiah 31:31-24 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Under the Old Covenant that God gave Israel, the Law of God was given through Moses. The Law was proscriptive, but not prescriptive. It showed man to be a sinner, but did nothing to eradicate the sin – it only temporarily covered the sin. Under the New Covenant God would address the heart. He would cause people to be born again, Children of the Kingdom of God. When God speaks of “the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah”, this is a reference to a divided Israel – one that through civil war became North & South. The “house of Israel” or Northern Israel rejected the Levitical Priesthood and the Temple. Ten Tribes in revolt, they left Judah and Benjamin and started their own system of worship with Samaria as their Capital City. The “house of Judah” or Southern Israel (Judah and Benjamin) kept Jerusalem as their Capital City, and continued to worship in the Temple – though they were not obedient to God.

Israel was divided, conquered, and ineffective because they failed to keep the Old Covenant, and largely rejected the New Covenant that Jesus brought.

Jesus told us that

Matthew 12:25 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand …

Jesus Christ was born of the Tribe of Judah, the Ruling Tribe, and is the fulfillment of God’s Prophecy to King David:

2 Samuel 7:12-13 … when thy days be fulfilled {when you leave this earth}, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

The “Seed of David” from the Tribe of Judah is Jesus Christ. God sent His Son Jesus to “BUILD A HOUSE FOR MY NAME”. God was not speaking of a Temple, but of a People. The Apostle tells us:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV) Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Where God’s people gather together in Christ’s name, we are His Temple. Our focus is on Jesus!

Under The Old Covenant, The High Priest Was Broken

Hebrews 5:1-3 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.

God appointed Aaron, the brother of Moses, to be the “High Priest” of Israel under the Old Covenant. As High Priest Aaron (and his children) were to offer “sacrifices for sins”. The High Priest and his children, his successors, had to offer animals without blemish to God. But the priests themselves had to be without blemish:

Leviticus 21:17-21 (ESV) “Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, 19 or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, 20 or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. 21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the LORD’s food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.”

The High Priest was a “shadow” of the coming Messiah, just as the “lambs without spot or blemish” were shadows of the coming “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36). The High Priest had to be physically healthy – though as our text tells us:

Hebrews 5:2 … he himself also is compassed with infirmity (astheneia, pronounced as-then’-i-ah, “weakness”)

When called as a High Priest, Aaron and his sons were physically fine – but they were weak with sin. Outwardly they were without spot or blemish, but inwardly they were fallen and broken creatures, just as we all are. Under the New Covenant God would send us “The Holy Spirit to help our infirmities, our astheneia, our weaknesses” (Romans 8:26). Aaron had to make offerings for sin himself, before he could ever offer for the sin of the people.

God chose Aaron, knowing that Aaron was weak, a sinner. We are told in

Hebrews 5:4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Aaron did not choose to be High Priest, no more than Moses chose to be Israel’s liberator. They were called.

God chose the Tribe of Levi to be the Priestly Tribe because of what happened at Mount Sinai. While Moses was receiving the Old Covenant, Israel turned to the flesh, to idolatry. When Moses came down the mountain and saw the children of Israel worshiping a Golden Calf, the Bible says:

Exodus 32:26 … Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

The Levites stood with their brother Moses. They were “ON THE LORD’S SIDE”. So God chose the Levites to be the Priests of Israel, and Aaron – with his sons – to be the High Priests.

Jesus Is Unlike The Levitical High Priests

Hebrews 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.

Aaron did not choose to be High Priest, but was a sinner chosen of God. Aaron was a Levite. But Jesus, as I’ve noted before, was of the line of David. He is the Messiah God promised David in 2 Samuel 7. Jesus, like David is of the line of Judah, not Levi.

Under Judaism Jesus could NOT be the High Priest. Under the Old Covenant Jesus could NOT be the High Priest. Why? He is of JUDAH, not LEVI.

As the Son of God, Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords, and with Him are His called, His chosen, His faithful followers” (Revelation 17:14). Jesus Christ did not come to reform Judaism, but to fulfill the Laws of Judaism so that He could bring in the NEW Covenant. Jesus is NOT a Priest of Judaism, for the Priests of Judaism are LEVITES. Jesus is High Priest of the New Covenant – the Messiah from the Tribe of David.

How could Christ be a High Priest? Because God the Father chose Him to be so. But also because Christ comes from a different priesthood.

Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

At this point the Holy Spirit quotes a Messianic Psalm,

Psalm 110:4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

When the Messiah came, He was to be LORD and King, because He would be from the Tribe of Judah, of the House of David. But when the Messiah came He was to be HIGH PRIEST of His House, a Priest NOT from the Tribe of Levi, but a more ancient priesthood.

One day Jesus was being attacked by the Pharisees, as they often did. They hated Jesus because He called them out on how they had modified the Old Covenant to suit themselves. Jesus told them “You are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father you do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and would not abide in the truth … he is the father of lies and liars” (John 8:44, AP). Jesus told them, “If anyone keeps My Word, he shall never see death” (John 8:51, ESV). The Pharisees challenged what Jesus said, saying “Our father Abraham died” (John 8:53). Jesus told them, “Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56). Jesus went on to say, “Truly, truly I say to you, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM” (John 8:58).

Jesus lived before Abraham. He is the Great I AM of God. Jesus said “Abraham saw My day, and was glad”. What is Jesus talking about?

In Genesis 14 we read where Abraham’s nephew Lot and his household was taken captive by several invading kings with their armies (vs 12). This was a huge group of armies that did this. When Abraham heard this, he stepped out in faith. The Bible says that Abraham “armed 318 servants, and pursued them” (vs 14). Abraham brought back all of the people taken by the armies – Lot and his family included – and brought them home to Sodom. At the end of this great victory the Bible says:

Genesis 14:18-20 … Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And {Abraham} gave him tithes of all.

This is before the giving of the Law on Sinai. This is before the Old Covenant. The Bible says “Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God”. This is an Old Testament picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Abraham saw Jesus, saw an Old Testament incarnation of Him, and was elated.

As A High Priest Of The Order Of Melchizedek,
Jesus Saved Us

Hebrews 5:7-9 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 death, and was heard in that he feared; 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;

When Jesus went to Gethsemane right after the Lord’s Table – a Table that represented Christ’s broken body and spilled Blood – He sought the Father’s will with “prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears”. In the darkness of that Garden Jesus told Peter, James and John:

Matthew 26:38 … My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.

Jesus knew what was about to happen, but He sought the Father in prayer. He said,

Matthew 26:39 … My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.

Our High Priest, not a Levite but of the order of Melchizedek, prepared to offer the one thing that would pay for our sins. As He prayed, three times Jesus asked “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will”. And three times the Father said, “Son, You must go. There is no other way. Your Blood must be shed.” Jesus was obedient even to death. The Bible says:

Hebrews 5:9-10 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Word Study: Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord. He is the “author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. The word translated “” is the Greek hypakouō, pronunciation hoop-ak-oo’-o, which means “to be obedient to, to listen to, to heed”. The New Covenant is marked by a heart that loves the Lord, that seeks to follow Him.

Beloved, you are NOT SAVED if you have
no intention of following Jesus.

Yes, we are flawed. Yes, we fail God at times. None are perfect. But we love Him Who saved us at such great cost. Jesus Christ is both KING and HIGH PRIEST to His people.

Do you know Jesus? Have you trusted your soul to Him? If you have, you have the promise of eternal life. And to God the Father, Christ has made you special. Jesus “has loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood, and has made us KINGS and PRIESTS unto God the Father” (Revelation 1:5-6). As Jesus is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, we are priests not of Levi, but of the order of Melchizedek. As Jesus is the Son of God, we are sons and daughters of God.

Do you know Him? If you do not, call on His name. Acknowledge yourself a sinner worthy of hell, and call on Him to bestow His abundant Grace on you. He suffered to save you. Do not leave this place today without the Lord.