Christ Did Not Take On Himself The Glory of Becoming a High Priest: A look at Hebrews 5:5-10

Christ Did Not Take On Himself The Glory of Becoming a High Priest

Hebrews 5:5-10

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.”

6 And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

in the order of Melchizedek.”

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Just as the High Priest on the old covenant did not apply for the position, but was chosen, called, and appointed, the Son of God was appointed by His Father to be our faithful and compassionate High Priest. For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son of God. Jesus is The Son of God. All of us when we come to saving faith become sons and daughters of the Most High. But there is only one who is The Son of God.

In Psalm 2:7 it states ““I will announce the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have fathered You”. Jesus is the Son of God, and this is why He alone is worthy to be praised. In Him we have a faithful and compassionate High Priest who understands all that we have gone through and have endured. He has walked in our shoes and understands us better than ourselves. His priesthood is far greater than that of Aaron because it continues without end. It is eternal. He sits at the right hand of the Father and He is our mediator. We are able to approach the throne of grace with confidence because His precious blood has washed way our sin.

In verse six the name Melchizedek is mentioned. This will be expounded on at a later time in the book of Hebrews. The reason Melchizedek is brought up to show the greatness of Jesus. To show that He is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God during the days of Abraham. He was also the King of Salam. The name Melchizedek means righteousness and Salam means peace. Everything about Melchizedek life points to the coming of Jesus and who He would be. For Jesus is not only our faithful and compassionate High Priest, but He is also King of all Kings. His righteousness is applied to our lives when we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

During Jesus life on the earth, He walked in our shoes. It states He offered up prayers, petitions, and loud cries to the one who could save Him. This speaks about Jesus’ time in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed three times if this cup can pass from me, but not my will by your will be done. Jesus willingly surrendered to the Father’s will. He laid down His life willingly because of His love for us.

It states He was heard because of His reverent submission. Reverent can also be translated fear of God or piety. Jesus because of His love for His Father and us, laid down His life willingly. He submitted to the Father’s will. No one took His life from Him. But because of His love for us, He willingly submitted all.

Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. Does this mean that Christ was not perfect? Does this mean that Jesus didn’t know what obedience was before this moment in the garden? No because throughout His earthly ministry He walked in perfect obedience to His Father in Heaven. But in this moment in the garden, He surrendered all. He walked in obedience and His obedience resulted in a level of suffering we cannot comprehend. But it was in that place of surrender and suffering that He didn’t fight against the will of The Father, but He walked in perfect obedience.

This shows us that Jesus understands our pain. The decision to follow Jesus doesn’t mean a life of ease and comfort. It means that there will be suffering and pain. In the face of suffering we must make a choice, but we must also rely fully upon the grace of God. He will sustain us and lead us by His Spirit. He will enable us to overcome all suffering.

The word perfected in verse nine means to complete, fulfill, finish, make perfect, consecrate. The basic sense is “bring to completion”; this can refer to making something perfect, accomplishing a task, or fulfilling a scripture.[1] It doesn’t mean that Jesus had spot or blemish. It doesn’t mean that Jesus was imperfect. Jesus’ work was brought to full completion because of the suffering He endure and the giving up of His life. The only way redemption could have taken place and salvation offered, is if He died in the place of every sinner throughout human history.

The word salvation means salvation, wholeness, safety. Can refer to salvation from enemies, but in the nt is usually used of salvation from sin and death through Christ.[2] Jesus became the source of salvation because in Him we have wholeness. We have been brought to a place of eternal safety because we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness. Because of Jesus our sins have atoned for. There is no other way to heaven. Jesus made this clear when He said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me[3]”. He is the source because He is the beginning and the end. Without Him we are eternally lost. Because of His grace and mercy, we are saved, sealed by The Holy Spirit and our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

In verse ten the word designated means call or named. By The Father Himself Jesus was named High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. His priesthood is a greater priesthood than that of Aaron. For Aaron paid Melchizedek a tithe. Not only is Jesus’ priesthood greater, the covenant He has established through His shed blood, death, and resurrection is a better covenant. To abandon this for the law or to return to Moses is simply foolishness.

There may be moments when we feel like throwing in the towel, but we must build our lives on biblical truth. We must renew our minds with the truth of scripture. We must not forget all that Jesus has done so we can be free. For in Him His righteousness is imputed to us. His righteousness is given as a gift. We can approach the throne of grace with confidence because of what Jesus Christ has done and accomplished at Calvary.

[1] Adriani Milli Rodrigues, “Perfection,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014). [2] Joel T. Hamme, “Salvation,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014). [3] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 14:6.