In the first four chapters of this epistle, the Holy Spirit has shown
us the superiority of our Lord Jesus Christ over the angels, over Moses, and
over Joshua. All these were highly venerated by the Jews. Perhaps the only
thing more highly venerated by them was their sabbath observance. In the fourth
chapter, he displayed Christ’s superiority over that as well, showing us that
Christ is the true Sabbath and that the sabbath rest of faith in him is
indescribably better than the observance of legal sabbath days.
In the chapter before us we see the superiority of Christ as our great High Priest over Aaron and all the Levitical priest of the legal dispensation. This seems to have been in the back of his mind all along. I say that because he has mentioned Christ’s priesthood twice before (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-15).
The Holy Spirit’s purpose, throughout this epistle, is to show us that the Lord Jesus Christ is the sinner’s only access to God. He is the only priest there is between God and man. In fact, he is the only Priest there ever was between God and man. All the priests of the Old Testament were only types and pictures of him. All the pretended priests of all religious orders since the end of the Mosaic age are impostors. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Priest by whom sinners may draw near to God and God draws near to sinners.
When God gave the law to Moses at Mt. Sinai, he instituted an earthly, human priesthood, a priesthood by which sinners could approach him, worship him, and offer gifts and sacrifices to him. The Lord decreed that these priests must be descended from the tribe of Levi and the family of Aaron. Therefore, it is referred to as the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood.
There was one other divinely ordained priesthood mentioned in the Old Testament, that of Melchizedek. You will remember him from Genesis 14. It was this man, Melchizedek, who brought bread and wine to Abraham and blessed him, to whom Abraham paid tithes. This was done long before any law was given by God concerning either the priesthood or tithes.
That fact is important because, in Hebrews 5, the Holy Spirit shows us that the Lord Jesus Christ is, like Melchizedek, a priest in every way superior to Aaron. In verses 1-4, he gives us a description of Aaron’s priesthood and shows us how it was a type and picture of our Lord’s priesthood.
A Man
Every typical high priest under the law was a man. He was a common man, taken out from among them (Ex. 28:1). He was ordained and invested with this great office by that special anointing with oil ordained by God. He was made a priest that he might represent the people of the chosen nation in things pertaining to God.
The high priest presided over Israel in all matters of worship in the name of God, appeared before God in their stead, presented their gifts and sacrifices to God, and blessed them in God’s name. God’s high priest stood between God and men. The Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest. We must never attempt to go to God except through Christ. We cannot expect any mercy or favor from God except through Christ.
Israel’s high priest was a just a man. All the priests of the Old Testament were weak and sinful men. Yet, they were compassionate, men who understood and sympathized with the people in their ignorance and in their transgressions of the law. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a man and knows our frame (Heb. 4:15; Ps. 103:14).
When the high priest brought a sin-offering and made atonement for the people, he first had to offer an atonement for his own sin, and then for the people. The priests were sinners, too. As such, they needed mercy. Israel’s high priest even had to make atonement for the holy things (Ex. 28:37-38). Our Lord Jesus Christ is different. He had no sin (Heb. 7:27).
No man volunteered for the office of high priest, but was called to it (vv. 4-5). The office of high priest was an office of the highest honor. It involved the work of representing the people before God. Only those men who were appointed and ordained of God were allowed to function as priests in Israel. Any who dared, like Uzziah the king, to take the honor to themselves would suffer grave consequences and be brought to public shame.
Even Christ himself did not take this high and holy office unto himself. Neither did he receive it from men. He did not acquire it by family heritage, because he was of the tribe of Judah. He was not, as a man, of the Levitical, priestly, order.
Our Lord was
made a Priest. God the Father made him our High Priest. The Father appointed
him to the office, anointed him with the oil of gladness above his fellows and
sent him to execute it (John 8:54).