< Hebrews 5 >

Every high priest ordained by God,v.1Hebrews 5:1XWaiting for response e.g. Aaron and Jesus, is appointed to make sacrifices for sins v.1Hebrews 5:1XWaiting for response and he can have compassion on the wayward, being himself compassed with the infirmity of the flesh.v.2Hebrews 5:2XWaiting for response The high priest therefore made sacrifices for sins, not only for other people, but also for himself.v.3Hebrews 5:3XWaiting for response This applied also to Jesus for, even though he was personally sinless through a life of righteousness, he was a partaker of our sinful nature. No man can arrogate to himself the position of high priest but has to be appointed by God,v.5Hebrews 5:5XWaiting for response so even Jesus was called to this position by God who said to him: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec”.v.6;Hebrews 5:6XWaiting for response Psalm 110:4Psalm 110:4XWaiting for response

Jesus was compassed about with infirmity v.2Hebrews 5:2XWaiting for response and in his suffering “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”.v.7Hebrews 5:7XWaiting for response As God's son, Jesus "learned obedience to his Father by the things which he suffered” v.8.Hebrews 5:8XWaiting for response As a result of his perfect obedience he was also made perfect in nature and “became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”.v.9Hebrews 5:9XWaiting for response

The apostle shows from verse 6 onwards and for the following few chapters that the priestly order of Melchizedek was higher than that of Aaron. Melchizedek was the priest to whom Abraham, the ancestor of Aaron, offered tithes, showing that Melchizedek was of higher status than both Abraham and Aaron.

The record in Genesis concerning Melchizedek is full of symbolic information and the apostle had much to say about him and Christ which the disciples found hard to receive.v.11Hebrews 5:11XWaiting for response They were like babes in the truth who could only receive the milk of the word v.12Hebrews 5:12XWaiting for response and his instruction here stresses the importance of studying the word of God. Everyone needs to learn the first principles of the truth, likened to milk, and then to mature and feed upon the meat of the word. Like adults, strong and of full age, they should then practise the commandments of God, having their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. vs.13-14.Hebrews 5:13-14XWaiting for response Most people, unfortunately, do not study the word of God sufficiently even to learn the first principles of the truth, but those who do so grow in Christ and learn how to please God so they can look forward to receiving eternal life at Jesus’ return.