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STUDY Hebrews 5:1-10 (click here for notes)
COLLEEN MOORE TINKER

Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "today I have become your Father.

And he says in another place, "Your are a priest forever, in the order of Mechizedek."

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (NIV)

Functions of a High Priest

"Every high priest," Hebrews 5 begins, "is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God"

1. At first glance, is seems as though being "selected from among men" is obvious and inevitable. Why is a high priest's humanness essential for his role of representing his people before God? (see Hebrews 2:14, 17; Philippians 2:7)

2. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "offering" came from the same word that was also translated "brings". Most offerings were voluntary gifts the Israelites brought to God. Why was a high priest needed to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins? (see Exodus 27: 29-20; 6-38; Lev. 1:2; 2:1; Hebrews 8:3; 9:9)

3. What qualified the Israelite high priests to minister to the people? (see Hebrews 2:18; 4:15)

Atonement for Sins

1. Why did the high priest have to offer sacrifices for himself? (Lev. 9:7; 16:6; Hebrews 7:27; 9:7)

2. What does it mean to be "ignorant" and "going astray" (v.2), and are these conditions different from rebellion? If so, how? (Is. 29:24; Leviticus 4; Numbers 15:27-29; 15:30-31; Hebrews 6:4-7; 10:29-31)

3. Why does verse 2 specifically say the high priest was "able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray"?

Qualifications for Priesthood

1. What two things qualified a person to be a high priest? (verse 1, 4; Ex. 28: 1; Numbers 18:7)

2. How did Jesus fulfill these two requirements? (John 8:43; Hebrews 2:17; Psalm 2:7; 110:4)

3. How was Jesus' priesthood different from the Old Testament priests? (vs. 6, 10; Psalm 2:7; Matthew 3:17; Romans 1:4)

4. What was different about being a priest in the order of Melchizedek from being a priest like Aaron? (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1-4, 6)

Pleading and Submission

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth," Hebrews 5:7 says, "he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tearsand he was heard because of his reverent submission."

1. When did Jesus plead with cries and tears? (Luke 22:41-44; Matthew 27:46, 50; Luke 23:46)

2. How was Jesus reverently submissive? (Mark 14:36; Matthew 20:22; 26:36-46)

3. When Jesus cried "to the one who could save him from deathhe was heard because of his reverent submission." How did God grant his petitions? (see Psalm 22:24)

Made Perfect

"Although he was a son," says v. 8, "he learned obedience from what he suffered"

1. How and to what/whom was Jesus obedient? (Philippians 2:8; Matthew 26:39; John 10:18; Romans 5:19)

2. How did Jesus' obedience "perfect" him? (Hebrews 2:10; Luke 24:26; Hebrews 7:28; 1 Peter 1:11)

3. Why or in what way did Jesus have to learn obedience when he was already sinless?

4. Why did Jesus have to become "perfect" or complete? (Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 2:17-18; Romans 3:25)

5. How was Jesus different from Adam, and how was he different from Aaron and his descendants? (Hebrews 7:16; 24-28; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; 45-47)

Application

1. When have you gone astray ignorantly? How were you brought "to your senses"?

2. Many of us grew up believing that we had to "atone" for our sins in some way when we were "bad". How is "atoning" for our sins different from God's discipline of us?

3. Has understanding Jesus' high priesthood changed your response to your own sins and sinfulness? How?

4. Has God tried to teach you obedience through suffering? How?

Commitment

1. In what areas of your life are you struggling with "reverent submission"?

2. What intractable sin or habit do you need to submit to your High Priest for his perfect atonement?

3. In what area of your life to you need to risk trusting Jesus, knowing that his perfect love and obedience will cleanse your persistent fear or rebellion?

4. Praise God for being your eternal and perfect high priest, and commit your sins and your desire for control to him for atonement. Ask him to perfect you in his love and to put his Spirit in your heart where you now have niches of rebellion or fear.