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. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
Commentary
Vs. 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."
Under the Old Covenant the high priest was taken from among men so that He could present on behalf of the individual, as well as the nation of Israel, all their gifts, and the commanded sacrifices for sins according to the law. It was a solemn duty that was assigned by God to the sons (i.e. male descendants) of Aaron. They alone then were to officiate at the altar of God (Numbers 3:10).
Vs. 2 "He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness."
And so though they were chosen, set apart, and sanctified by God for such a solemn duty, they were still just men, subject to all of the weakness (gr. ἀσθένεια) that is the human condition. Therefore they could have compassion on those who were ignorant and going astray, because they themselves being daily required to keep all the righteous requirements of the law, (that is all the moral and priestly and ceremonially aspects of it), they knew first hand both their own inability, as well those they were officiating for, inabilities too live it all out without fault or transgression before God, all that the law required of them all. (For a brief N.T. exposition of this dilemma, and the Apostle Peters rebuking those Jews who wanted to return the believing Gentiles back to the Law, see Acts 15:6-11, vs. 10). Therefore the high priest could have compassion (gr. συνπαθεο) on those who were ignorant and going astray, since he himself was also subject to weakness. That is the high priest knew that he himself was also capable of sin and error, and thus *he was to be tender in his dealings and moderate in his judgment; being neither to severe or tolerant; with those who are ignorant and going astray.
Vs. 3 "Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins."
Therefore these high priests though being taken from the sons of Aaron were still just mortal men, they were no in way infallible, they also needed to have atonement made for their sins before they could make atonement and intercession for anyone else (Lev. 9:7; 16:6). The contrast then between these fallible high priests and their temporarily officiating as high priests before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ and His Work and Intercession now as our High Priest is a theme then that runs throughout the Book of Hebrews (consider Hebrews 7:26-28).
Vs. 4 "And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was."
Because of the exclusive nature of God's priesthood being taken from the sons of Aaron, the position of being a high priest before God is an honor that no man can take to himself (consider Num. 16, vs. 38-40 and what happened to Korah and those with him there). Now this is being reiterate here so as to elevate the Lord Jesus Christ and His Priesthood. Since if the priesthood of God that came exclusively through the sons of Aaron was off limits to anyone but them, as the Scripture warns, "let them be put to death" (Num. 18:7), how much more then is the Lord Jesus Christ's High Priesthood Sanctified and Set apart for Him alone as the Sole Intercessor for us all who believe in Him. Therefore no man can take this honor to himself, that is of now acting as God's high priest, and thus acting as a Mediator between God and man, therefore all who do so now risk coming under the judgment of God in seeking to usurp the Authority of Christ by taking that solemn position unto themselves, for that honor, privilege, and duty belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone (1 Tim 2:5-6).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 15:6–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
Vs. 2 *Gleaned from: Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Heb 5:2). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Under the Old Covenant the high priest was taken from among men so that He could present on behalf of the individual, as well as the nation of Israel, all their gifts, and the commanded sacrifices for sins according to the law. It was a solemn duty that was assigned by God to the sons (i.e. male descendants) of Aaron. They alone then were to officiate at the altar of God (Numbers 3:10).
Vs. 2 "He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness."
And so though they were chosen, set apart, and sanctified by God for such a solemn duty, they were still just men, subject to all of the weakness (gr. ἀσθένεια) that is the human condition. Therefore they could have compassion on those who were ignorant and going astray, because they themselves being daily required to keep all the righteous requirements of the law, (that is all the moral and priestly and ceremonially aspects of it), they knew first hand both their own inability, as well those they were officiating for, inabilities too live it all out without fault or transgression before God, all that the law required of them all. (For a brief N.T. exposition of this dilemma, and the Apostle Peters rebuking those Jews who wanted to return the believing Gentiles back to the Law, see Acts 15:6-11, vs. 10). Therefore the high priest could have compassion (gr. συνπαθεο) on those who were ignorant and going astray, since he himself was also subject to weakness. That is the high priest knew that he himself was also capable of sin and error, and thus *he was to be tender in his dealings and moderate in his judgment; being neither to severe or tolerant; with those who are ignorant and going astray.
Vs. 3 "Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins."
Therefore these high priests though being taken from the sons of Aaron were still just mortal men, they were no in way infallible, they also needed to have atonement made for their sins before they could make atonement and intercession for anyone else (Lev. 9:7; 16:6). The contrast then between these fallible high priests and their temporarily officiating as high priests before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ and His Work and Intercession now as our High Priest is a theme then that runs throughout the Book of Hebrews (consider Hebrews 7:26-28).
Vs. 4 "And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was."
Because of the exclusive nature of God's priesthood being taken from the sons of Aaron, the position of being a high priest before God is an honor that no man can take to himself (consider Num. 16, vs. 38-40 and what happened to Korah and those with him there). Now this is being reiterate here so as to elevate the Lord Jesus Christ and His Priesthood. Since if the priesthood of God that came exclusively through the sons of Aaron was off limits to anyone but them, as the Scripture warns, "let them be put to death" (Num. 18:7), how much more then is the Lord Jesus Christ's High Priesthood Sanctified and Set apart for Him alone as the Sole Intercessor for us all who believe in Him. Therefore no man can take this honor to himself, that is of now acting as God's high priest, and thus acting as a Mediator between God and man, therefore all who do so now risk coming under the judgment of God in seeking to usurp the Authority of Christ by taking that solemn position unto themselves, for that honor, privilege, and duty belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone (1 Tim 2:5-6).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 15:6–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
Vs. 2 *Gleaned from: Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Heb 5:2). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
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