Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 5:1-4 March 5, 1994 Hebrews 5:1-4 Hebrews 5 1. 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: 2 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. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron. :1 For every high priest ... The write of Hebrews has just mentioned how Jesus is our Great High Priest. He is now going to begin elaborating on that subject, first by comparing the ordinary high priests with Jesus. Qualities of a high priest As we look at some of the qualities of the regular high priests, it's good to think about just who this might apply to. As we talk about priests, you might think that this is only stuff for the pastor. But we are all priests, every one of us. Re 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. vs.1 Taken from among men ... for men High priests were just people too. It's not uncommon when you're in ministry to be treated as though you're something special, something holy, like a visitor from another planet. Pastors are real people too. We are all priests, we all need to remember that we're just human. Not any better than the people we minister to. But just like them. Warning about Nicolaitans: (To Pergamus) Re 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. What was the "doctrine of the Nicolaitans"? Nikao - to conquer, or rule over Laos - the people, the laity The idea of a priesthood that rules over the people, that the priests are somehow better or closer to God than I could ever be. Be careful that you don't allow yourself to start thinking of your pastors in this way. I get uncomfortable at times with the way people treat me. We are all priests, we are all ministers of God. vs.2 Compassion on the needy have compassion - (NASB: "deal gently with") metriopatheo 2) to preserve moderation in the passions, esp. anger or grief 2a) of one who is not unduly disturbed by the errors, faults, sins of others, but bears them gently RWP: "If the priest is cordially to plead with God for the sinner, he must bridle his natural disgust at the loathsomeness of sensuality, his impatience at the frequently recurring fall, his hopeless alienation from the hypocrite and the superficial, his indignation at any confession he hears from the penitent" (Dods). Ministry isn't always easy. It often requires quite a lot of sacrifice. Just when you get settled down in a comfortable chair and are going to watch Star Trek with your sons, the phone rings... We can get into a state of "lacking compassion". We get to thinking in terms of "Me versus Them". As if the people we minister to are the enemy and we have to find ways of defeating them. But in reality I'm just as much a bozo as the person on the phone. Would I want somebody to deal gently with me? The False Shepherd (the antichrist) Zec 11:15-17 And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, [which] shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword [shall be] upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. He's only interested in what he can get out of the sheep. The Good Shepherd (Jesus) John 10 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. vs.3 Makes sacrifices for sins Here's one of the basic things of what being a priest is all about. One of the chief job duties of the priest was to take care of the people's sins by offering sacrifices for their sins. Of course, we know that today we no longer need to offer animal sacrifices for sin because Jesus took care of all our sin by sacrificing Himself on the cross. We may not be able to sacrifice for people any longer, but we can still help them take care of their sins. I'm convinced that a major cause of the problems people face has to do with unforgiven sin. I think that guilt drives people crazy. I'm going to arm you with a major priestly-kind-of-tool verse tonight: 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. How do you use this tool? Share with people how to receive complete and total forgiveness from God. Jesus told the apostles: Joh 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained. * If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." When we share with them the good news of God's forgiveness and how they can receive it by simply confessing their sins to God, we open the door for them to receive God's forgiveness. vs.4 It is a calling. In other words, you don't put yourself into ministry, God does. It starts with a Call: Aaron didn't apply for the ministry. He didn't win the "Priest of the year award". He didn't hold the world's record for number of bulls sacrificed in one hour. Aaron got the job because Moses kept dragging his feet when God called him. Moses complained about his C- in his speech class, and so God said, "OK, I'll let Aaron help you out". It is confirmed by fruit. There came a time when other people wanted Aaron's job. Num.17:1-8 They all put in a rod before the Lord. Aaron's rod budded, even producing ripe almonds, fruit. If God has called you to a ministry, there will be fruit, results in that ministry. Pastoral ministry: There are people who are in the ministry because they like the things that surround it, like respect, an audience, power, etc. And some of these people force their way into the pastoral ministry. God has a specific call, a specific ministry for each of us. He has work for us to do. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. He give us gifts for our ministries just as He wants. 1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. We need to find our calling and get busy. 5 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. 6 As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 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; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.