Title: The Good High Priest
Question: Who can tell me what this is? (phone book slide)
Does anyone still use it?
Can anyone think of a SINGLE way the phone book is superior to the smart phone or computer? (I can only think of one: a network outage)
The Good High Priest
Vs.
The Great High Priest
Those of you who have been following closely on our journey through Hebrews know that time and time again I have continually referred to the main theme of Hebrews as being the author convincing his Jewish audience that Jesus is The Great High Priest.
Conversely, as he begins chapter 5, the author talks about the honor that was bestowed upon the good high priest, the human high priest, in Israel’s History.
The author does this over the first four verses of chapter five, which we are looking at today, in order to later compare the Good High Priest to Christ, The GREAT High Priest, so that the audience will begin to understand the superiority, not just of Christ the Person, but, more importantly, the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice, being so complete, that the Hebrew sacrificial system is no longer needed.
Read/Pray:
5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is clothed in weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins for himself, as well as for the people. 4 And no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just as Aaron also was.
Appointed on behalf of the people.
How is this similar to Christ?
Disimilar?
Offers both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
I think we have a good handle on the sacrifice idea, but what about gifts? What are the gifts that the human High Priest brings, and how is that similar/dissimilar to Christ?
PB’s answer: Both do something amazing: grant access to God and his forgiveness, but how is Jesus’s gift of access so much greater than the O.T. High Priests?
Able to deal gently with the ignorant and misguided.
Why is this crucial for a spiritual leader?
What happens when we, as ambassadors to Christ, DON’T do this?
How can social media turn Christian Ambassadors into monsters?
(You will only grow when your desire to learn outweighs your desire to win.)
Clothed in weakness.
In what ways were both the human high priest and Christ “clothed” in weakness?
What is the key difference between these weaknesses?
Therefore, must offer sacrifice for his OWN sins, as well as the sins of Israel.
Is there ANY way in which this also applies to Christ?
Does not take honor for himself, but honor is received when he is chosen.
A reminder that to lead is to serve.
Pray/QA