Jesus Our Great High Priest
Psalm 110:1-7; Hebrews 4:14-5:14
January 29, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF)
Congregation of Christ: In many mainline churches such as Presbyterian, Lutheran and Methodist churches, the pastor wears a robe or pulpit gown. Why do these pastors wear a robe? Are they imitating the priests of the Romand Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches, with their expensive, elaborate and ornate vestments? They aren’t, because the robe they wear is inexpensive, simple and usually black or white, with a stole over it. Also, wearing a pulpit gown is not of Roman Catholic origin. The early church ministers, and then the Reformed ministers, wore pulpit gowns.
There are a couple of good reasons why a pastor wears a robe. One is that the pulpit gown focuses the attention to the office of minister, instead of the pastor, his personality, and his taste of clothing. People notice what the pastor wears on Sunday worship services. Another good reason is that a robe separates the office of minister from the congregation. When a pastor wears a business suit, or jeans or even shorts, and even an untucked shirt, he becomes indistinguishable from the congregation. In the pulpit, the pastor represents Christ, who appointed and ordained him to the special office of preaching his Word and administering the holy sacraments. The robe is not meant to set the pastor above the people, but to set him apart from them during the worship service.
And these were also two of the reasons why the Old Testament high priest wore elaborate and expensive vestments described in great detail in Exodus 28. He wore a linen tunic, and over it was a blue robe. Pomegranates dangled from the hem of the robe, woven from blue, purple and scarlet yarn. Small golden bells also dangled from the hem, and they rang as he moved around. Then an apron-like ephod woven of golden, blue, purple and scarlet yarns, was worn over the robe. On each shoulder of the ephod was a large onyx stone on which was engraved the names of the tribes of Israel, six on each shoulder.
Fastened to the front of the ephod by golden chains was the breastplate with 12 different precious stones, each engraved again with the name of a tribe. So the 12 tribes were close the heart of the priest. On his head was a turban of fine linen with a gold plate engraved with the words, “HOLY TO THE LORD.” What a sight the high priest must have been to behold as he walked to the tabernacle in the bright sunlight, gleaming in gold and various colors of the garments and of the stones, the bells ringing cheerfully as he walked.
Our text today is the Preacher’s explanation to the Jews in the church that Jesus surpasses the Old Testament high priest, not in ornate vestments and turban, but in his person, appointment, and work. Note that in Hebrews 4:14, he introduces this idea of the high priesthood of Jesus, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” From this discussion of Jesus as the better High Priest, the writer again launches another rebuke of the Hebrews.
The Weakness of the Old High Priest
The writer’s purpose in this chapter is to point out that Jesus is the better high priest than the Old Testament high priests. In verse 1, he begins by saying, “every high priest,” referring to all the Old Testament high priests. His origin, his appointment, and his duties were all under God’s requirements. This is how he begins to compare Jesus with the Old Testament high priest.
First, the high priest must come from among the people, specifically, a descendant of Aaron. We read back in Exodus 28:1, when God commanded Moses, “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests.” Not only must the high priest come from among the people, he is also distinct from all the people. He was set apart and ordained by God for his special, extraordinary task.
Whereas the Old Testament high priest was a mere man, Jesus came down from heaven to be with his people and save them from their sins. He is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters (Heb 2:11). The Preacher encourages us because Jesus is now our high priest,
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Heb 2:17-18).
Jesus shared our humanity, our flesh and blood, our emotions, our temptations, our sufferings. A pastor as well shares in the life of his congregation. It is good then for a pastor to walk among the congregation: praying for them; comforting them in their grief and suffering; counseling them in their temptations and broken relationships; celebrating with them on happy occasions. And the people are to do the same for one another. This is how we all are priests to one another.
The second qualification of the high priest is that he is “to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (verse 1). He leads the morning and evening worship daily and on the Sabbaths through various offerings. He leads them during the appointed feasts. On the Day of Atonement, Israel’s holiest day, the high priest alone represents the people when he offers sacrifices to make atonement for the sins of the people.
The third quality of the high priest is related to his humanity, “He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness” (verse 2). What is the weakness of the high priest? He is also a sinful man, so he must offer sacrifices not only for the people, but for himself as well. He is surrounded by people, who are also weak because of sin. But this weakness of the high priest is also a benefit, because it enables him to deal gently and patiently with those who are straying away because of ignorance. Therefore, one of the duties of the high priest then is to gently and patiently teach them the Word of God.
The pastor as well has weaknesses because he still has the sinful nature of all humanity. He is surrounded by all kinds of responsibilities that all the congregation have: wife, children, bills, errands, house repairs, emails, letters. All of these mature him in teaching and shepherding his flock. The congregation must understand their pastor’s weaknesses.
The fourth qualification of the high priest is his divine appointment, “chosen from among men” and “appointed” by God (verse 1). It is not man or himself who appointed the high priest, but God himself. In Leviticus 8:30, we read this when Aaron and his sons were ordained and consecrated by Moses according to God’s instructions,
“Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons’ garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.”
So the Old Testament high priest was chosen, set apart, and ordained by God for the purpose of representing the congregation before God, and representing God before the people. He offered sacrifices for his sins and the sins of the people. He dealt gently with those who are straying from God’s Word.
God Appointed Christ as High Priest Forever
The Preacher then explains in verses 5-6 how Jesus was appointed by God as our Great High Priest. Since Jesus did not descend from the line of Aaron, how did he become a high priest? The writer explains by using Psalm 110:4, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, ‘You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.’” What this verse means and entails will be explained in great detail in Chapter 7.
But let us see how Christ met the qualifications of the office of high priest other than being in the line of Aaron. Like Aaron, Jesus himself “did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by [God]” to the office. He did not glorify himself. It was God the Father who declared in Psalm 2:7, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you,” a declaration that was fulfilled when Jesus was baptized. The Son of God has also become the Great High Priest by God’s appointment and ordination.
In verses 7-10, the Preacher explains Jesus’ path to the office of high priest. It was one of suffering for his people, and obedience to his Father to the point of death. In the Garden of Gethsemane before he was crucified on the cross, he “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.” He agonized that night because he knew the terrors he faced when his Father in heaven would completely forsake him. No terror in the world surpasses being totally forsaken by God, so he asked his Father to take the cup of death and forsakenness away from him. But even in his agony, he submitted to his Father’s will. Therefore, God heard his cries and submissive reverence, and rewarded him with his resurrection from the dead.
But the Preacher also says “he learned obedience through what he suffered” and was “made perfect.” Was Jesus disobedient and had imperfections in his character before he “learned obedience”? No, what the writer says is that though the divine Son of God, he learned obedience just like any other human being. He was perfectly obedient and sinless—from birth to death—as required of him by his Father to be our Great High Priest. The Savior of God’s people had to be perfectly righteous. This is why the prophecy in Psalm 40:8 puts words into the mouth of Christ, “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” He came to fulfill God’s law.
What was the outcome of the perfect obedience of Jesus? The Preacher says in verses 9-10, “And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” There are two things that he accomplished. The first is that he saves all those who obey him, referring to those who believe and trust in him, and then submit to his will by obeying his commandments. This submission is the result of their faith and trust in him. No one is able to do good works pleasing to God without faith in Christ (Heb 11:6).
The second outcome of his perfect obedience is his appointment as “a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” This will be explained in detail in Chapter 7.
Warning Against Dullness to Christ’s High Priesthood
The Preacher then, without warning, switches again from doctrine to application by way of warnings and exhortations. He turns to severely rebuke them because of their spiritual immaturity. He says there is so much more to tell them, but at that moment, he would not because they are dull, lethargic, sluggish, and slow to learn. They were “slow learners”! Not that it was a mental defect, but a spiritual defect. The reason why they were “dull of hearing” is because they did not want to listen and learn. Unlike Jesus their Savior, they were disobedient!
Because they were not willing to learn, they have never been weaned from milk to solid food. Their knowledge of God was still in the “elementary, basic principles,” the ABCs of God’s Word, instead of learning big words such as regeneration, justification and sanctification. Therefore, having been in the church for many years, they still have so little knowledge that none of them qualifies to be teachers. They have never progressed from kindergarten to college, and on to a career. They say, “The only thing that matters is that I love God. I love Jesus.” But they can’t even explain the basic doctrines of the God and Jesus of the Bible.
The church today must learn from Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” What was the main reason why Israel lacked knowledge of God and his laws? God says to the priests of Israel, “because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.” The priests themselves not only did not teach the people the doctrines of God, they rejected them. So God rejected them as priests. God condemned the priests, the “shepherds of Israel” because they did not feed the sheep, but oppressed them (Ezk 34:3-4). And this is also the state of our pastors and teachers today in many evangelical churches.
The other reason for this lack of maturity, as we know, is a lack of practice. Practice makes perfect is still a good principle for everything. If someone is very knowledgeable about the Bible, but never listens to its warnings, and never practices its commands, he would be stuck in the mud of dullness. How much less progress will it be for someone who does not read, study and meditate the Word of God together with the people of God?
Dear Friends, be comforted that you have Jesus as your Great High Priest. He is now glorious in his appearance, brighter than a thousand stars. His appearance and garments are much more glorious than the Old Testament High Priest. He is
clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength (Rev 1:13-16).
As the Old Testament high priest bore the names of God’s people on his shoulders, Jesus bore your sins on his shoulders when he hung on the cross. He wears your names always close to his heart. Your prayers are the “golden bells” of his garment always ringing to remind him of your petitions. And he has engraved on you an inscription which says, “HOLY TO THE LORD” because you have been set apart as God’s holy people. You have been chosen as his holy priests (1 Pet 2:9-10), offering sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God for the eternal salvation that he has given to you (Rom 12:1-2).
Because he too has suffered, Jesus can identify and sympathize with you in your sufferings and temptations in this world. Just like you, he also felt pain, sorrow, anguish, and terror. But he persevered, perfectly obeying his Father in heaven to the point of death. After he accomplished salvation for us all, he was rewarded with a resurrection and glory in heaven. You also, through the Holy Spirit, will be able to persevere and obey God till the end of your life. Your reward will be the garment of righteousness of Christ, and the crown of eternal life.
