Qualifications For The Priesthood

Hebrews 5:1–10
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During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier’s fiancee had climbed into the belfry … More

Sacrifice

This chapter stresses both Christ’s divine appointment and His humility. One of the first things a Jew might have asked a Christian during the time of the early Church was, “How are your sins going to be pardoned when you have no one offering sacrifices and interceding for you?” Under the Old Covenant men could not come directly into God’s presence. God appointed certain men called priests, who were mediators and could bring men into His presence. Aaron is an example of this priesthood. The three basic qualifications for a Jewish high priest were.

Appointed by men - (v. 1)
Sympathetic with men (v. 2)
Sacrificing for men (v. 3)

Christians can rely on the fact that we do have a High Priest. Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins when He died on the cross, and that one sacrifice takes care of all sins ever committed. He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, having neither beginning of days or end of life. We now see how Jesus met all the qualifications that a Jewish high priest had to have. He was:

Appointed by God (vv 4-6)
Sympathetic with men (vv 7-8)
Sacrificed Himself for men (vv. 9-10)

Application

If Jesus, God’s only Son, had not become my living sacrifice I would still be dead in my sins.

Hebrews 5:1-10 (English Standard Version)

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