A better High Priest… (3 points)

• 1^st – Our GREAT high Priest… vs. 14-16
  • 1^st – Because Jesus is in HEAVEN… vs. 14
    • Seeing we have a GREAT High Priest…
      • The first HIGH PRIEST in the Bible was Aaron – the brother of Moses…
      • Every first born son after him then inherited the position…
      • But only Jesus is given the title – GREAT [megas] High Priest – THREE reasons!
    • GREAT because – our High Priest passed into the HEAVENS – Jesus the SON of God…
      • The word HEAVENS is plural – Jesus went through multiple HEAVENS…
      • Paul tells us in that there are THREE heavens – 11 Corinthians 12:2
      • The FIRST heaven – is the sky above us / the SECOND heaven is outer space…
      • The THIRD heaven – is the dwelling place of God!
      • Jesus ascended up into the clouds – into the THIRD Heaven – Acts1:9
      • Where the SON now sits at the RIGHT HAND of the Father!
      • Hebrew 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus… sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
    • Let us HOLD FAST our PROFESSION [of faith] …
      • HOLD FAST [subjunctive] krateō – speaks of keeping something faithfully / carefully
      • Considering WHERE our GREAT High Priest is – at the right hand of the FATHER…
      • It can be well said – we have FRIENDS in HIGH PLACES…
      • Jesus is MORE than able to give us the ability to HOLD FAST to our FAITH!
  • 2^nd – Because Jesus can SYMPATHIZE… vs. 15
    • For we do NOT have a High Priest who cannot SYMPATHIZE with out WEAKNESS…
      • SYMPATHIZE – sympatheō [2x in NT] – to feel what we feel…
      • WEAKNESS – not having the strength to endure trials / overcome sin…
      • Jesus can RELATE to our WEAKNESS – because…
    • He was in ALL points TEMPTED as we are – yet without sin…
      • Name a sin – any sin – and Jesus was TEMPTED by it on His time on earth…
      • But He NEVER sinned – meaning He has the answer to OVERCOMING every sin!
      • It is easy to think God can not RELATE to us – but Jesus faced the same TEMPTATIONS…
      • As a RESULT – FIRST He can UNDERSTAND the TEMPTATIONS we face…
      • He is NOT surprised when we stumble – He does NOT get angry when we fail!
      • SECOND – He has a the ABILITY to help us OVERCOME those TEMPTATIONS…
      • NEVER hesitate to come to Jesus – He has the POWER to help us OVERCOME sin!
      • Hebrews 2:18 – “He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
  • 3^rd – Because we can come BOLDLY… vs. 16
    • Let us therefore COME [subjunctive] …
      • In light of having a High Priest – who sits in HEAVEN at the right hand of the Father…
      • A High Priest – who can SYMPATHIZE with our weakness – help us OVERCOME sin…
      • We are told to COME – but it is not a command – the grammar makes it a question…
      • We do not have to COME – because coming to the Throne of Grace is a CHOICE!
      • I suppose that raises the question why we would NOT come…
      • TWO reasons why someone would not want to COME to the Throne of God!
    • First – because they think they will be judged….
      • We know in our hearts that we make mistakes – a LOT of them – EVERYDAY…
      • The thought of coming before a righteous Holy God can be terrifying…
      • But do NOT miss what comes next – come BOLDLY to the Throne!
      • BOLDLY means having NO fear – we have absolutely NO reason to be afraid…
      • It is NOT the Throne of judgement – it is the Throne of GRACE! 
      • Because of the forgiveness of Jesus on the cross – there is NO judgement…
      • We can come BOLDLY into the presence of the creator of all heaven and earth – ANYTIME!
    • Second – we do not think we NEED Jesus…
      • The MAIN reason for coming to the Throne of Grace…
      • Is so that we MAY obtain MERCY and find Grace to help in times of NEED…
      • If we do not think we NEED help – then we are not going to come to the Throne of Grace!
      • But the truth is we all NEED Jesus – we NEED His Grace – EVERYDAY… 
      • The moment we think we are ok without Jesus – is the moment we NEED Him the most…
      • So COME – BOLDLY – to the Throne of Grace today!
      • To find GRACE to help in every NEED that might present itself…
      • Because we have a High Priest who sits at the Right Hand of the Father…
      • Who can SYMPATHIZE – and empower us in every challenge (big or small) life might offer!

• 2^nd – Qualifications for the High Priest… vs. 1-4
  • 1^st – APPOINTED for men… vs. 1
    • Having established Jesus is the GREAT High Priest…
      • The author continues to show Jesus is a BETTER High Priest through comparison…
      • He compares FIVE qualifications for the role of the High Priest!
    • EVERY High Priest is TAKEN from among men…
      • The position of the High Priest was ONLY for the sons of Aaron…
      • While it is true every Priest was a Levite – not every Levite was a Priest!
      • When Israel rebelled – Golden Calf – all of Levi stood with the Lord – Exodus 32:26
      • As a result God chose the Tribe of Levi to serve Him – Numbers 18:2
      • But ONLY the sons of Aaron were to serve as Priest to the Lord – Numbers 18:1
      • And ONLY the first born son in the line of Aaron was High Priest – Exodus 29:29
    • APPOINTED for men in things pertaining to God…
      • A priest is a go between – he represents God to the people / and the people to God…
      • The people are far from God – could NOT approach God – did NOT know God…
      • Without the priest – there was no way for the people to hear from God!

• The problem was the sons of Aaron all died – and needed to be replaced…
• They were also sinners – making them an imperfect go between at best!
• God gave us a BETTER high priest – one who lives forever – never sins!
• Jesus is our BETTER mediator – He is the one who draws us close to God – I Timothy 2:5

• 2^nd – OFFERS sacrifices… vs. 1
  • The High Priest offered [present] gift and sacrifices for sins…
    • The job of the regular priest was to offer DAILY sacrifices…
    • These were a constant reminder of the consequence of sin – death – Romans 6:23
  • ONLY the High Priest could come into the Holiest of All…
    • The priests of God could only come as far as the Holiest – with the Menorah and Table…
    • Only the [הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל] could go behind the VEIL – before the Mercy Seat…
    • And only once a year – on the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur – Leviticus 16
    • He would pick TWO goats – one goat would be a sin offering – the other the scapegoat…
    • He would offer the goat for the sin offering on the alter for the sins of the people…
    • Sprinkling blood on the Mercy Seat SEVEN times – and on the horns of the Bronze Altar…
    • He would lay his hands on the scapegoat – transferring the sins of the people…
    • And let it go into the wilderness – never to return…
    • Symbolically is showed that the sins of the people had been removed – forgotten!
    • Psalms 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
  • But the High Priest had to offer this EVERY year…
    • It was an IMPERFECT sacrifice – because it could NOT completely take away sin!
    • Hebrews 10:4 – “It is NOT possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
• 3^rd – Have COMPASSION… vs. 2
  • The High Priest had COMPASSION…
    • COMPASSION – only here NT – carries the idea of BALANCE…
    • He had COMPASSION on TWO groups of people…
    • IGNORANT – agnoeō – it simply means to NOT know the TRUTH…
    • ASTRAY – planaō [planet] – to be led away from the TRUTH – wander from God…
  • The High Priest did not OVER react – BALANCE – when someone made a mistake…
    • Whether they just did NOT know the TRUTH – or wandered away from it…
    • He was COMPASSIONATE as He tried to bring them back to God…
    • Because the High Priest was also a MAN – subject to WEAKNESS [sin]!
    • Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, and you shall not be judged…”
    • There is always a danger of forgetting we are no better than any other sinner…
    • Becoming judgmental of others – HOLIER than others – super spiritual…
    • Forgetting we were just as much a sinner – who knows the answer is Jesus!
• 4^th – SACRIFICE for sin… vs. 3
  • The High Priest is required as for the people – so also himself – to offer sacrifices for sins…
    • When Moses CONSECRATED Aaron to be the first High Priest…
    • He first had to offer a SIN offering for his own failures – Exodus 29:14
    • Because the downfall of EVERY earthly High Priest – they were STILL sinners!
  • People tend to put spiritual leaders / pastors up on a pedestal…
    • There is the impression they are somehow bigger / more holy – than others…
    • The danger is every person / pastor is destined to fail – we are ALL sinners…
    • And if we have put our faith in a FLAWED man – rather than in a PERFECT Lord…
    • When that man stumbles – makes a mistake – we will fall with him!
• 5^th – CALLED by God… vs. 4
  • No man takes this HONOR to himself – he is CALLED by God – just as Aaron was…
  • Aaron did not CHOSE to be the High Priest – and men did not VOTE for him…
  • The HONOR of being used BY the Lord – came FROM the Lord!
  • Being used by God – is not something we CHOSE – or can be GIVEN by men!
  • I know men who have the DEGREE – who are not CALLED…
  • A piece of paper on a wall – not matter how pretty – is still just a piece of paper…
  • And I know a lot of men who have no DEGREE – no diplomas – who are CALLED!
  • The CALLING of God – is SEEN through the WORK of God in their life!
  • Luke 6:44 – “Every tree is known by its own fruit.”

The question is – will we come BOLDLY before His Throne of Grace today!

3^rd – The BETTER High Priest… vs. 5-10

1^st – APPOINTED by God… vs. 5-6

So also Christ…

Having given us the FIVE qualifications for the High Priest…

The author shows us how Jesus fulfilled all of them – in a BETTER way…

Proving our GREAT High Priest – is a BETTER High Priest!

Did not GLORIFY Himself to become High Priest…

He who said to Him – You are My Son today have I begotten You – Psalms 2:7

Speaking of the incarnation – God becoming a man – Isaias 7:14

Because EVERY High Priest MUST come from Men!

Said in another place – You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek – Psalms 110:4

Melchizedek – who came to meet with Abraham after rescuing Lot  – Genesis 14

King of Righteousness / who was the King of Salem – King of Peace!

Priest of the God Most High – He was BOTH King and Priest (only time this happens in OT)!

The priesthood of Aaron ended with the destruction of the Temple – 70 A.D.

The priesthood of Melchizedek is FOREVER – it has NO end!

No one likes change – if we are being honest – we HATE change…

But people come and go in our lives – the only constant seems to be CHANGE…

The good news is our High Priest will NEVER change!

Jesus is a BETTER High Priest – because He is our FOREVER High Priest!

2^nd – OFFERED Himself as a sacrifice… vs. 7

In the days of His flesh…

When Jesus offered up PRAYERS – deēsis – to ask God for a NEED…

SUPPLICATIONS – only here NT – to lift up an olive branch – SURRENDER…

With strong CRYING and TEARS – to Him who was able to rescue Him from DEATH!

The author take us back to the Garden of Gethsemane – Lucas 22:44

When Jesus prayed THREE times for God to take this CUP away from Him…

So crushed by the weight of what was asked – He sweat drops of blood!

He was HEARD because of His Godly FEAR…

FEAR – only 2x in NT – to RESPECT the purpose and plans of God…

Jesus did NOT want to suffer and die – but there was NO other way to take away sin!

In contrast to other High Priest – Jesus did not have to OFFER sacrifices EVERY year…

Jesus is a BETTER High Priest – because He came to TAKE away our sin once and for all!

Hebrews 9:26 – “Once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

3^rd – LEARNED to have COMPASSION… vs. 8

Though He was a Son – yet He LEARNED obedience by the things which He suffered…

God KNOWS everything – therefore since Jesus is God what could He LEARN…

Going back to the Garden of Gethsemane – Jesus learned OBEDIENCE!

Luke 22:42 –“Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

God called for Him to suffer and die for the sins of others…

Jesus learned to OBEY the WILL of God even if it meant DEATH – Filipos 2:8

Why did Jesus need to LEARN…

Because He was being TEMPTED in all ways – as we are…

How often do we KNOW what God wants us to do – but are TEMPTED not to OBEY…

God calls us to DIE to ourselves – Luke 9:23 – and we cry out and argue…

Jesus can RELATE – He did not want to go to the cross – but NOT my will but YOURS God…

He has COMPASSION as He leads us to the place where we SURRENDER to the Lord!

4^th – Perfect SACRIFICE… vs. 9

Having been PERFECTED – He became the author of ETERNAL salvation…

PERFECTED – from the root word telos – to CONCLUDE or END…

Comes from the same root word Jesus uttered on the cross just before His death…

John 19:30 – “He said – It is finished [same root]!”

In contrast to the High Priest – whose sacrifices had NO end…

The work of salvation was PERFECTED at the cross – nothing else needed to be done…

When Jesus said  – it is finished – He meant it!

He became the AUTHOR – to one who creates – ETERNAL salvation – to all who OBEY Him!

5^th – CALLED by God… vs. 10

CALLED by God – as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek…

We will talk much more about Melchizedek – Hebrews7

Like Aaron before Him – Jesus was CALLED by God – to be High Priest…

But because the order of Melchizedek is ETERNAL – it is a BETTER order…

Making Jesus a BETTER High Priest!

No matter where we are – or what we are facing today – Jesus is our answer…

He was APPOINTED by God to be our mediator – our advocate with the Father…

He offered Himself as a PERFECT sacrifice – taking away ALL of our sin – I John 1:9

And He is ALWAYS there to encourage us – not matter what the challenge…

We have a BETTER High Priest – a GREAT High Priest…