Coachlight Bible
Study – Hebrews 5:1-6:10
Religion Does Not
Give Eternal Life
The economy of the Jews was looked upon by the Hebrews as having two
main components: Moses and the high priest.
The apostle Paul shows Christ’s superiority over the earthly high priest,
Moses, and the angels thought to have delivered the Law to Moses. The second
exhortation for the readers is to stay away from doubting God’s Word like their
ancestors did, and to enter into God’s rest.
This rest has a condition. The condition on the people of God is that,
“We hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”
Christ, the Apostle and High Priest is the builder of the house and the
Sabbath and has placed His people in the house of God and has given eternal
rest for His people. His people can
enter into His rest, if they don’t let unbelief destroy their inheritance, causing
them to fall as the evil congregation of Israelites did. Although the Hebrew Christians were
persecuted severely for becoming Christians, they were to consider the superior
Christ, and not return to the type when they could have the real thing.
Christ is the High Priest, but not after the type, or Aaronic
priesthood, but after the order of Melchisedec: the priest who seemingly came
out of nowhere in the book of Genesis, was recognized by Abraham, and
ministered the bread and the wine. The
third exhortation is to mature in Christ.
This means to go on to perfection, not continuing to build the
foundation of repentance from dead works, and the religious practices of the
day. We are to do good works, not to
receive salvation, but because we have salvation, knowing we have a great
inheritance.
I. Christ Is The
High Priest – Don’t Return To Religion
Hebrews 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.
Hebrews 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.
Hebrews 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.
II. The Priesthood
After The Order Of Aaron
Hebrews 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:
A. The Function of the earthly priest
Hebrews 5:2 Who can
have compassion<3356> on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the
way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. {can…: or, can
reasonably bear with}
Hebrews 5:3 And by
reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for
sins.
B. The Character of the earthly priest – Must have “compassion”
1. Meaning of the word “compassion”
3356 metriopayew metriopatheo met-ree-op-ath-eh’-o
from a compound of the base of 3357 and 3806; TDNT-5:938,798; v
AV-have
compassion on 1; 1
1) to be affected moderately or in due measure
2) to preserve moderation in the passions, esp. anger or grief
2a) of one who is not unduly disturbed by the errors,
faults, sins of others, but bears them gently
(It is used only once in the New Testament. From it’s etymology comes the meaning of
“measured or balanced action. In Arisitotilian
philosophy it was used as: to moderate ones passions and so avoid excesses
either of enthusiasm or impassivity. KJV
Comentary and Robertson’s Word
Pictures.)
2. This compassion was to come from patience learned by his own infirmities
Hebrews 5:4 And no
man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron
C. The Appointment of the earthly priest
1. Must be ordained by God, not by
man
2. Korah was punished – Numbers 16:1-35
3. Saul was punished - I Samuel 13:9-11
4. Uzziah was punished – II Chronicles
26:16-23
III. The Priesthood
After The Order Of Melchisedec
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.
Hebrews 5:6 As he
saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec.
A. Christ Didn’t Glorify Himself as a high priest – God appointed Him
1. The Holy Ghost said so:
Psalm 2:7 I will
declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have
I begotten thee.
2. Again the Holy Ghost said so:
Psalm 110:4 The LORD
hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchizedek.
B. Christ’s character was one of true compassion
Hebrews 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 death, and was
heard in that he feared; {in that…: or, for his piety}
Hebrews 5:8 Though he
were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
1. Christ demonstrated this kind of compassion in the garden - Mark 14:32-42
2. In His Prayers – John 17
Hebrews 5:9 And being
made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him;
Hebrews
C. Being made perfect<5048> He became the Author of eternal
salvation
1. The meaning of the word
“perfect”
5048 teleiow teleioo tel-i-o’-o from 5046; TDNT-8:79,1161; v
AV-make perfect 12, perfect 4, finish 4, fulfil 2, be
perfect 1, consecrate 1; 24
1) to make perfect, complete
1a) to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish,
bring to an end
2) to complete (perfect)
2a) add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full
First aorist passive
participle of teleiow, the completion of the process of
training "by means of sufferings" (Robertson’s Word Pictures)
2. Christ’s offering Himself for man’s sin was the complete, final
sacrifice
3. “By means of Christ’s work on the cross, He became the Author of
eternal salvation
IV. The 3rd
Exhortation – Don’t Return To Religion – Grow Up
A. The readers are unskillful in the Word of God
Hebrews 5:11 Of whom
we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of
hearing.
Hebrews 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.
Hebrews
B. Notice that the same word used of Christ is used of a person of full
age
Hebrews
C. The Exhortation is to emulate Christ – A form of the same Greek word
used
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection<5047>;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, {principles…: or, word of the beginning of}
Hebrews 6:2 Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the
dead, and of eternal judgment.
Hebrews 6:3 And this
will we do, if God permit.
D. It is impossible for the fallen away to come to repentance
Hebrews 6:4 For it is
impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Hebrews 6:5 And have
tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Hebrews 6:6 If they
shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
1. Who were once enlightened
2. Who have tasted of the heavenly gift
3. Who were made partakers of the Holy Ghost
4. Who have tasted the good Word of God
5. Who have tasted of the powers of
the age to come
E. It is talking about those who have rejected the hope found in the
Word of God
Hebrews 6:7 For the
earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth
herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: Hebrews
6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto
cursing; whose end is to be burned.
F. Esau is a good example – Became religious, but couldn’t get back his
birthright
Hebrews 12:16 Lest
there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat
sold his birthright.
Hebrews 12:17 For ye
know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was
rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully
with tears. {place…: or, way to change his mind}
E. The better way
Hebrews 6:9 But,
beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany
salvation, though we thus speak.
Hebrews 6:10 For God
is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed
toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
|
Comparison Of The Aaronic And
Melchisedecian Priesthoods |
||
|
Qualification |
Aaronic |
Melchisedician |
|
Function |
Ministered on
behalf of other men with gifts and sacrifices for sins Hebrews 5:1 |
“And being made ‘perfect’,
He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” Hebrews 5:9 |
|
Character |
Must care
correctly, not too severe or too easygoing, for the ignorant, and those out
of the way, learned from his own infirmity. Hebrews 5:2-3 |
“Who in the days of
His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong
crying and tears..” (Such as: Mark 14:32-42; John 17) Hebrews 5:7-8 |
|
Appointment |
Must be called of
God. Those that took the office
themselves were punished severely.
(Such as Korah: Numbers 16:1-35; Saul: I Samuel 13:9-11; Uzziah: II
Chronicles 26:16-23) Hebrews 5:4 |
“Christ glorified
not Himself to be made an high priest” Hebrews 5:5-6 God called Him to
be a King & Priest: Psalm 2:7; Psalm 110:4 |
|
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection<5047>; not laying again the foundation of repentance from
dead works, and of faith toward God, Hebrews 6:2 Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the
dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:3 And
this will we do, if God permit. |
||