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Letter to the Hebrews

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 11, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 43.

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Letter to the Hebrews.

HEBREWS 5:1-7.

(Lesson 8, November 23, 1889.)
1. WHAT office does Jesus now fill?
2. For whom do the priests from among men serve?
3. In, or concerning what, do they officiate?—Ib. Compare chap. 2:17.
4. What did they offer? Heb. 5:1.
5. For what are sacrifices offered?—Ib.
6. What is sin?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.
7. Why is sacrifice necessary?
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.
8. Why can such a priest have compassion?
"Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity." Heb. 5:2.
9. For whom must such a priest offer for sins?
"And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins." Verse 3.
10. Do men take the office of priest upon themselves?
"And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Verse 4.
11. Did Aaron take the office upon himself? or was he called of God?
"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons." Ex. 28:1.
"And the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood." Num. 18:1.
12. Did Christ take the priesthood upon himself?
"So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee." Heb. 5:5.
13. Did he seek to glorify himself?—Ib. See John 8:50.
14. Of what order was his priesthood?
"As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." Heb. 5:6. See note.
15. How long was his priesthood to endure?—Ib. See note.
16. What did he offer up in the days of his flesh?
"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared." Verse 7.
17. What is meant by the days of his flesh?
Ans.—The day of his earthly or mortal life. Compare chap. 2:14 and 1 Cor. 15:50, 53.
18. In what manner did he pray? Heb. 5:7.
19. Where did he pray in such agony? Matt. 26:36, 38, 39; Luke 22:44.20. To whom did he pray? Heb. 5:7.
21. Was his prayer heard?—Ib. Instead of, "in that he feared" (verse 7), the margin reads, "for his piety." The Revised Version is probably the best, "heard for his godly fear."
22. How was his prayer heard? See Ps. 21:1-7.
23. In what prophecy did Jesus express his confidence that his Father would give him life? Ps. 16:8-11. Compare Acts 2:29-32.
24. How did the Father hear and answer his prayer?
"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." Rom. 6:9.
25. For whom did he die?

NOTES.

THE apostle has now reached the fourth and final main point in his argument. After the heavenly beings, the angels, the Hebrews revered the name of Moses, their leader from the land of Egypt, through whom they received their rites, their ecclesiastical and civil laws; and Joshua, the successor of Moses, who led them into the promised land, and who so victoriously conquered their enemies; and Aaron, who was consecrated a priest to make atonement for them, and whose sons alone held that office. In this letter One is introduced of whom the Scriptures speak as receiving the worship of angels, who made all things, and who bears the name of God. He is above Moses, who was but a servant, and a witness of the things relating to Christ; above Joshua, who gave them but a temporary rest, the true rest remaining to be given by the Messiah; he is above Aaron; he is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The difference of the two orders occupies specially the attention of the writer. The priesthood whereby comes the atonement being the central point of their whole system, is the main point of consideration in this letter.
"THOU art a priest forever." So it was said to Aaron and his sons: "Their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." Ex. 40:15; Num. 25:13. This signified that the priesthood should be theirs as long as it endured. So also of Christ; he should be priest continually and without interruption or succession. For this is often the meaning of everlasting and forever. See Ex. 21:6. The servant was to serve his master forever, which meant as long as he lived. The priesthood of Christ will remain with him only, but it will also end. His priestly robes will be changed for "the garments of vengeance." Isa. 59:17. Then he will come to take vengeance on his foes. 2 Thess. 1:6-8. The day of salvation, during which he pleads for man, will be succeeded by the great day of the wrath of the Lamb. Rev. 6:16, 17.