In the first two chapters we saw the ways that God specially communicated with the Hebrews. It was through the angels, the miracles, the prophets and the Law. Up to this point, we have looked at Jesus being greater than the angels (after all, He is the Son of God) and superseding the prophets (God used to speak through prophets, but now He speaks to us through His Son).

Maybe it's not obvious, but when God gave the Law, He established a two-way communication path. God speaks to the Hebrews through the Ten Commandments –complete with the prescribed punishments. And God hears them through the high priest after ceremonially fulfilling those Ten Commandments. The high priest is the one who is appointed by God to represent the people –to plead directly to Him for mercy.

The first Levitical high priest was Aaron, Moses' brother. Moses told God that he wasn't very good at speaking with people so Aaron took on the priestly role –Exodus chapter 4.

For the high priest to present himself before God, he had to strictly adhere to a rigorous formal process. There was a special place for him to meet with God (the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle); special clothing had to be worn (robes, turban, vest); and special orderly steps had to be followed (washings and sacrifices). Only then could he approach God in order to represent the people. Furthermore, the people had to follow special processes related to how they washed and what they touched before they could be represented as prescribed by the Levitical Law.

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. (Hebrews 5:1-3)

In His loving-kindness, God appointed a man to represent the people. His purpose was simple. He knows that people can't relate to an unseen being. They don't know if He is truly listening to them or cares about their troubles. However, the people can trust a man that they can see. They can see that he is walking the same place that they are –suffering their same problems –encountering their same hunger, thirst, quarrels, disappointments and frustrations. For people to feel fairly represented to God, they need a person that knows them and hears their cries.

The law –the Ten Commandments– was to show every man his own guilt and unworthiness to approach God. The blood sacrifice –the death penalty– was required for breaking even the least of the commandments. Since no person is guiltless –not even the high priest– a sacrifice had to be presented before meeting with God. Because He is merciful, God allowed for a substitute's death. Otherwise, no one could ever approach Him; they would have to pay for their own sins –with their own death– before going into His presence. Obviously, a dead high priest can't represent anyone.

According to the Levitical Law, the priests had to be Levites; specifically, they had to be from Aaron's clan. No one else was allowed to serve in that role. This is illustrated in Numbers chapter 16 where a man named Korah –a Levite, but not from Aaron's clan– and two others challenged Aaron's position. They and 250 other "upstanding" community and council members decided they were better qualified to determine God's standard for holiness. They declared themselves to be priests; but the rebellion was short-lived. God opened the earth and it swallowed the leaders of the rebellion along with their families and their belongings. Then He sent fire down on the 250 "false priests" leaving only their smoldering remains and their bronze censers of incense. The Lord had the "real" priests hammer the censers into an overlay for the altar as a constant reminder that the only authorized Levitical priests came from Aaron's clan.

And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"; just as He says also in another passage, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." (Hebrews 5:4-6)

This passage in Hebrews 5 contains a quote from Psalm 110. When we read it in Hebrews chapter one, the emphasis is on the fact that Jesus is God's Son. Here, the emphasis is on Jesus being a High Priest from a completely different family heritage –that of Melchizedek. This man Melchizedek is most interesting. There are only three places in the Bible that refer to him. The first is in Genesis 14 when Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils to him after a battle. The next is in Psalm 110 where God says that Jesus will be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The third place is found in Hebrews; it's here that we're going to see an allegory developed in chapters 5 through 7, showing Jesus to be like Melchizedek.

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10)

There are three qualifications to be the high priest. He had to be a man who has personally experienced the troubles of the people that he represents in order for the people to trust him; he had to be chosen by God; and he had to have the right heritage.

As to the first qualification, Jesus' life is poignantly described in Isaiah 53 (Isaiah 53:1-6, Isaiah 53:7-12). He is vulnerable, not attractive, despised, rejected, disrespected and unjustly mistreated –He is familiar with our sorrows. Most of our troubles are related to how people treat us and no one has more firsthand experiences of mans' cruelty than Jesus. That passage from Psalm 110 states that He meets the second qualification; He was chosen by God to fill the role of high priest. In the next few chapters, we will read how he meets the third qualification: having the "right heritage".

The Hebrews had all of that rich history connecting them with God: "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises." (Romans 9:4). Jesus, the Son of God, was greater than the angels –was greater than Moses and the prophets –came with greater miracles –fulfilled all of the requirements of the Law with His death. He came to restore the Hebrews to their rightful position as God's priests (ambassadors) to the world.

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14)

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, a great teacher in Israel –but without the Spirit. He compared the effects of the Spirit to those of the wind. Neither of these great forces can be seen yet they must be reckoned with (John 3:1-15). Jesus went on to tell him that only One person has actually been to heaven and knows what's there –everyone else must live by faith in what God tells them. The people did not believe God's word –that Jesus was coming and, in fact, did come. The Messiah was in their midst.

The Hebrews refused to believe the basic principles contained in the Scriptures. Their relationship with the Holy God had to be by faith –like David –like Abraham. The Law plainly shows them their unrighteousness, unholiness and the death that they deserve. Yet, they prefer the traditions of the Law over Jesus –even though God's word explains that the Law only provides a ceremonial and temporary righteousness. Complete and permanent righteousness comes by accepting the Lamb of God as the only sufficient sacrifice. The Passover Lamb –Jesus– was to be fully ingested and not merely sampled. The Law is only spiritual milk for infants; Jesus is solid food for the mature. The Hebrews were to quit getting their nourishment from the Law and turn to Jesus, the Son of God, for life.

Next: Hebrews Chapter Six - The Basics Must Be Solidly Understood