JESUS –OUR GREAT
ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST!
Hebrews 4: 14 –5: 10
Heb 4: 14
“Since we have a great High Priest…”
*Since Jesus is greater than the angels
*Since Jesus is greater than Moses
*Since He gave us Sabbath Rest –eternal life
*Since He ascended into heaven (Acts 1: 7-9)
Acts 1: 7-9, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the
Father has set by His authority. But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in
Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (Gaza), and to the ends of the
earth. After He (Jesus) said this, He was taken up before their
very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.”
◦V14 “Since we have a great High Priest, Jesus the Son
of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” –
because of Who Jesus is…hold firmly to the faith we
profess!
◦V15 “We have a High Priest Who has been tempted
in everyway, just as we are, yet He did not sin.”
◦V16 “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.”
◦Approach God’s throne of grace = undeserved
love, a love that cannot be earned/work to get
◦Approach … with confidence = no fear, boldly
◦So that we may receive mercy = deserved
punishment withheld…
◦Find grace to help us in our time of need = His
love and care gives us strength when we are in
need
The role of the High Priest:
Hebrews 5: 1 - 10
◦“No one takes this honor on himself – he receives it when
called by God –Aaron was called (Numbers 3:10+)
◦V5 “In the same way, God, the Father, appointed Jesus to be
the High Priest…”
◦V6 “God said, ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of
Melchizedek’.”
Let’s meet Melchizedek:
◦Introduced to Melchizedek in Gen 14
◦5 Kingdoms (Sodom & Gomorrah+)
fought against a 4 Kingdom alliance
◦Lot and his family are taken captive
◦Abram is told, he gathers 318 of his best
fighters and defeats the 4 Kingdom
alliance and frees Lot and family
◦V18 Abram meets Melchizedek
◦Melchizedek = King of Righteousness and
Peace, the King of Salem, he is the Priest
of El’elyon (the Supreme God), no record
of his birth/death, serves Abram bread
and wine… Abram tithes to him…
Was Melchizedek a Theophany
(God in human form –before
Jesus came)?
No
But he was a fore type(a picture
in OT that shows what is to come
in the NT)
How Abram acted towards
Melchizedek –showed Abram
submitted to Melchizedek
How did Jesus fulfill the role of High Priest?
◦Appointed to represent people to God and God to people
◦Offered gifts and sacrifices for our sins
◦Jesus often offered prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears
◦His prayers were heard because of His reverent submission/obedience
◦He learned obedience through what He suffered
◦Once this obedience was made ‘complete’, He became the source of
eternal salvation for all who obey Him
◦Jesus is greater than the angels,
greater than Moses, and gives
us Sabbath-rest (eternal life)
◦We can approach God’s
throne of grace with confidence
◦We can receive mercy and
help in our need
◦Jesus is our eternal High Priest –
in the order of Melchizedek!
Jesus, our Prophet, Priest & King!
