The Sanctuary Lesson 6a Conclusion Hebrews 5 Jesus as Our High Priest 1 1
Points of Hebrews 5 Every high priest offers gifts and sacrifices for sin (v. 1). Has compassion on sinners for he himself is compassed with infirmity (v. 2) Is called of God (v. 4) Jesus fulfills these requirements and is a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec (vs. 6, 10). Jesus learned obedience by the things he suffered (v. 8). Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him (v. 9). 2 2
Verse 2 Ignorant Lack of knowledge Out of the way Misled, deceived Infirmity These two concepts combined Hebrews 4:15 infirmities, same Greek word 3 3
Notice that having a lack of knowledge (being ignorant) and being deceived or misled (being out of the way) are equated with infirmity.... he himself also is compassed... 4 4
Let us now consider verse 8 Jesus learned obedience; i.e., he was in ignorance and needed to learn And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:52) Jesus grew; he learned, and this was and is considered an infirmity with which he was encompassed and with which we also are encompassed. 5 5
Our heavenly Father is all-knowing, omniscient he is strong, and we are weak. We are not omniscient; we have to learn. Just being a human makes us weak in one sense because we are ignorant and have to learn. In the incarnation, Jesus also experienced this ignorance; he also had to learn. The Bible says he was made perfect through the things he learned by obedience in suffering. 6 6
Temptations are an infirmity that causes us weakness. Another dimension of our weakness is the fact that we are born as babes, and we spend our lives in a continual growth and learning process, in contrast with God who is omniscient and never has to learn! 7 7
And this is important when we consider Jesus, our High Priest and Intercessor as a human, he was in all points tempted like as we are AND he went through a learning process, just as we must do. And it was in this learning process that he was made perfect by obedience through suffering, just as we will be made perfect! 8 8
Sometimes we learn the hard way but Jesus never did! He is our perfect Saviour, wholly able to save to the uttermost! Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25) 9 9
Being born as a baby is not the only weakness, however. Jesus was also compassed, as we are, with temptations, but he without sin. This also is an infirmity. (Hebrews 4:15) 10 10
Infirmity Four Uses Physical weakness Sickness An inner poverty Economic poverty 11 11
Physical Weakness Asthenia (sthĕnŏō bodily vigor or to strengthen) incapacity, weakness, limitation The weaker sex (1Pet. 3:7) The weakness of the flesh (Matt. 26:41); this is not a reference to the carnal mind The Christian in contrast to God s strength (2Cor. 13:4; 1Cor. 1:27; 2Cor. 12:10) Weak in the faith (Rom. 14:1, 1Cor. 8:9) 12 12
Weaker 1 Pet 3.7 wanting in physical strength (Louw-Nida pertaining to being physically weak...therefore, one may translate as treating with respect one s wife as the physically weaker partner 13 13
Sickness John 5:5 infirmity by the Pool of Bethesda Luke 10:9 Heal the sick John 6:2 Diseased 14 14
Inner Poverty Weak and beggarly elements Gal. 4:9 The law... was weak Rom. 8:3 Some parts of the body seem to be more feeble 1 Cor. 12:22 This use is figurative. 15 15
Economic Poverty Acts 20:35 16 16