Letter to the Hebrews Volume 38

 Qualifications for Earthly Jewish High Priest Part 1

Hebrews 5:1-2 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. KJV

As we learned from the writer of Hebrews in the last study/commentary (Volume 37), our Great High Priest Jesus Christ is far above and greater than any of the earthly Jewish high priest of the past, present, or future. However, after detailing for us the majesty that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, now the writer of Hebrews descibes to us how every earthly Jewish high priest was chosen by God and commissioned by God to offer gifts and sacrifices for the sins of the Jewish people and for his own sins. Here is what the writer of Hebrews declares of the earthly Jewish high priest then in verse 1, "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:" (Hebrews 5:1) (KJV). The high priest of that day in the Jewish Nation were (for all the other Jewish people) the preeminent authority in the Jewish Nation at that time and they represented God and they were the bridge in bringing God near to man and men near to God in that day. The little English phrase 'is ordained' is translated by the Greek word kathistēmi which figuratively means (as used here) to designate, constitute, convoy: - appoint. In other words, it was God who appointed the Jewish priest to serve the Jewish people as His representative to them. Also it was God who rejected those of the Levites, that is, the descendants of Aaron who did not adhere to the will of God as in the case of Nadab and Abihu (the sons of Aaron) who offered strange fire before the Lord in the House of the Lord, as it is written with these words, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." (Leviticus 10:1-3)  (KJV).

The sacrifices offered before the Lord (by the earthly high priest) for the sins of the people and for his own sins was the blood of an animal and the gifts to the Lord were that of the people's harvest of wheat made into grain, see Leviticus Chapters 1-9. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of this verse, "Every one that was an high priest under the law was a man, and not an angel; and it was proper he should be so, that he might be a priest for men, have compassion on them, and offer for them; and he was among the number of common men, and was taken out from them, and chosen and separated from the rest of men, as Aaron and his sons were from the children of Israel, Exodus 28:1. And such an one is ordained for men; in their room and stead, and for their good; and above them, as the Word sometimes signifies; he was exalted unto, and invested with a superior office, to which he was ordained according to the law of a carnal commandment, by anointing with oil, and without an oath. In things in which God had to do with men; and so he presided over them in the name of God, and declared the will of God unto them, and blessed them; and in things in which men had to do with God; and so he appeared in their name, and represented their persons, and presented their sacrifices to God, as follows: freewill offerings, peace offerings, burnt offerings, sin and trespass offerings, all kind of sacrifice." The reason why God chooses men to represent Him among the people is that he may be just like unto them knowing the infirmity, that is, the weakness and  sinfulness of the human fallen nature and that he might show unto them the compassion of God who feels for every soul that is upon the earth struggling in these tents, houses, or bodies that we all live in.

Here is what the writer of Hebrews declares of the high priest role as a compassionate representative of God to the people, "Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity." (Hebrews 5:2) (KJV). The little English phrase that begins this verse 'who can' is translated by the Greek word dunamai which means to be able or possible: be of power. The little English phrase 'have compassion' is translated by the Greek word metriopatheō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) which means to be moderate in passion, that is, gentle (to treat indulgently): - have compassion. The English word 'ignorant' is translated by the Greek word agnoeō meaning not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); not to understand. The English phrase 'on them that are out of the way' is translated by the Greek word planaō meaning to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. In other words, there are those who are living in error, that would be those caught in cults and isms or those who are atheist or agnostic or stoic or in the occult or spiritual or any of the many many false belief systems that have been designed by the devil to keep lost men and women from hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being converted or born again of incorruptable seed by the Word of God, remember the Apostle Paul told us that this is the devil's purpose in fostering, favoring, and furthering all of these false forms of spirituality, with these words, "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corithians 4:3-4) (KJV).

Those who are out of the way are those who have allowed their 'old nature' to become dominant in their lives and are not living by the 'new nature' and the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Apostle James meant when he wrote these words, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20) (KJV). The high priest of Israel or in our case today the minister of God in the Body of Christ is enabled by God to show such care, compassion, and concern because he too is subject to his own plague of sin, that is, his own annoying, continual, and chronic stain of sin in his own life. The little English phrase 'is compassed with' is translated by the Greek word perikeimai meaning to lie all around, that is, inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively): - be bound (compassed) with, hang about. God could have commanded angels to serve as high priest to the Jewish people (He did send angels to them on many occassions for various reasons and purposes), but He did not do so because He knew that the angels were not able to relate to the weakness of the human tent, house, or body in its physical frailty or in its moral failings, therefore, it always was the will of God to take from among the Jewish people a man to serve Him in the office of high priest, likewise, it is still the will of God to take out of the Body of Christ a man to serve Him among His adopted sons and daughters.

Note: This does not mean that God then and now is not calling women to minister to His Jewish people then and to His adopted sons and daughters now because He did and is doing so and will continue to do so to accomplish His will on the earth. In other words, angels would not be able to feel the anxiety or anxiousness we sinful human beings feel when we are assaulted by our lust for women or sinful anger or pride or hatred or any of the other sins that can arise out of our 'old nature' into the forefront, but a human high priest or minister who fights the same fights with and against sin as we do can be able to give a word from the Word of God to aid, attend, or assist in time of need. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of this verse, "The idea is that of 'sympathizing with.' The high priest is taken from among men, in order that he may have a fellow-feeling for those on whose behalf he officiates. Sensible of his own ignorance, he is able to sympathize with those who are ignorant; and compassed about with infirmity, he is able to succour those who have like infirmities.The erring, and the guilty. If he were taken from an order of beings superior to people, he would be less qualified to sympathize with those who felt that they were sinners, and who needed pardon. He is liable to err; He is subject to temptation; he must die, and appear before God - and encompassed with these infirmities, he is better qualified to minister in behalf of guilty and dying people. For the same reason it is, that the ministers of the Gospel are chosen from among people. They are of like passions with others. They are sinners; they are dying men. They can enter into the feelings of those who are conscious of guilt; they can sympathize with those who tremble in dread of death; they can partake of the emotions of those who expect soon to appear before God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…