Style high priesthood of Christ.
In these verses the author proceeds with his discussion of the priestly character and work of the Lord Jesus, as typified by the Aaronical priesthood.
I. WHAT A HIGH PRIEST IS. The office is a most honorable one; it is referred to in Hebrews 5:4 as "the honor." This will appear from a consideration of the high priest's functions and qualifications.
1. His functions. The most important of these are indicated in Hebrews 5:1.
2. His qualifications.
II. THE REALITY OF CHRIST'S HIGH PRIESTHOOD. The apostle goes on to show—but arranging his thoughts for the most part in the reverse order—that the Lord Jesus possesses all the needful qualifications for the high priesthood, and that he actually discharges its duties (Hebrews 5:5-10).
1. He has the qualifications of a high priest.
2. He discharges the duties of a high priest. (Verse 9) The Savior's acquisition of all the qualifications "made him perfect," i.e. officially all-accomplished as the Priest of mankind. He has procured for us everlasting salvation, and he bestows it upon all who obey him by faith. He has expiated sin. He has rendered God propitious. He gives his people access. He prays to God for them. In short, he performs all the duties of a high priest, and his priesthood has superseded every other.
III. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD AND THE AARONICAL.
1. Being personally holy, Jesus needed not to offer any sacrifice for himself (Psalms 110:3).
2. He is both Priest and Victim (Psalms 110:7, 8).
3. His priesthood really procures salvation (verse 9), and not merely typically.
4. It is of a higher order than Aaron's, and was more fully represented by that of Melchizedek (verse 10); for it is
LESSONS.
1. We, being guilty and sinful, can have intercourse with God only through Christ as our Priest.
2. We ought to cherish absolute confidence in his priestly power and sympathy.
3. Christian ministers are not "called of God" to be priests (Psalms 110:4), and must beware of importing sacerdotal conceptions into the idea which they entertain of their office; yet every pastor should, like the model high priest of ancient times, "bear gently with the ignorant and erring."