THE BOOK OF HEBREWS Chapter 5 Verses 1-3 "Our Great High Priest"

THE BOOK OF HEBREWS Chapter 5 Verses 1-3 "Our Great High Priest" As we make our way through the Book of Hebrews, we are going to see several references to things that have already been explained in the Books of the Old Testament. Here this morning, we will see Jesus referred to as Our High Priest. If you have not been taught the Books of Exodus Chapters 28 and 29, then you would not be familiar with what a High Priest really is, what he does, or why this is important to us today. So, we are going to pause along the way in our study of Hebrews, to take you back to the places in the Old Testament, where these different things were taught, so that you will be able to understand what is going on. Hebrews 5 1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. In verse one here of Hebrews 5, the High Priest is a man himself. One that acts as a Go Between or Mediator between God and man. In the Hebrew Language this Go between is called A Goel. Verse 1, The High Priest is to offer both Gifts and Sacrifices for the sins of a person. In the Old Testament, the Lord laid a foundation to explain to us what is required for a human being to be able to approach God. The first requirement was that mans SIN had to be dealt with. Every single person ever born has as a part of their NATURE, the tendency to do wrong. In Old England, when the Archers were being considered for how skilled they were with their bows and arrows, they were given a test. The Archer was placed at a prescribed distance from a Bulls Eye. The Archer would release his arrow in an attempt to hit the center of the Bulls Eye. If he hit the target in the Bulls Eye he was considered Perfect. If he missed the center of the target, he was called A Sinner. Page 1 of 11 Pages

He had failed to hit the mark and be perfect. This is where the term A Sinner came from, that we use today. A Sinner is someone who fails to hit the mark of perfection. Let us understand that EVERY PERSON EVER BORN ON EARTH IS A SINNER, one who has missed the mark of perfection, from Gods vantage point. The Lord expects for us to be perfect in our Righteousness, Morality and Behavior. Of course, it is a No Brainer that not one of us can meet this requirement of being perfect. All you have to do is open your eyes in this world and you will see that Gods Word is true regarding His description of Human Nature. We are all Sinners By nature, Mans tendency from birth is to ward evil. The way people act towards each other and the way that the world exists with people in it, is stunning proof that the Bible is True, and what God says about us is True. This brings us to our point this morning. Every Human being is classified as A Sinner This Sin must be dealt with, if any of us are to approach God. The High Priest in the Old Testament, was the One that brought the Sinner before God, and helped them do something about their sin problem. In the Old Testament, a principle called The Sacrifice was established. The life of one that is innocent, can be given for one that is guilty. By transferring the guilt of the Sinner to the Innocent, and then the Innocent being put to death, the Sinner can have their sin Covered. So, Jesus is Refereed to as Our High Priest. Lets take a few minutes and go back in the Old Testament and See what the High Priest was, and How Jesus can fulfill this role of being a High Priest for us As we refer back to the Old Testament in Exodus 28 and 29 and look at what the High Priest was, remember that Jesus became the fulfillment of these things when He came. Exodus 28:2-50 This is the Lord Himself speaking to Moses 4 "And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest. 15 "You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod you shall make it: of gold blue purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it. Page 2 of 11 Pages

Notice the upper part of the High Priests Garments, that looks like an Apron this is called The Ephod. On this Ephod, or Apron, there is a Square area called The Breastplate. On the Breastplate there are 12 Precious Stones. On the top of the High Priests shoulders there are an additional 2 Precious Stones. Notice the long portion of the garment that is dark Blue and Under this there is a fine White Linen Garment called A Tunic. On the High Priests head is a white Turban and around the base of this Turban there is a crown of Gold that has engraved on it the words: Holy to the Lord Now, you might be saying: Well, so what pastor Rob! Here is where it gets really interesting, if you are a person who loves to learn the hidden meaning behind these Old Testament things. The Ephod or Apron There were 4 colors in the fabric of this Ephod. 1. Blue: 2. Purple: 3. Scarlet: 4. White: These 4 colors are also found in the fabric at the entrance to the Outer Court of the Sanctuary or Tabernacle. Blue Purple Scarlet White The Tabernacle was the place where a person would bring their sacrifice to the Priest, so that their sin could be Covered. What we don t realize is that these 4 colors in the High Priests Ephod and in the Entrance to the Tabernacle, were specifically placed there by the Lord for a very important reason. Remember that the Holy Spirit is the real author of the Bible. Page 3 of 11 Pages

Because the Holy Spirit is the One writing the Bible, every single Word, Person, Place, Name and even the Punctuation marks, were placed exactly where they are, by the Holy Spirit. We find in the Old Testament that these 4 Colors have important Meanings: 1. Blue: Represented Righteousness 2. Purple: Represented Royalty 3. Scarlet: Represented Sacrifice 4. White: Represented Holiness, Purity. This morning in our Study of Hebrews chapter 5, we were told that Jesus is our Great High Priest. This means that all of these colors that were pictured in the Old Testament regarding the High Priest, and the Tabernacle, Jesus became the fulfillment of these. Remember that the entrance to the Tabernacle also had these 4 colors in them? In the New Testament, what did Jesus say that He was? John 10:7 Then Jesus said to them again, Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. So, Jesus is saying, I am also this door to the Tabernacle. What was the purpose of the Tabernacle? The place where your sin could be covered. There was only One Entrance into the Tabernacle, through this front door that had the Blue, Purple, Scarlet and White. Is Jesus saying then: I am the only entrance into the place of Sacrifice and having your sin Removed? John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Page 4 of 11 Pages

Jesus is saying then, That door to the Tabernacle, where the people brought their sacrifice to the High Priest for a Sacrifice for their sins, THAT IS ME! John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt (Tabernacled) among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth It is interesting that the same Greek word that is used here in John 1:14 for Dwelt among us, is Skenoo (skay-no -o) and can be also translated Tabernacle. A reference is given for this word under it s definition that says that this word is the same as when God dwelt in the Tabernacle in the desert) It is obvious that the Holy Spirit was desiring that as we read this verse here in John 14:6, we would understand that the Tabernacle that was in the Desert where the people brought their sacrifices was a picture of Jesus. What did a person have to do to get their sin removed? Go through this door at the entrance to the Tabernacle, the Only entrance into the Tabernacle. In order then to get into the place of sacrifice, you would have to go through Jesus, the Door. As you passed through this Door to the Tabernacle, you would have to pass through the Blue, Purple, Scarlet, and White. Blue: The righteousness of God. you must pass through Jesus Righteousness To get your sin forgiven, Your righteousness is not acceptable. All our righteousness Isaiah says is like Filthy Rags. We must be saved according to the Righteousness of Jesus. Purple: The Royalty of Jesus as He is King of Kings and Lord or all Lords. In order to have your sin removed, you must pass through Jesus and He is God. Scarlet: The Sacrifice of Jesus and He had His Blood poured out of His body for you. White: The Holiness of Jesus, By passing through Jesus Holiness, the Result is that you become Holy, Spotless. Remember the Breastplate that the High Priest wore on His Chest? They represented 1 Precious stone for each of the 12 tribes The Breast Plate with the 12 Stones on it: Since Hebrews Chapter 5, tells us that Jesus is our Great High Priest, is there any importance in the Breastplate for us? 1 Peter 2:3-5 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual Page 5 of 11 Pages

house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. According to the New Testament then, we as the ones that have given our lives to Jesus, are like the 12 stones that are on the High Priests Breastplate. Exodus 39:14 There were twelve stones according to the names of the sons of Israel: according to their names, engraved like a signet, each one with its own name according to the twelve tribes. Exodus 28 29 "So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually Placement and Number of the 12 Tribes, how they correspond to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John NORTH Eagle (John) Dan 67,700 Asher 41,500 Naphtali 53,400 WEST TOTAL 157,600 EAST Ox Ephraim 40,500 Judah 74,600 Lion (Mark) Manasseh 32,200 TABERNACLE Issachar 54,400 (Matthew) Ephraim Benjamin 35,400 Zebulun 57,400 Judah TOTAL 108,100 Gad 45,600 TOTAL 186,400 Simeon 59,300 Reuben 46,500 TOTAL 151,400 (Luke) Man SOUTH The 12 Stones NORTH Eagle (John) Dan Jacinth Asher Emerald Naphtali Agate WEST EAST Ox Ephraim Onyx Judah Turquoise Lion (Mark) Manasseh Onyx TABERNACLE Levi/Beryl Issachar Sapphire (Matthew) Ephraim Benjamin Jade Zebulun Diamond Judah Gad Jasper Simeon Topaz Reuben Ruby (Luke) Man SOUTH Exodus 28:17-21 17 And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; Page 6 of 11 Pages

18 the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings. 21 And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes. Sardius/Reddish Brown Topaz/Yellow Green Emerald/Deep Green Turquoise/Deep Green Sapphire/Blue Diamond/Clear Jacinth/Yellow Orange Agate/Quartz Amethyst/Deep Purple Beryl/Silver like Aluminum Onyx/Black or White Jasper/Red Let s look at the ways that the Breastplate worn by the High Priest in the Old Testament, is applicable to Jesus being OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST 1. The Breastplate is for Judgment 2. The Breastplate is for A Memorial. 3. The Breastplate was to be Artistically Woven. 4. The Breastplate is Supported by Gold Chains : 5. The Breastplate is Never to be separated from the Ephod: 6. The Breastplate is Exactly Square with 4 Sides : 7. The 12 Stones are Precious and Valuable : 8. The 12 Stones are Attached to the Breastplate : 9. The Breast Plate is Bound to the Blue Robe 10. The Urim and Thummim are Behind the Breast Plate A Breastplate of Judgment: All your sins were Judged at the Cross. The Breast Plate is called A Memorial, it is to help us remember certain things. Notice where it says that the breastplate is worn: Over His Heart. We are to Remember what Jesus has done for us, what it cost Him. Jesus, our High Priest, has a Memorial in His own body of what it cost Him to die for us. Isaiah 52:14 14 ISAIAH SPEAKING OF JESUS SAID so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; Revelation 5:6 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain This Breast Plate is a Memorial for us of what it cost Jesus to forgive us. Artistically woven: Page 7 of 11 Pages

What I didn t tell you before, is that Woven into all 4 of these colors is a Gold Thread The Blue, Purple, Scarlet and White are all Woven Together with Gold Thread. Gold in the Bible. Represents God. All 4 of these colors are Woven Together with the Golden Thread of the fact that Jesus never stopped being God at any time. Jesus Righteousness, is the righteousness of God. Jesus royalty is the He is God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Jesus Sacrifice was sufficient to save every person ever born, because Jesus is God. Jesus Holiness came from the fact that He is God, separate from all sin, except when He was Made Sin for us. We are Woven or Knot Together because of what Jesus has done. Ephesians 4:15-16 15 but, speaking the truth in love, that we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-- Jesus-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. The Breastplate has the names of the people that the high priest is ministering for engraved on precious stone, placed directly over the high priests heart. In the new testament, you and I are also described as Living Stones. 1 Peter 2:3-5 3 if indeed you have tasted that the lord is gracious. 4 coming to him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by god and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to god through Jesus Christ. Each of the 12 stones that were inset in the breastplate were all Precious and Costly. The picture that the Holy Spirit is showing us here is that we are these Living Stones precious and costly in the sight of the lord, being placed over the heart of our high priest, Jesus, as He goes in there before the father he keeps us continually close to his heart. The breastplate is supported by chains that attach themselves to the shoulders of the high priest. Page 8 of 11 Pages

The entire breastplate was connected to the apron by golden chains. The chains of gold that hold everything together are attached to the shoulders of the high priest. The breastplate was to NEVER BE SEPARATED FROM THE APRON OF THE HIGH PRIEST wherever he went the breastplate went. The picture is that WE ARE THERE UPON THE BREASTPLATE OF OUR HIGH PRIEST JESUS AND NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIM Romans 8:38-39 38 for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of god which is in Christ Jesus our lord. The picture for us to see here is that we are the stones that are attached to the heart of our high priest Jesus shining out sparkling and glowing from him. The placement of the stones upon the breastplate there in full view means that we are completely acceptable to God when we are attached to Jesus. When the father looks at the Son, our High Priest he also see us near Jesus heart attached to him supported by the strength of his shoulders beautiful because of what Jesus has done for us. It also means that Jesus is presenting us to God perfect without flaw and beautiful. Jude 1:24 24 to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, The breastplate is exactly Square having 4 sides. The Colors of the Tabernacle, how they correspond to the 4 Gospels, and 12 Tribes NORTH Eagle (John) Blue Deity WEST Righteousness EAST Ox Lion (Mark) TABERNACLE (Matthew) Scarlet White Purple Servant Humanity Royalty/King Sacrifice Holiness Costly Sacrifice (Luke) Man SOUTH The Urim and Thummim are right behind the High Priests Breastplate. Page 9 of 11 Pages

30 "and you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron s heart when he goes in before the lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the lord continually. It is believed that there were 2 stones kept in a pouch directly behind the breastplate and directly over the heart of the high priest. The 2 stones were used to determine the will of God in the lives of the people. The High Priest would go before the Lord to determine the Lords will in a particular situation. The high priest would then reach his hand into the pouch and take out a stone the light stone meant Yes and the dark stone meant No. What is important here Is that all of the decisions concerning the will of God in the life of the person were taken from where? CLOSE TO THE HEART OF THE HIGH PRIEST. Notice who was to determine the will THE HIGH PRIEST. We are to take all of our needs to our high priest Jesus directly. We are to seek to make all of our decisions as close to the heart of our high priest Jesus as possible. In the breastplate we see: 1. We are placed as precious stones directly over the heart of the lord. 2. We are attached to his strong shoulders by the gold chains that represent his presence in our life. 3. Jesus As being a mighty high priest He exercises his power to uphold us in all things. 4. It is Jesus deep unchanging love that binds us near his heart and presents us as perfect before the father. 5. We need to remember the judgment that took place against our high priest that allowed us to go free. 6. We should never forget that Jesus is our high priest FOREVER even now he is there interceding before the father for us. 7. It is because of his strength and his power that we are sustained. We should seek to rely upon Jesus as High Priest and not ourselves. Hebrews 7:25 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Jesus is able to save us to the Uttermost because right now Jesus is there in heaven as my high priest interceding for me. 1 John 2:1 1 my little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Page 10 of 11 Pages

John says I am writing these things to you to teach you so that you would not sin but just in case you do remember you have an Advocate. The same word used for advocate is also used for A Defense Attorney guess who your defense attorney is Jesus the creator the one who died for you! Even when we blow it, if we come to Jesus and I confess our sin to him, He removes it, forgives it, and then acts as our attorney to defend me there in heaven. Page 11 of 11 Pages