Sermon: Christ the Appointed High Priest

Look this morning. We're looking at Hebrews chapter 5.

Verses 1 through 6 this morning if you're using Pew Bible, you can turn right there in the Pew Bible to page 1,003 and the Pew Bible. Hebrews chapter 5 this morning. We're looking at verses 1. through 6

Let's pray before we open the word together this morning.

Father we thank you for this word. We thank you that you speak to us that you are a living God. God who is active in this world. We get even a taste of that this morning as We Gather in your presence as we hear once again the Assurance of your pardoning grace. To hear you call us to worship. As we hear your word read and preached.

You pray as we do for all of our service that your spirit would. stir in this place you know that this word going out that we are too ignorant. We are to stubborn. We are too proud to receive it. Or from your spirit attending to it. So we pray that you would make us ready vessel. That we would know that we have met with the Living God Of Heaven and Earth this morning. I pray this in the strong name of Christ. amen

This is a holy inerrant sufficient word of God Hebrews 5. 1 through 6

for every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act. on behalf of men in relation to God to all forgives and sacrifices for sins He can deal gently with the ignorant in Wayward since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins. Just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself. But only when called by God just as Aaron

was so also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest but was appointed by him who said to him. You are my son. Today I have begotten you. And he says also in another place. You are a priest Forever After the order of Melchizedek. The grass withers and the flower Fades word of God is forever. Thanks be to God. amen

we don't want to do this morning is just take a little step back from the text and kind of reorient ourselves where we're at here in in the book of Hebrews. So I want to flip back if you'll flip back to chapter one. Let's just kind of look back over where the writer of Hebrews has taken us this far. Um, and as we do so, let's remind ourselves of the context here as we've done in previous weeks at the writer of Hebrews is writing to a group

of Jewish Christians that are being persecuted for their faith or at least suffering to some degree for their faith and they are tempted to turn back to the Jewish faith and to abandon their faith in Christ. And if we were writing such a letter a sermon as many believed to these Jewish Christians you and I might be tempted off or condolences or to offer practical help. We might focus on the circumstances or we might give some

some Word of Wisdom to the personal feelings that their experiencing but not the writer of Hebrews. It's fascinating. Is that what he does? Is he focuses their attention upon what is necessary? And what is even more essential he puts their attention upon the person of Christ. He wants them to. see Christ and to see him afresh and anew. So he's going to remind them of who Christ is no matter what you're facing. He is telling

them Christ is worth holding on to so you go back to the beginning here and and he reminds them and chapter one and the Very opening verses of Hebrews 1 that Christ is the radiance of the glory of God. He is the exact imprint of God's nature. We are told in the very opening verses You told that he upholds the universe by the word of his power. He is superior to anything you might return to because he is God. He then. Shows that he is superior. He

is greater than even the angels He makes it clear that though Christ is greater than the angels He was made like us as he goes in to chapter 2, he was made like us so that he might be our savior. So he might be the founder of our salvation and he does this as he says by suffering and dying for us. But just in case they thought that this wasn't sufficient one that opposed the universe by the word of his power who was Superior to angels and

the founder of their salvation if that wasn't sufficient enough to trust in he then makes it clear as we go into chapter three that Jesus is greater than Moses who they want to turn back to. You want to turn back to the prophets? Well, let me take the greatest of prophets Moses. Jesus is superior to him. And then in chapter 4 he takes them to the person of Joshua Joshua who led the nation into the promised land and the place of rest. He wasn't a

king but he conquered and established and he ruled like a king. He provided a rest for his people like a king. And yet Jesus is superior to Joshua because he gives an even greater rest from all our foes. And he gives us an eternal rest to come. And then after walking through that at the end of chapter 4 and into our text this morning, he makes it clear that Jesus is superior priest then all the priests that have come before him. Jesus is the

savior. Is a savior that is worth leaning into a savior that is worth relying upon. His Jewish Christians can continue to trust in him as they have trusted in him before. He's the Messiah. He fills that one office Messiah. And yet there are three different. If you will aspects of that office. he's a prophet he's A king he is a priest. And though they're tempted to turn back to what they knew in Judaism. He's reminding them that even all the prophets and

all the priests and all the kings that preceded Jesus what were but types of the Fulfillment to come in the person of Christ their Messiah. This anointed one. He is the perfect prophet. He's the perfect King. He is the perfect priest.

how to break catechism gives a wonderful summary in question 31 to this question. Why is he called Christ meaning anointed? And it answers this way. Because he has been ordained by God the father and has been Anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who fully reveals to us a secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance. Our only High priests to his delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body

and who continually pleads or cause with the father and our Eternal King. Who governs Us by his word and spirit and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom. He is one for us. He's the perfect prophet. the perfect priest the perfect King Jesus himself will make this claim over and over again throughout the scriptures when we were going through Matthew just as an example in Matthew chapter 12 alone. Jesus claims that he is greater than Jonah and

verse 41 the prophet. He claims that he is greater than the temple in chapter 12 verse 6. He's greater than the Priestly ordered. He's greater than Solomon the king. He claims in chapter 12 verse 42. He's the perfect Prophet the perfect priest the perfect. King he is the messiah. Now why all of this why tell you all of this before we go into this text? Because I think what the writer of Hebrews is doing for us in this text is tying together two

of these. It wants us to see two of these tied intimately together. Jesus is the priest king. He's the priest king.

We're going to look at that. But first what we do, we first have to look at as the role of the high priest as he walks through it here and the opening verses here of chapter 5 and then we're going to look at this idea that Jesus is the priest king and how the writer of Hebrews is bringing all this together for us in these verses. first The office of the high priest is described in these verses and we see three markers that the writer of

Hebrews gives of the Old Testament priesthood. The high priest was identified with his people he understood their weakness and he was called by God those three things. He was identified with the people he understood their weaknesses, and he was cold by God. The writer is very clear in verse 5 at the outset. He's verse 1 at the outside. He says for every high priest chosen from among men. That is the high priest was identified with

his people the priests in the levitical system were men. They were not an angel. They were not animals. They were not plants. They were not some ethereal being they were not Angels. They were not dead saints that had gone on. They were living human persons because as the writer says in verse 1 they had to represent man as a priest as a living man to act on behalf of men in relation to God as one who represented people the high

priest had to be a people. It'd be a person. identification with those he represented The writer Hebrews if you remember as we've gone through this book has made this claim about the Lord Jesus Christ over and over that he as our high priest has identified with us chapter 2 verse 17. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest Verse 18 of chapter 2 for because he himself is

suffered when tempted he is able to help those who are being tempted chapter 4 verse 15 for we do not have a high priest who's unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin. It was absolutely fundamental that a priest to represent the people of God before God had to be identified with the people that he represented. and so it is in Ministry today

It is fascinating reality to me. That God has chosen to minister to people and to see people change through people. But this is how we works. He ministers Through People to People. We're in the trenches with one another. The shepherd who smells like a sheep is on the path to be in a faithful Shepherd. The high priest was like those whom he serve. It was the first qualification. The second the high priest knew his own weaknesses.

That's what the writer of Hebrews says. His responsibility was a mediate God's forgiveness a simple people were told in verse 1 that he offered gifts. Any Alfred sacrifices for their sins, but notice it was not only for their sins that he offered gifts and sacrifices. He also offered sacrifices for his own sin. Why he knows his weaknesses? Since as the writer says he himself is beset with weakness. mishna records what the priests would

pray on that day of atonement when they would lay their hands upon the bull that they were getting ready to sacrifice. And before they offered it on the Altar for the people of God the high priest would pray this prayer in ancient Israel. o God I've committed iniquity in transgressed and sin before Thee I in my house and the children of Aaron thy holy people. Oh God forgive I pray the iniquities and transgressions and sins

which I have committed and transgressed and sin before the eye and my house you see even the high priests needed immediate. As he is seeking the mediate the grace of God to the people of God. By offering sacrifices and sins on their behalf. He himself has to cry out for this grace.

It's a writer says in verse 2.

Part of the reason was so that he can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward. Since he himself is beset. with weakness it was forced to reckon with his own sinfulness first. Why so that he might be compassionate? That he might have care that he might have concern for those that he was ministering on behalf of he could not be filled with rage. Oh the sinful people again.

Could not be filled with disregard. I'm I don't really care for these Sinners anymore. They keep doing the same thing over and over again. There was no place for exasperation because he was also a sinner.

think of the patience that Aaron showed in the face of all the accusations that are brought against him in numbers. think of David's willingness to listen to all the insults and all the mud that is slung at him by shimmy eyes. He passes by him. I think a pole as he writes to the Corinthian Church and he continues to pour out love to them and continues to show them love though. They say that he is weak that he is an awful speaker that

he is a frail man that he Doesn't have quite the power and person that he does with his pin. He's a fool they say

they all can do this because they know their own weakness. for the grace of God go I

Who have the greatest comprehension of their own sinfulness tend to be the greatest ministers for the good of God's people? You can write that down.

There's a reason that Jesus begins a Sermon on the Mount blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs as the Kingdom of Heaven blessed are those who mourn meaning for their sin for they shall be comforted blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth? High priest was a man who had to know his own weakness.

third The priests understood he was called by God. Not every Israelite could serve as a priest. It was an honor that was allowed only for some and that honor was bestowed by God verse 4 and no one takes dishonor for himself. But only when called by God just as Aaron was may remember about Cora and the Rebellion there in numbers 14 where Koran we're told 250 leaders of the congregation of Israel will come before Aaron and

Moses and they will bring act accusations against him and they will say oh you think you are so great. You have set yourself up above everybody else. We are all holy. We're all set apart by God. Why is it that you put yourself up above everybody else?

Moses after he Grieves he will respond with the challenge to them. He will say of course and his followers thought that

along these lines and they should go and they should offer incense before. God just as Aaron in the priests were called to offer incense before God and Sakura takes up the challenge. And as he and these 250 leaders of the congregation go and offer. Incense before God these uncalled men acting as priests doing so God responds. He cracks open the Earth and he swallows core in his family. into the Earth and he pours out fire from heaven and he consumed.

those that would seek to seize the office for themselves

the office of priest as with all the officers among the people of God is not to be seized. It's bestowed by God.

and all this all this leads to the writers' argument in our text. He's walking through all this to get to this point. You see a high priest was always called by God. He always had his authority from God. You would go to him and trust him and allow him to make atonement for your sins on that day of atonement because you knew that he was cold by God. And now what he is going to show is that Christ himself you see was called by God.

It's not just as I've shown you the writer of Hebrews just saying that he's a superior prophet. It's not just that he's a superior deliverer like Joshua Superior King. He is also the superior priest. He's a superior priest king. And this is our second and final Point. Jesus is a superior. Priest king. And this takes a little getting out we're gonna have to look at it together. So I want you to look. Look at verse 4. As Aaron was called by God to this

quote honor. That's how the ESV puts it there to this honor. So Christ was called to this Honor by God. He is a high priest by calling even the very Son of God did not seize the office. It was bestowed upon Him by God. now now look at this priest's King fulfillment to understand that you have you have to see it in the text. The author makes a connection in verse 5. Between the two rules of priest and King when he says this he says Christ did not exalt himself

to be made a high priest that word for exalt. Is a form of the word docsa the word that we translate throughout the New Testament as Glory two words honor and verse 4 glory in verse 5 to be made a high priest is an honor. So two keywords here glory and honor honor and Glory now turn back to chapter 2. I think this is this point chapter 2. If you look back at verse 7 in Chapter 2, he's quoting from soulmate. And there he mentions these same two words you

made him for a little while lower than the angels and have crowned him and then our two words with glory and honor honor and Glory. What's the significance of that? He's quoting there in Chapter 2 from soulmate and Saul May details that God created human beings in his own image that we alone out of all of creation are created In His Image in that way. We are crowned Adam was crowned with Glory and Honor in the garden.

And as he was crowned with Glory and Honor in the garden by being in the very image of God, he was to bring that image to Bear throughout creation. That was his charge be fruitful and multiply God said that to me fill the Earth with the image of God and have dominion over it. We were created to be his vice region.

To be a royal family populating the Earth ruling over the Earth having dominion over the Earth as His Image bearers. That was Adam's charge. but he wasn't just the function and that king-like matter. He was also created to be a priest in the garden.

It understand that the Garden of Eden itself was a temple. And Adam was the priest like figure in the temple of the Garden of Eden. And New Testament scholar GK bill has done. More to help us understand this than anybody over. recent years and he says if you think back and you look back to Genesis 1 and 2. There's a reason that we're told that God walked in the garden with adamant. It speaks of God's presence, but it's more than that. The idea

of God walking is usually referred to as presence in the temple throughout the Old Testament. As Bill points out in Leviticus 26 the Lord promises that he will walk among the people of Israel and be their God. In Deuteronomy 23, the Israelites are told to keep their Camp undefiled because God quote walks among them in the camp and second Samuel 7 when God enters into a covenant with David God reminds him that I have been walking

about an attempt for my dwelling. He's referring to the Tabernacle even as he's instructing David that a temple needs to be built. There are a number of other uses throughout the Old Testament where he's making this clear using this kind of language. for example Ezekiel 28 uses the language of Eden calling it quote The Garden of God. And then quote the Holy Mountain of God, which quote contains sanctuaries. These are all unique

terms used to speak about the temple throughout the Old Testament. And he's using it to speak about the Garden of Eden. But even if we move away from the language Beale points this out. Is the number of other lines of evidence help us see Eden as the first temple the Ark of the holy of holies, which contain the law which led to wisdom Echoes the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, which also led to wisdom. Both the touching of the Ark and the

partaking of the trees fruit resulted in death. The entrance to Eden was from the East just as the entrance to the temple was from the East both Eden and the temple are characterized by the holy presence of God that brings wisdom. Adam was the priest king in the Garden of Eden, but he failed in his role. as this Priestly King

so in God's kindness and Grace. The second Adam as we celebrate this week was born into this world as the writer says in chapter 2 verse 9 of Hebrews, but we see him who for a little while was made lower than the Angels namely Jesus and then we have our words again. frowned with Glory and Honor because of the suffering of his death. He became man to do. What the first Adam failed to do. And he offered himself as a sacrifice

on our behalf as our great High priests. And he gives us the very peace of God and now he rules and He Reigns as king forever more crowned with Glory and Honor every knee bowing before his throne.

This helps to make sense. Why the writer of Hebrews is quoting from Psalm 2 and why he's quoting from Psalm 110.

Some too verse 5 you are my son. Today I have begotten you that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the priesthood. Why would you quote from that O writer of Hebrews? Well now it makes all the sins and the world when you realize that Adam was crowned with Glory and Honor as a priest king figure in the garden and he failed so the writer quotes from Psalm 2 this great Messianic Psalm about the same song about the son of David who would

reign as king and Crush all his foes and then he quotes from Psalm 110. Another great Messianic Psalm that mentions the sun being a priest Forever After the order of Melchizedek. He is screaming to us. the Fulfillment of the Messiah to come is caught up in this one person. Who is the perfect King and he is the perfect praise? He is the one that was prophesied before. He's it. priest and King

writer of Hebrews is making it clear.

You see many Jews at this time believe that there would probably be too Messiahs. That would come. one that was Priestly and one that was kingly

he's saying no. It's Christ is the one Messiah who is the priest king. He is the promise one the implication being why would you dare turn away from him?

Here's a good question.

How can he be a priest? when he wasn't of the tribe of Levi

He was of the tribe of Judah. Well, that's why he also quotes from Psalm 1:10. You are a priest Forever After the order of Melchizedek. We return to Melchizedek will do a lot more with milk as the deck when we get to chapter 7, so just briefly Melchizedek is a shadowy figure that we find in Genesis 14 that meets Abram there outside of Salem what many believed to be Jerusalem and we are told that he is the king of Salem. He's a king.

We're also told there in Genesis 14 that he was a priest of God most high. He's a king priest. He's a Priestly King. Now, how was he a priest? He's not descended from Levi. No, he preceded Levi like Melchizedek. Jesus does not receive his coal because he was from the tribe of Levi. He proceeded him. He is a priest Forever Without beginning. He's a priest king like Melchizedek was a priest king. without beginning

I turn anywhere else.

That's the implication. Why would you turn anywhere else?

struggling with different trials different enemies different persecutions different struggles different sins you're looking for a conqueror. You're looking for help. Why would you turn anywhere else?

He's King.

You're looking for comfort in the midst of pain you're looking. For consolation you're looking for help and time of need. Why would you turn anywhere else? It's the perfect priest.

Revelation 1 the Apostle John will connect these two realities as well. He calls Jesus the ruler of Kings on Earth and Revelation 1:5 in the very next verse. He says to him who loved us in his freed us from our sins by his blood ruler Kings of Earth. He's King. Who purchased us with his blood? That he offered our behalf. He's priests.

the Priestly King

he is worthy of all your trust.

three quick applications

if your Bible if your Bible reading lead you to anything but Christ. You're doing it wrong.

Writer of Hebrews is showing these Jewish Christians that all that they loved and treasured in the old Covenant. Was but types and shadows of what is fulfilled in Christ. Oh those prophets and all those kings and all of those priests. and all of those promises and all of that hope all realized in Christ

It's like when Jesus is on the disciple. on the road to Mayas with the disciples He opens a scriptures to them and shows them how all the scriptures spoke of him.

So the writer of Hebrews is giving them a picture of fulfillment in Christ. If you read your Bible and it leads you to anything, but Christ you are doing it wrong. Friends, you read the Bible to treasure and know and Delight more in Christ.

second if your trials lead you to anything but Christ. You're doing it wrong. His Jewish Christians are turning the wrong way. They're turning back instead of pressing in. Turning back instead of pressing in your trials are not a reason to abandon Christ. But rather provide every reason to press more into Christ. He is the priest who will Minister every comfort you need. He is the king who triumphs over every single one of

his and or foes and lays them as a footstool beneath his feet you don't turn away from him in the midst of trial. You turn to him.

Else would you go?

If your trolls lead you to anything, but Christ you're doing it wrong keep pressing into him. finally if your life is leading you to anything.

But ultimately Christ You're doing life wrong.

He's the great treasure. He's what you were created for.

sober this week the gift of Christ Christ coming into the world for sinners greatest of gifts

Be received that gift.

Not your neighbor, not your spouse. Not your kid. Not the person that Pew next you have you received this gift? Do you know Christ and does Christ know you?

Everything else is a Fool's Aaron.

No, one on their deathbed has regretted pursuing Christ. none

Are plenty who wish they'd spent? less time and energy pursuing riches and scape and sex Prestige Recreation Because they never satisfied. He does. Because he restores and even supersedes what was lost and what our hearts are aching for.

The picture we receive of Eternity. In Revelation 20 21 22 is that you have this New Jerusalem that descends out of the heavens and Heaven comes upon Earth. And there on Earth this restored Earth. It is now populated and only populated by those who have had the image of God completely and utterly restored to them. crowned with Glory and Honor and we're dwelling with him and he is dwelling with us. It says that he chooses to make

his home Among Us. Do you know what that is?

It's just the temple. the new heavens and the new Earth will just be an everlasting Temple. Where we dwell with God and God dwells with us. That our King. Sits in throne and guess what you get to sit and thrown with him. That our priest is forever there interceding for us ever appearing as a lamb slain before the foundations of the earth reminding us for all the eternity in his hands with the nail scars in his hands and our names written upon his

hands that he has purchased our Salvation that we can never be lost again.

And he show ever speak to us. It's our great prophet. The words of peace and the words of comfort and the words of belonging.

Just dwell with him and he dwell with us.

That's only yours.

If he's your savior.

Where else you're going to turn?

It's a perfect Prophet. Perfect. Priest and perfect King. He's worth pursuing holding on to pray

Lord Jesus we exalt you this morning.

You who are crowned with Glory and Honor on high.

Very Son of God the second Adam. Anointed one Messiah Christ the perfect Prophet priest and King the lamb slain before the foundations of the Earth the lion of the tribe of Judah the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end our savior or friend.

Truly we are not worthy.

And we shall be everlastingly thing.

That you have made us yours.

and that you have made You our own? We find that we're rejoicing in it this week fresh and anew.

the gift we have in you. Pray, all this and your strong name. our Lord and savior Christ Jesus amen