Hebrews 5 - A Better High Priest
Welcome to The Well Community Church. I am so glad you are hanging out with us here today. If we have not met yet, my name is Brad, and I get the privilege of handling God’s Word together with you this week. If you have your Bibles—and I hope you do—turn to Hebrews chapter 5.
By way of a quick reminder for those who were here last week, and to catch up those of you who missed it, Mike handled chapter 4 and did a tremendous job walking through what has been a very difficult book and a very challenging text. He used an illustration to talk about the various responses to the gospel. He described a ship that had an emergency—it struck an iceberg, caught ablaze, and began sinking. Life rafts were made available, and everyone was invited to get into them.
He pointed out three distinct responses: some people believed there was a crisis and were moved in their hearts to respond; some believed there was a crisis cognitively, but didn’t actually do anything about it; and others completely blew off both the crisis and the life raft—no head and no heart. It reminded me of what the Apostle Paul writes about the gospel in the book of Romans.
Romans 10:9 (NASB)
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Paul says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. You see, it is not enough to simply know about the gospel. Intellectual knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ does not save us. Being able to articulate or explain the gospel does not save us. That is merely cognitive. Even the demons believe in the things of God and shudder! Salvation is about being moved to a response of faith in the heart. The warning from last week was the severe danger of unbelief.
The Structure of Hebrews 5
Now we turn the page to chapter 5. There are two primary sections in this chapter. Verses 1 through 10 are built in what is called a chiastic structure. A chiasm presents thoughts in an inverted parallelism—idea A, B, C, mirrored as C′, B′, A′.
In verse 1, we see the old office of the high priest. In verses 2 and 3, we see the solidarity of the priest with the people. In verse 4, we see the humility of the priest. Then the pattern mirrors: in verses 5 and 6, we see the humility of Jesus; in verses 7 and 8, the solidarity of Jesus with the people; and in verses 9 and 10, the new office of Jesus as our ultimate High Priest.
The second section begins in verse 11 and spills over into chapter 6. It serves as our third warning passage in the book of Hebrews—a warning against spiritual stagnation, failing to grow, and refusing to press on toward maturity.
In keeping with the major theme of the entire book that Jesus is better, the message of this passage is clear: Jesus is a better High Priest.
The Old Testament Priesthood
To get our minds and hearts wrapped around this idea, we have to step conceptually into the Old Testament and ask: who were the priests, and why is it such a big deal that Jesus is better?
In Genesis 11 and 12, we are introduced to the first patriarch, Abram. God calls him to leave Ur of the Chaldees, his family’s home, and journey to an unfamiliar land. God changes his name from Abram to Abraham, and he becomes the father of the covenant people of Israel. Abraham has Isaac; Isaac has Jacob. Jacob is a fascinating character—a bit of a scoundrel, which is why I like him. He had a wrestling match with God that rearranged his life. His name, Jacob, which means “heel catcher” or “striver,” was changed to Israel, “one who strives with God.”
Jacob had twelve sons. One of those sons was Judah. Judah became the royal, kingly line. All the kings of Israel would come through the tribe of Judah.
Genesis 49:10 (NASB)
’The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him [shall be] the obedience of the peoples.
When Jacob blessed Judah, he declared that the scepter of rule would not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes—meaning “the one to whom it belongs.” The Old Testament was waiting for the Judaic King to arrive and take the throne. As Matthew chapter 1 establishes, Jesus came from the tribe of Judah. He is the promised King.
Another son of Jacob was Levi. From Levi came the Levites. Their responsibility was to care for the tabernacle and the temple. They were essentially the stewards and custodians of the house of God. When the tabernacle had to move, they packed it up and transported it. Within the tribe of Levi was Moses’ brother, Aaron. Aaron and his descendants were set apart not just as Levites, but specifically as priests. And from Aaron’s lineage, the high priests were appointed.
Serving as the high priest was a profound honor because he alone participated in the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, described in Leviticus 16. On Yom Kippur, two goats were brought before the high priest. Lots were cast. One became the sin offering, and the other became the scapegoat. The high priest laid his hands on the scapegoat, confessed all the sins of the people over it, and sent it out into the wilderness, symbolizing that their sin was removed from the camp.
The other goat was sacrificed. The tabernacle had various courtyards—the court of the Gentiles, the court of the women, the court of the men, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies could only be entered once a year, exclusively by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. When he entered with the blood of the sacrifice, the very first offering he made was for his own sins, and then for the purification of the altar, the sanctuary, and the people. Everyone, including the high priest, needed an innocent substitute to die in their place.
All of this foreshadowed what Jesus would accomplish on the cross. The high priest functioned as a mediator between a holy God and a sinful people.
Exodus 28:1 (NASB)
’Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me– Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
God appointed them to minister before Him. Yet Hebrews reminds us that they were chosen from among humanity on behalf of humanity.
Hebrews 5:1 (NASB)
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
The tenure of the Levitical priests was temporary. Scripture indicates their ministry concluded at the age of fifty. At fifty, they stepped aside, made room for the younger men, and transitioned into mentoring and counseling. It was not an enduring priesthood. They had a starting point, an ending point, and eventually, they died.
The Priesthood of Melchizedek
In Hebrews 5:6, we are introduced to a completely different order of priesthood through one of the most mysterious figures in Scripture: Melchizedek. Jesus is identified as a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek is mentioned in Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews chapters 5, 6, and 7. We will study him in depth when we reach chapter 7, but for now, the key truth is that he represents an unending priesthood.
A quick theological caution: when we encounter obscure biblical characters, human curiosity tempts us to invent details. But remember, if all Scripture is inspired by God, then what is clear is clear because God wanted it clear, and what is brief or vague is that way by divine design. God never told us who authored Hebrews, and He does not apologize for keeping us curious. We must be careful because various cults take figures like Melchizedek, add unbiblical narratives, and construct false doctrines.
What we know with certainty is that Melchizedek is a theological “type” of Christ—an Old Testament shadow pointing to a New Testament reality fulfilled in Jesus.
The Superiority of Jesus
Let’s look at the chiastic structure in verses 1 through 10.
First, verse 1 presents the old office of the high priest: taken from among men to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. Second, verses 2 and 3 highlight the solidarity of the priest with the people.
Hebrews 5:2-3 (NASB)
he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer [sacrifices] for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.
He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward because he shares their human weakness and must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs. Third, verse 4 shows the humility of the office: no one appoints himself; he is called by God, just as Aaron was. Aaron didn’t apply for the job because of an impressive résumé; God called him.
Now notice the mirror pattern applied to Jesus.
Verses 5 and 6 reveal the humility of Christ. He did not glorify Himself to become High Priest; the Father declared Him to be the Son and appointed Him a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Jesus is superior because He is the eternal, begotten Son of God.
Verses 7 and 8 display the solidarity of Jesus with us.
Hebrews 5:7-8 (NASB)
In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
Notice the phrase, “in the days of His flesh.” That implies He existed before taking on human flesh. Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem; He is eternally preexistent. While in the flesh, He experienced our full humanity. He prayed with loud cries and tears.
Think about the Garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:39 (NASB)
And He went a little beyond [them], and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’
In deep agony, facing the cross, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Chapter 4 reminds us of this comfort:
Hebrews 4:15 (NASB)
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin.
Jesus was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. He experienced the temptation to avoid suffering, yet He remained perfectly obedient to the Father’s will.
The cross was the sovereign plan of God from before the foundation of the world. Why? Because we needed more than animal sacrifices. We needed propitiation—the full satisfaction of God’s holy wrath poured out upon Christ in our place.
Colossians 1:19-22 (NASB)
For it was the [Father’s] good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say], whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, [engaged] in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach–
Through the blood of His cross, Jesus reconciled us, presenting us holy, blameless, and beyond reproach. The Bible was not given to us so we could follow a checklist to earn God’s favor. It was given to expose our sin, exalt the glory of Christ, and invite us to place our heartfelt trust in Him.
Finally, verses 9 and 10 present the new, eternal office of Jesus.
Hebrews 5:9-10 (NASB)
And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Having completed His earthly mission, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation. His priesthood never ends. He will never retire, step down, or need a successor. How can He be both King and Priest? He is the King from the line of Judah, and He is the eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Danger of Spiritual Immaturity
At this point, you might think, “Brad, this is heavy. I don’t understand all this Melchizedek theology.” If that is you, take heart—you are in good company. Look at verse 11:
Hebrews 5:11 (NASB)
Concerning him we have much to say, and [it is] hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
The author wants to explain these deep truths, but the recipients have become “dull of hearing.” They were in proximity to truth, surrounded by believers, yet lacking spiritual maturity.
Hebrews 5:12 (NASB)
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
By this time, they ought to have been teachers, but they still needed someone to teach them the basic principles all over again. They needed milk instead of solid food.
The Christian life was never designed for us to merely consume teaching year after year without reproducing. At some point, the believer who has been taught must become equipped to teach others.
In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded us to make disciples and teach them to obey everything He commanded.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)
‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’
Paul charged Timothy with the same mandate:
2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB)
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Our faith is meant to be replicated. We are taught so that we can teach. The local church exists to equip the saints for ministry so the entire body grows into maturity in Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-15 (NASB)
And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him who is the head, [even] Christ,
Infants are wonderful and adorable. When you feed a baby, they make funny faces, spit up food, and bang on the high chair. It is cute because they are infants. But a baby cannot defend itself, sustain itself, or feed itself. All an infant can do is look cute, eat, cry, and fill diapers.
Imagine coming over to my house for dinner, and I put you in a high chair, tie a bib around your neck, and spoon-feed you mashed peas while saying, “Who’s a cute little guy?” That would be absurd. Yet spiritually, that is precisely what happens when Christians refuse to grow up. An adult trying to survive exclusively on baby formula will eventually become weak and sick.
Spiritual infancy leaves you completely vulnerable.
Romans 12:2 (NASB)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
If you are not feeding on the solid meat of God’s Word, your mind is not being renewed. You will not possess the discernment to distinguish between cultural opinions and biblical truth. You risk living an ineffective, weak, diaper-wearing spiritual life without even realizing it.
1 Corinthians 14:20 (NASB)
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
If you had to assess your spiritual age right now based on your biblical literacy, appetite for Scripture, and spiritual discernment, what age would you be? If you are a spiritual infant, you are in danger. You are one podcast, one TikTok video, one university lecture, or one conversation away from adopting worldly nonsense because you have no anchor in truth.
Training for Godliness
How do we grow into maturity? Verse 14 gives us the blueprint:
Hebrews 5:14 (NASB)
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Solid food belongs to the mature—those who, through constant practice, have trained their senses to discern good from evil. The word for “trained” shares its root with our word gymnasium. Spiritual growth requires intentional discipline.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NASB)
But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and [also] for the [life] to come.
To move from milk to meat, we must engage Scripture consistently in four essential ways:
First, we must read the Bible. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read the Book of the Law aloud, and the people stood and listened with reverence, weeping over God’s Word. We must actually open the book and read it.
Second, we must study the Bible.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
We need to ask questions of the text, understand the context, and dig into what God is revealing.
Third, we must memorize and meditate on the Bible.
Psalms 119:9 (NASB)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping [it] according to Your word.
Psalms 119:11 (NASB)
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
When Joshua assumed the overwhelming task of leading Israel after Moses died, God gave him the key to courage and success:
Joshua 1:8 (NASB)
’This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Fourth, we must discuss the Bible. When you get together with Christian brothers and sisters, talk about God’s Word. Ask one another, “What are you reading? What is God showing you in Scripture?” Talk about eternal things that will never pass away.
Spiritual maturity does not happen overnight. You will not master the Bible today, but through daily practice, you will make steady progress. If your only exposure to the Word of God is sitting in church once a week, you are spiritually starving yourself.
God has given us three vital means of grace: His Word, His Holy Spirit who illuminates the truth, and His people—the church family walking alongside us.
If you evaluated yourself today and realized you are still a spiritual infant, welcome to The Well. We are not focused on where you started; we care about where we are heading together. Let’s commit to laying aside the bottle, picking up the solid food of God’s Word, and growing into maturity under our great High Priest.
Let’s pray.
Father, thank You for Your Spirit-inspired Word. Thank You that You have revealed Yourself to us in chapter and verse, and that Jesus is our eternal, perfect High Priest. Lord, forgive us for being content with spiritual milk when You have prepared solid food for us. Give us an appetite for Your truth. Teach us to discipline our lives, read our Bibles, meditate on Your Word, and walk in community so that our minds are renewed. Grow us up from infancy into maturity, so that we may honor You and accurately reflect Jesus to the world. We pray this in His precious name. Amen.