Bonney Lake Community Church

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1 Bonney Lake Community Church Adult Sunday School Jesus, Our High Priest Scripture: The Letter to the Hebrews, 4:14-8:13 Key Verse: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15 16, ESV) Objective: To first see that we need a high priest and king, then to see that Jesus is the perfect and eternal high priest and king. To build on the foundation of our faith instead of continually rebuilding it. Overview/Context: This is our second of four weeks burrowing into the letter to the Hebrews. Page 6 of the notes contains an outline of the entire letter, so I ll use it as my review of last week and a preview of the next two weeks. The passage for this week begins with a look back at the Old Testament priesthood begun with Moses brother Aaron, and hints at a better one from an even earlier time. Remembering that the letter was written to Jewish Christians, it become understandable why the author spends time on the subject. He wants to accomplish two objectives. One is to replace their longing for the return of a purified and holy priesthood with an understanding that Jesus fulfilled perfectly and forever the role of that priesthood. The other is to introduce the concept of a better priesthood, one first introduced by the mysterious Melchizedek, king and high priest of Salem. Looking at the Old Testament high priesthood and the New Testament high priesthood held by Jesus, we can see some similarities and some differences.

2 Similarities include: Both served as an intermediary between man and God the Father. Both offered sin sacrifices to atone for the individual sins of the people. Both explained how to apply God s law to everyday life. Jesus New Testament priesthood is superior to the Old Testament one in several ways: Men chose the Aaronic high priests (after Aaron). God chose Jesus, our high priest, before the beginning of time. Each Aaronic high priest died and had to be succeeded. Jesus is eternal, needing no successor. The Aaronic high priests offered sin sacrifices for themselves and for the people. These sacrifices had to be offered repeatedly. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once and for all. As God, He did not have to offer a sacrifice for Himself because He was sinless. After first purifying himself, the Aaronic high priest offered an annual sacrifice for all the people. Jesus needed no purification, but is a personal, not group savior. That is, we each need to invite Him individually to cleanse us from our sin. We ll see more on this next week. The next major section, beginning at verse 5:11, is interpreted in several, generally divergent ways. Before reviewing it, it is important to review the foundation preceding 6:4, because missing this step almost ensures you ll stumble on the next few verses. Seek first to be secure in the firm foundation of Scriptural truth. Don t keep wondering about the basics. In verses 5:11-6:3, we re called to stop wasting time wondering and wondering about the basics, the Scriptural equivalent of babies milk. Instead, move on to solid food and grow in your knowledge, faith, and trust. Jesus died for you. If you invited Him into your heart and confessed yourself a sinner, needy of righteousness and unable to achieve it on your own merit, you are saved. Period. The controversy and confusion some find in Hebrews 6:4-6 have several variations, along with proofs and counterproofs. My study suggests there are four major views of whether these verses speak of people were once true Christians, which might be summarized in the following ways: 1. The verses describe believers who called on Jesus as their savior but stopped short of placing all their faith in Him. They wanted to save some of the work of salvation for their own works. The description of the land that has drunk the rain and produces two different crops (verses 6:7-8) adds weight to this view. 2

3 2. The verses describe believers who fall into sin and therefore lose their salvation. However, this is inconsistent with John 6:39-40, and especially 10:27-29; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 8:35, 38-39; Philippians 1:6 and 1 Peter 1:3-5. It doesn t fit with Hebrews 3:14. Also, many who hold this view agree that some who backslide can regain their faith, so that 6:4-6 applies to those whose hearts are truly hardened. 3. The verses describe true believers who will not completely fall away. The warnings show the means that God will use to correct them. 4. The verses describe a hypothetical situation, which the author uses to show how worrying about what is done is wrong, and moving on and up is what is right. Note that beginning in verse 6:9, the author writes of his certainty of the salvation of his beloved readers. This week s passage ends with a look back at a promise God made to Abraham and returns to explain the earlier reference to Melchizedek, a better high priest (and king). This mysterious figure from the Old Testament appears only here, in Genesis 14:18-20, and Psalm 110:4. Some see him as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. However, here the verses describing him suggest that he was simply a man resembling the Son of God (7:3). Since he is described as superior to Abraham, from whom the Aaronic priesthood came, the priesthood of Melchizedek is superior to that described in verses 4:14-5:4. However, since Jesus now holds both priesthoods, the superiority of one or the other is irrelevant. Jesus is high priest of all, supreme above all earlier high priests and kings. The concept of the Old Testament high priesthood is foreign and little understood by today s Christians. However, the reason for the office and the roles fulfilled by them are not entirely irrelevant today. Fortunately, we have the perfect high priest serving us, the great (and greatest) of all. Our savior, the Son of God, Messiah, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Homiletics: Who Is God? What Has He Done? What Will He Do? What Does He Expect From Us? Verse Summaries with Principles and Truths: 3

4 Hebrews 4:14-5:10 The description of the priestly ministry of Jesus begins here and is completed beginning at Hebrews 7:1, but that one is a different priesthood. In these verses, the comparison is with the priesthood first bestowed on Aaron. The writer reminds his Jewish Christian audience, one frequently longing for a return of the good old days of that priesthood, that that priesthood and sacrificial system could never bring reconciliation and righteousness before the Holy God of all creation. Instead of looking backwards, the author urges his readers to look forwards (and upwards) at Jesus finished work, seeing Him as the full and permanent fulfillment of all that a human high priest could never be. Much of the role was retained: intermediary, intercessor, mediator, dispenser of God s grace and mercy, and the only one who could offer a sin sacrifice. We need a high priest to be our intermediary before the Holy God. None but Jesus can qualify. Hebrews 5:11-6:12 This passage calls us to stop rebuilding our spiritual foundation and to move on to maturity. This is plain from the verse that says, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God (6:1, ESV). The author criticizes the tendency to endlessly worry about one s salvation, urging the reader to not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (6:12, ESV). As noted in the Overview/Context section, these verses can mean different things to different serious Bible students. Don t become caught up in interpretations that shake your faith in your salvation. Do move off the elementary and build on your faith. The Holy Spirit calls through Scripture to leave behind the elementary teaching and reach out to maturity through faith. Hebrews 6:13-8:13 This passage returns to add teaching on the certainty of God s promise to Abraham and his offspring, then looks back to that same time period and describes Melchizedek, a king/priest about whom we know little, other than what is here, Genesis, and the one verse in Psalms. The promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:16-17 was to bless and multiply his descendants. The greater aspect of the promise is the blessing ultimately fulfilled by Jesus and described in 6:19-20 in the bridge between the promise and Christ s high priestly ministry. As Melchizedek was a better high priest and king than the Aaronic high priests (and not kings), so too is Jesus the perfect high priest and king. Melchizedek was the shadow; Jesus is the fulfillment. Passage Summary: After showing the inability of the Old Testament priesthood to act satisfactorily (and permanently) as intermediary and agent of sacrifice, the passage 4

5 show how Jesus perfectly fulfills these necessary roles. He is our high priest forever, perfectly and constantly interceding for us, since He made us righteous before God as the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Application: Take time to read again Hebrews 6:1-12. Seek after the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit so you become certain of the basis for your faith and the assurance of your salvation. Seek after the solid food of the word of God to lead you to maturity. Now that you know more about Jesus work as our perfect high priest, take time this week to thank Him for His sacrifice and finished work as our savior. Renew any forgotten commitments you might have left unfulfilled to seek after Him as your representative before the throne of God. Activities for the Week Ahead: This week, we ll be studying Hebrews The theme is Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice. 5

6 Key Concepts in Hebrews 1 Chapter Theme Concept Key Verses Foundation Truths Key Words Meaning 1 Jesus identity Jesus is God 1:1 2 whole, complete Jesus is enough there is nothing more I need. 2 Our identity We are Jesus brothers 3 & 4 Life-principle Experience our position 5 High Priest Jesus links us with God 6 Maturity Security stimulates growth Deeper Truths Identity 7 Priesthood Relationship is assured 8 & 9 Law Righteousness is necessary 2:11 mastery, dominion I need to see myself raised to mastery of life in Jesus. 4:10 rest, faith, response When I trust and obey God, I enter His rest. 4:16 weakness, link When weak, I can come confidently to Jesus for forgiveness and aid. 6:18 insecure, foundation I can forget myself and launch out in reckless trust that the Atonement is complete. 7:25 guaranteed relationship 8:10 commandment law, inner law I can have assurance of salvation: Jesus is my Guarantee! I can trust Jesus to make me progressively more righteous as I trust and obey Him. 9 & 10 Sacrifice Holiness is ours 10:14 guilt, cleansed I can see myself in Jesus as a holy, not a guilty person. Deeper Truths Lifestyle 10 Warning Maturing takes time 10:35 36 process, persevere 11 Faith Faith enables 11:6 enablement, obedience 12 Discipline Faith becomes commitments 13 Love Faith produces love 13:20 21 I can know that daily commitment to God s will will produce maturity. I can meet any challenge enabled by faith in God. 12:10 patience, holiness I can discipline myself to full commitment to faith s life. externals, grace I can find life s real meaning in others and in Christ. 1 Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The Teacher s Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. 6

7 Sunday School Reading Thoughts November 3-8 (Week 10): Hebrews 9-10, Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice Read these verses each day this week. Improve your understanding by using a different translation or paraphrase each day, repeating if you need to. Use a Bible Encyclopedia or Bible Handbook to learn about the role of the Old Testament tabernacle and the temple. Also, look up the Old Testament sacrificial system. How does this help your understanding of these verses? What is the difference between guilt, guilt feelings, and shame? How are they related? Hebrews 9:9 says, According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation (ESV). Why couldn t the Old Testament sacrifices perfect the conscience of the worshiper? Find differences and similarities between the Old Testament sacrifices and Jesus sacrifice. Please consider sharing with your class on Sunday. Find verses that state what Jesus sacrifice accomplished (there are at least five). Challenge: Pray faithfully over the next two weeks for God to write indelibly the message of this letter on the hearts of each one in our class. Be especially alert to anyone (including yourself) struggling with either or both of the calls in the application section of these notes.