09 Qualifications for High Priesthood

Chapter 5 builds upon what we learned in the previous chapter – that Jesus is our High Priest. Here in chapter 5, we’re shown why He alone is qualified to be High Priest.

No high priest assumed, or campaigned for his position, but each one was essentially appointed to it:

1 Chosen and Appointed

Hebrews 5:1-4

The high priest was to represent the people before the Lord, and for that reason, not just anyone would qualify.

The high priest had to be from the tribe of Levi, and in particular, from the line of Aaron, who was appointed by God as the first high priest.

• In verse 1, the author addresses the issue of how the high priest came from among the people, while being appointed as their representative.
• Next, we’re given a brief picture of his duties, as one who would “offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
• He also oversaw the other priests as they performed sacrifices on behalf of the people.
• Once a year, the high priest alone, was allowed to into the Most Holy Place, stand behind the veil, and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat – making atonement for his sins, and those of the people.

In verse 2 we see how the high priest was to show compassion upon the people.

To remind him to be compassionate, he wore a breastplate with twelve stones with the names of the twelve tribes. This was to show how the people were to continually be upon his heart.

On the next verses, the author reinforced the idea that the position was a calling from the Lord.

• The position of high priest was a birthright – but one having been established by God.

2 High Priest Forever

The author then shows how only Jesus qualifies to be our eternal High Priest:

Hebrews 5:5-11

• Jesus was appointed High Priest by the Father:

Psalm 2:7

Psalm 110:4

• In Psalm 2 Jesus is shown to be the only true heir of the Father. This is because He is the same essence of the Father, having the same attributes.
• In Psalm 110 we see how the Messiah would also be High Priest. Yet, not after the order of Aaron.
• In verse 6, we see that Jesus would be High Priest forever, unlike earthly high priests for which it is a “lifetime” position.
• Rather than being after the order of Aaron, He would be High Priest after the order of Melchizedek:

Hebrews 5:6

While Melchizedek is one of the most interesting characters in Scripture, the Bible still doesn’t tell us much about Him.

The name means “king of righteousness”. But He’s also identified as the “king of Salem” which was a name for Jerusalem:

Genesis 14:18-20

Yet, history doesn’t record anyone named Melchizedek ruling over Jerusalem before it was conquered by the Jews.

• One reason why the author spent so much time speaking about Melchizedek, is because neither he nor Christ were descended from Aaron, which would have been very confusing for his Hebrew audience to reconcile.

In verse 7, we’re shown how Jesus fulfilled another aspect of the High Priest, as He offered up prayers and supplications on behalf of the people. He even speaks of His vehement cries for the people, which was fulfilled in the Lord’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane:

Luke 22:44

• Because Jesus is High Priest forever, He continues to make intercession for us, even from His throne in heaven:

Hebrews 7:25

In verse 9, the author speaks of Jesus as having been “perfected”:

Hebrews 5:8-9

It speaks of Christ’s obedience to the Father’s will at Calvary, and His enduring suffering and death “showed” His perfection, as in that He became the author of eternal salvation:

Colossians 1:14

In verses 10 and 11 the author once again spoke of how Jesus is High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. He admitted he much more to say about that, but had been unable to do so, because the people had become dull of hearing (disinterested).