seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 5:1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
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.”
today I have become your Father.”
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
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.
I took the following from the commentary for chapter 4.
It means that Jesus, God the Son, enthroned in heaven, our High Priest, can sympathize with our weaknesses.
But was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin: Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted and to battle against sin, though He was never stained by sin. “His sinlessness was, at least in part, an earned sinlessness as he gained victory after victory in the constant battle with temptation that life in this world entails.” (Morris)
I found the author of Hebrews carried over to the next chapter.He can have compassion: Ideally, the high priest was more than a meat-cutter offering animals for sacrifice. He also had compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, and ministered the atoning sacrifices with a loving heart for the people. In this ideal, the high priest had this compassion because he understood that he himself is also subject to weakness.
Called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek”: The emphasis is repeated. Jesus is a High Priest, who was called by God (not by personal ambition), according to the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus was a good guy, appointed by His Father to take on and finish the Mission of making things right between God and humans. He stubbed His toe... and I'm sure the pain made Him yelp. I'm pretty sure Jesus would have loved to have smacked the fire out of that backyard bully but He turned the other cheek, in accordance with the Second Commandment.Jesus never had to tell the story about how He was chosen for the Mission, like Paul. He had a way about Him. Jesus knew all the scriptures because He lived them... He had a "bird's eye view" from Heaven. He knew the reasons for the First and Second Commandments. He probably came up with them while He was still in Heaven. "Hey let's make it simple... instead of 10 Commandments, let's make it only 2 Commandments".
Jesus knows what we feel. Jesus knows what temptation is. Jesus let them beat Him and hang Him on the Cross. Jesus knows.
Jesus was appointed to the Mission.
By the way.... I think humans get mixed up between the Second Commandment and the Second Amendment. If everyone would just live by the Second Commandment there would be no need for the Second Amendment.