Podcast 124, Hebrews, “Pt 5, Ch 5”

Podcast 124, Hebrews, “Pt 5, Ch 5”Hebrews Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4 prepare us for Hebrews Chapter 5. Christ is the central theme of Hebrews. Paul wants us to know who Christ is and why he is necessary for our salvation.Hebrews, Chapter 5, is divided into three distinct partsPart I is comprised of verses 1-4. It forms a chiasm, or single unit much like a paragraph. It follows the parallel pattern of ABBA. Paul refers to the role of High Priest of the tribe of Levi who offered sacrifices for the Children of Israel. It is a type of Christ, and the role of High Priest was to remind the Children of Israel that Jesus Christ would offer himself as the ultimate sacrifice. However, unlike Christ, the surrogate High Priest is not perfect. For example, Paul said, “for that he himself is compassed with infirmity.” For that reason, the surrogate High Priest “ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.” In other words, he is a substitute High Priest. The true High Priest, as Paul teaches, is Christ who never sinned. For example, the animal being sacrificed had to be without blemish for the lamb also was a symbol of Christ. Being sinless, Christ, unlike the surrogate High Priest, did not have to offer sacrifice for his own sins. It was for us alone that he died. He alone among all mankind is without blemish.A         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: B         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. B         And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. A         And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.In Part I Paul teaches us that a priesthood holder must be called of God, as was Aaron. For example, listen as I read verses 1 & 4 together as if they were connected or juxtaposed:“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: And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”See how they fit together as hand in glove. It is as if Paul meant us to read those two verses together, yet they are interrupted by verses 2 & 3 which are also natural companions. “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.  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.” In ancient Israel the priesthood was held by the tribe of Levi. One cannot ordain himself to the priesthood. The priesthood is the authority to act for God and therefore must be called of God.Part II is comprised of verses 5-10. It follows the same Chiastic pattern: ABBA. A.        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. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. B         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; B         Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  A         Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Again, listen as I read verses 5, 6, & 10 together. Notice how natural it sounds, ““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. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”Does that not also echo verse 4 of the first chiasm, “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”Just as man must be called of Christ to be a high priest to act in his name. Christ had to be called of the Father to act in the Father’s name.  In Hebrews 1 we are told.Hebrews 1:1-5 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?It was necessary for Christ, the creator of the earth, to come to earth and set the example for us, Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.Paul makes it clear that the Priesthood is a heavenly calling. Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;What sets Christ apart is that he is the only High Priest who remained sinless; therefore, he alone could atone with his own blood for our sins. The High Priests who presided in the temple had to choose animals that were without spot or blemish. Both High Priest and animal were symbolic of Christ. Christ alone is our High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” In other words, he will always be our God, our Christ, our Savior, and our Redeemer forever. He never loses that title. Hebrews 4:15For 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.Even Christ, the Son of God, learned obedience through suffering. Probably the bulk of our prayers is to plead with the Lord to help us or our family and friends to avoid suffering. Sickness, accident, disease, entropy, and death are the common lot of mankind, and we all suffer. Christ gives meaning to suffering. Suffering is polarizing. Some turn away from God because of their suffering; some turn toward God because of their suffering. Some become defiant and blame God for our suffering. Some become humble and obedient and turn suffering into greater faith, trusting God. The words of Paul above have given many comfort, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” The suffering of Christ contributed to his perfection. The challenge to each of us is, how do we turn our suffering into our perfection? Does it bring us closer to Christ, or does it drive us away from Christ? That is one of the greatest challenges of mankind, how we handle suffering. “Thy will be done” is not an easy law to live. On the one hand, self inflicted suffering is a fool’s errand and has no redeeming value; on the other hand, suffering is the lot of all mankind.  That is the reason Christ became our savior. In Gethsemane Christ was suffering such agony that he asked the Father that the cup be removed, yet immediately Christ said, “Thy will be done.” God the Father did not remove the cup. He allowed his only Begotten Son to Suffer that he may become the savior of all of his other children. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, Christ is the only Savior of the World. It was only through his perfection that he had the power to redeem us and deliver us from our suffering. Most of us know only two well that suffering is not always relieved through prayer, faith, technology, medicine, doctors, hospitals etc. In my own personal life, I had two daughters who were healed of cancer. I attribute their healing to the powers of prayer, the powers of modern medicine, technology, to the skills of good doctors and of the access to modern hospitals. In addition to that, of course, is the powers of the human body to heal itself, but most of all I attribute it to the power of God our creator who gave us those things. On the other hand, I lost my wife of 35 years and the mother of six daughters to cancer a mere three weeks after she was diagnosed. She had our prayers. She had modern medicine, technology, doctors and hospitals and strong faith, yet she was taken.  And we must all face the fact that at one time or another, though the scale is nothing compared to the suffering Christ endured for us, God, our Father, may not remove the cup from us. My two daughters lived through cancer. My wife died of cancer. Blessed be the name of God. Someday it will all be clear but perhaps not in this life.