Hebrews; Chapter 5
UNDERSTANDING OUR HIGH PRIEST!
Part II
{Verses 8-11}
[8-8-10]
Hebrew 5:8-9) [GNB] But even though he was God’s Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient.
QUESTION: What does “he learned through his sufferings to be obedient” mean?
ANSWER: Let’s look at another Scripture.
Hebrew 2:10) [GNB] It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many children to share his glory. For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation.
9) [GNB] When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him,
QUESTION: What does “should make Jesus perfect through suffering” mean?
ANSWER: Let’s look at the following comment:
“The thought here is not that Jesus suffered from a deficiency of character or nature and that through suffering He underwent moral improvement. Rather, the perfection of Christ concerns His qualification as Savior. The appointed way to Saviorhood followed the path of testing. In the face of even the most pressing hardship and suffering, Jesus remained obedient to His Father. Having successfully endured the trial of life, He was proven fit to be the Savior of God’s people” [Word Study].
“In what sense then was He perfected? The answer is in His office as our Savior. He could never have become our perfect Savior if He had remained in heaven. But through His incarnation, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, He completed the work that was necessary to save us from our sins, and now He has the acquired glory of being the perfect Savior of the world” [BBC].
Concerning “was made perfect,”
“Particularly with the meaning to bring to a full end, completion, reaching the intended goal, to finish a work or duty” [Word Study].
QUESTION: In what way was Jesus “made perfect”?
ANSWER: The high priest would examine the sacrificial lame to make certain that it was without blemish. The sufferings Jesus endured were that examination to make certain that He was without blemish, and therefore worthy to be offered in sacrifice for our sins.
Hebrews 5:10-11) [GNB] and God declared him to be high priest, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.
11) [GNB] There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand.
Who Was Melchizedek?
Genesis 14:18-20) [GNB] And Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and also a priest of the Most High God, brought bread and wine to Abram,
19) [GNB] blessed him, and said, “May the Most High God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram!
20) [GNB] May the Most High God, who gave you victory over your enemies, be praised!” And Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the loot he had recovered.
Psalm 110:4) [GNB] The LORD made a solemn promise and will not take it back: “You will be a priest forever in the priestly order of Melchizedek.”
QUESTION: When we look at verses 8-10 of this chapter, what is uniquely strange?
ANSWER: Jesus started out as the sacrificial lamb being examined, through His sufferings, by the high priest; He ends of as the High Priest.
QUESTION: What important lesson can we learn here about how God judges?
ANSWER: God was the giver of the Law, yet He submitted to the very Law He gave. Sometimes police officers, lawyers and judges might think they have certain “perks” to their jobs that excuse them breaking the law. Our senators and representatives often break the very laws they pass. NOT JESUS! He kept every law of Moses, was examined by a perfect God and found faultless, and worthy to be our Savior.