Christ the True and Better
The True and Better High Priest
Hebrews 5:8-10 pt.3
READ: Hebrews 5:5-7
Christ is the King of Righteousness, our High Priest, Our Melchizedek. Christ, being our source of eternal salvation, requires a high priest who was, is, and always will be the Priest of the Most High God.
Hebrews 5:9-10 - “9 And being made perfect (exalted to the state of heavenly majesty), He became the source ( i-tee-os: the Cause) of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated (to address, salute, call by name in public) by God a high priest after (kata: according to) the order (character, fashion, quality, style; after the manner of the priesthood) of Melchizedek.”
Genesis 14:17-20
Who is Melchizedek? We will learn more about Him in Chapter 7.
What God has said in His word is meant to be understood. Starting with the simple to the difficult. Salvation is easy to understand with the Holy Spirit but impossible without Him. - 1 Corinthians 2:14
Hebrews 5:11 - “About this (peri - concerning, about; os - this - the whole statement previously said) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”
- “And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” - Luke 24:25-27
You will not grow and mature in the faith if you do not learn the fullness of God’s word, especially the basic doctrines of the faith. You must go beyond the gospels and dig deep into the Old and New Testaments. “…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” - Ephesians 4:13-14
Hebrews 5:12-13 - “For though by this time (dia ho chronos) you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles (arche: beginning, origin - stoy-khi-on: the first things, simple teachings like the alphabet) of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone (pas: any) who lives (met-ek-o: to partake of or to feed on) on milk is unskilled (ah-pie-ros: inexperienced, without experience with a specific thing) in the word of righteousness, (logos dee-kay-ya-soo-nay: the doctrine concerning the way which man may attain the state of approval of God) since he is a child (nay-pee-os: childish, untaught, unskilled).”
- Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. - Acts 20:26-27
- All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) is the only thing given to God’s people to renew their minds. “I have given them your word,..” John 17:14 and “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” - Psalm 1:1-2
Hebrews 5:14 - “But solid food (stereos: firm, immovable, solid, hard, rigid - trophe: food of the mind, substance for instruction) is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant (gymnazo:exercise vigorously) practice (hexis: power acquired by, practice or use) to distinguish good (kalos: beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, praiseworthy, morally good, noble) from evil. (kakos: evil, contrary to divine or human law, a crime) ”
- “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” - Psalm 119:9-16
- “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:2
