Working on various books in the New Testament
Verses 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.
Remember that the Apostle Paul is writing to converted Christians who have repented, been baptized in Jesus’ name, and who have been filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit but who have been educated in the synagogues and in the Temple where they were taught the traditions of the elders and the Babylonian Talmud. Therefore they had some knowledge of Old Testament stories and the Law as it was misinterpreted by the Pharisees and Scribes due to their Talmud. For those readers who are not familiar with the Talmud, in brief it is a collection of writings and teachings on how to get around the Word of God and the Law of God. The scribes and Pharisees and the rabbis would use some Scripture but interpret it according to their traditions. So the Hebrew Christians after reading chapter four of this epistle would most likely be wondering how Jesus Christ could be their High Priest as He was from the tribe of Judah, and according to Mosaic law, all high priests had to be from the tribe of Levi. So the Apostle Paul explains how this can be in this chapter. He begins by explaining that every man who is ordained as the high priest for the purpose of offering gifts and sacrifices for sins is also a sinner because he is but flesh. Therefore he must offer sacrifices for his sin as well as for the sins of the people.
Application: Old Testament animal sacrifices for the sins of the people of Israel did not remove or pay for those sins, but merely covered them temporarily until Jesus Christ would come and pay the penalty of sin through the giving of Himself as the final Sacrificial Lamb. His gift of Himself paid for the sins of the people past, present, and future. Therefore, there can never be a rebuilding of the Jewish temple and the resuming of animal sacrifices as Jesus Christ was the only One who could take away sin as He kept the Law perfectly and had no sin. Therefore, at the time of His death God rent the 18 inch curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple from the top to the bottom, something that no human hand could do because of the size and thickness of this curtain, signifying that the yearly entering of the High Priest to ritually atone for Israel’s sins was over and also exposing the false Jewish religion that had come from Babylon in that there was no Ark in the Holy of Holies. It had been carried off to Babylon along with all the other temple furniture and utensils. What the Scribes and Pharisees were doing and teaching was all a lie. Only the truth of the Gospel was left for the people to ponder and to either accept or reject.
Verse 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
The Apostle Paul stresses that the high priests had to be called of God and descended from Aaron, Moses’ brother. A man cannot just go to a religious school or decide to be a priest. The priests had to be ordained by God.
Verses 5-6 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 Melchisedec.
Likewise, God ordained Jesus Christ to be a High Priest for mankind. However, Jesus as man was not a descendant of Aaron or a Levite, but was a descendant of Judah both through Mary’s line and that of His custodian father, Joseph. But God made provision for this in that when Abraham was alive and before the sons of Abraham and the nation of Israel was even established, a priest by the name of Melchizedek was called and ordained by God to be a High Priest. See Genesis 14 for the story of Abraham and Melchizedek. “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” Genesis 14:18-20 So Jesus Christ was ordained High Priest after the order or position of Melchizedek.
Verses 7-8 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;
The Apostle Paul states here that as man or during the days God Almighty inhabited this specially made body of flesh, Jesus Christ, the man, prayed unto the Father with much emotion when He was facing death. This is recorded in the Gospel books when Jesus and His disciples were in the garden of Gethsemane on the mount of Olives before He was arrested. “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:38-39 Jesus Christ as man was obedient to the Father and willingly went to the cross to fulfill prophecy, to make a way for people to be saved from sin, death, and Hell, and to establish the New Covenant through His shed blood.
Verses 9-11 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 Melchisedec. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
And because Jesus Christ was sinless and therefore perfect, he became the cause (author) of eternal salvation to all who will obey Him as He obeyed His Father. The Apostle Paul states that he has many things to tell the Hebrew people about Melchisedec as high priest and Jesus Christ as their great High Priest, but these things are difficult to explain and the Hebrew people to whom He is writing are slow to hear and comprehend.
Verse 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.
Unfortunately, these Hebrew people have heard much of this before, but they have not grown up in their faith and understanding of the Gospel message and the New Covenant teachings or doctrines, and so the Apostle Paul is having to go back to basics and reteach these things again.
Application: The Hebrew people who had been indoctrinated since birth by the Pharisees and Scribes into the traditions of the elders would naturally have had a hard time adjusting to the newness of the Gospel message and in understanding that the Old Covenant was no longer for them, and they were, as followers of Jesus Christ, under a New Covenant. When evangelizing people today, it should be remembered that each man or woman one is witnessing to has had some kind of religious indoctrination and that patience and persistence is necessary in order to produce converts and disciples in the Christian Faith.
Verses 13-14 For every one that useth milk is unskilful 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. (Hebrews 5)
This chapter ends by the Apostle Paul pointing out that Christians have the choice to remain in the milk of the Word or in the most elementary and basic understanding of their salvation and the Gospel message, or they can grow up and learn the meat of the Word or the more difficult doctrines of the Christian Faith. By growing up and gaining more and more understanding of the LORD whom they serve and His commandments and the truth of the Word of God, they will have an easier time of knowing or discerning that which is good or that which is evil.