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Attention is focused on Jesus being superior in His priesthood to that of the Aaronic, all of which qualifies Him to save to the uttermost.
Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, ..." (KJV)
Aaron passed into the Holy of Holies once a year (Leviticus 16:15-17 ). Christ ascended, His work of atonement accomplished (Acts 1:9-11 ). He passed through the heavens to the eternal glory itself. He is present in the throne as both Priest and King, preceding His redeemed kingdom of priests unto God (Revelation 1:6 ). As our great High Priest is supreme in His Person, "Jesus the Son of God," we are to make this great confession with steadfastness, persevering in profession and practice, owning only Him as Lord, High Priest, for there can be no other. Without Him there is no Way, Truth or Life, and there is no access to the Father except through Him (John 14:6 ).
From human experience He understands us, and the glory that is His in the throne does not hinder His sympathy with us. As our vicarious Saviour He fulfilled the prophecy through Isaiah:
(Also Isaiah 53:4; 1 Peter 2:24 ).
As the tempted one He experienced every kind of temptation a person can have, yet was without sin. The difference about His temptations was that He never yielded to them, and He was not led into sin by them. Our High Priest is able and willing to help us in time of need,
God's throne of majesty is awesome - God's throne of judgment frightening to sinners. The presence of Jesus Christ in the throne makes the throne of God a throne of grace to believers. To our sympathetic High Priest we can come at any time and all the time, with complete outspokenness and we will be met with mercy and grace right on time.
By contrast the establishment of Christ's High Priesthood is shown to be superior to that of the Aaronic priesthood. The Old Testament high priest first offered a sacrifice for his own sin, before that of the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:1-3; Leviticus 16 ). Knowing his own frailty the Old Testament high priest was to regard sin as serious, but deal kindly with the sinner.
"Compassion" - 'metriopathein', to be moderate in passion, i.e. gentle (to treat indulgently), have compassion." Strongs Exhaustive Concordance
We are to deal kindly with one another in the ministry of restoration (Galatians 6:1 ). There is a difference made between unintentional sin (Leviticus 4; Numbers 15:27-29 ), and wilful rebellion (Numbers 15:30-31 ). Those caught or pounced upon by sin are in need of skilful and tender repair.
The Old Testament high priest had to be selected from among men (Hebrews 5:1 ). Also he had to be called by God (Hebrews 5:4 ), just as Aaron was. The point is made to show that Jesus Christ the Son was appointed of the Father (Hebrews 5:5 ), and according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6 ). Two Old Testament passages are quoted that clearly demonstrate the right of the Son to minister in heaven and his right to serve as a High Priest on earth (Psalm 2:7; 110:4 ). The reason why the High Priesthood of Jesus is established by being traced back to Melchizedek is dealt with in chapter seven. What is important here is to see that Jesus is appointed of God the Father as our great High Priest. He is superior in every way to that of Aaron's office. As the source of our salvation Jesus our High Priest suffered for us.
"The principal reference here is to Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane --- Jesus did not shrink from physical suffering and death, but from the indescribable agony of taking mankind's sin on Himself (Matthew 27:46 ). Although He asked that the cup of suffering might be taken from Him, He did not waver in His determination to fulfill the Father's will (See Matthew 26:36-46 ). "He was heard." His prayer was granted by the Father, who saved Him from death - through resurrection." NIV Study Bible
As the Son of God He was ever obedient, but that obedience was experienced and therefore learned by every suffering step He took.
By His sufferings He became perfectly that which the divine purpose intended Him to become. Perfect Saviour - Sympathiser - Sovereign to all who obediently believe. He qualified to be our great High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:10 ). He is fully equipped through obedience to function in the position established by God the Father for Him, and so save us completely.
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTIONWhy is your great High Priest able to feel and suffer with you (Hebrews 4:15 )? Have you proved Him to be your ready Helper (Hebrews 4:16 )? Can you relate how He has come to your aid in your time of need?
What were the general requirements of an Old Testament high priest (Hebrews 5:1-4 )? In the requirement to deal gently, as the word compassion implies, do you see pictured the New Testament ministry of restoration (Galatians 6:1 )? Are you among the spiritual whom the Lord could use?
What point is made in Hebrews 5:4-5 to show that Jesus Christ the Son was appointed of the Father? According to what order of priesthood was Jesus Christ declared to be (Hebrews 5:6 )?
Would you hold to the view that the "vehement cries and tears" (Hebrews 5:7 NKJV) refer to Gethsemane, or were they part of the sufferings of the cross (Psalm 22:24 )? His prayer was heard - He was delivered out of death through resurrection. Does the resurrection furnish decisive proof of the acceptance of His sacrifice and certainty of His High Priesthood? Do you marvel at the perfect Son learning obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8 )? Should the testing of your obedience be a surprise to you? How essential was it to your eternal salvation that He became the obedient one (Hebrews 5:9 )? Should your obedience be modelled after that of Jesus who also suffered?