Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Letter to the Hebrews
An Intimate Review
Pt 6
By Lawrence DeMetrius

The High Priest of Yahweh

In [Heb 5:1-3] the scribe gives a detailed description of Jesus Christ utilizing the purpose and office of ancient Hebrew priests writing,

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifice for sins:
[Heb 5:1]

The purpose and office of the High Priest of Yahweh is very specific. In that Yahweh decided to select mortal men from among mortal men, this passage gives credence to why HE required Christ to experience mortality, as a prerequisite to becoming the perfected Savior and High Priest He became for all mortals. It certainly gives credence to the idea of why Yahweh only accepts a certain quality of sacrifice for sins. The sons of Aaron are the first examples of what can happen when one offers strange offerings to Yahweh for sins. [Lev 10:1-3] The scribe expounds upon those chosen for High Priesthood writing,

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. And by reason thereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
[Heb 5:2, 3]

This statement gives credence to the idea of putting no mortal on a pedestal, even mortal priests, as they too are vulnerable to sin. No mortal is fit to serve Yahweh in any capacity when they possess a self-righteous and judgmental heart. All mortals be they redeemed or not fall short of the glory due to Yahweh, simply because of the sin flawed nature they inherited per Adam’s transgression. [Gen 2, 3; Rm 3:9-23; 5:12-15; 6:19; 7:14-25; 8:5-8] This shortcoming remains intact until one transitions to immortality. [Phil 3:19, 20a] Only Christ makes the difference in the lives of those who entrust their holistic wellbeing to Yahweh through Him. [Heb 7:25]
As long as one abides in Christ the power of sin will not reign in their lives. [Jn 15:5; II Cor 12:9; I Jn 3:8-10; Rev 3:8] As long as one remains in Christ, Yahweh will continue the good work HE has begun in them, which is conforming them to the image of Christ. [Rm 6:18; 8:29; I Cor 9:24-27] True High Priests of Yahweh are able to effectively serve in this office because they realistically acknowledge their personal shortcoming and need for HIS mercy. The scribe then clarifies that no one, not even Jesus Christ calls themselves to the Office of a High Priest. Yahweh ALONE decides who will serve HIM in this capacity. The scribe writes,

And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also, Christ glorified not Himself to be made a High Priest; but HE that said unto Him, “Thou are MY Son, today have I begotten Thee.” As HE saith also in another place, “Thou are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
[Heb 5:4-6]

Although the scribe makes honorable mention of Israel’s initial priests, Aaron and The Tribe of Levi, it was a Canaanite King of Jebu by the name of Melchizedek who is the first to be officially known as a High Priest of Yahweh. [Gen 14:18-20, 22; Exo 4:14; 28:1-5; Mt 26:36-46, 53; Gal 2:16, 20; Jude vs 3] The scribe writes,

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; Though He were a SON, yet LEARNED He OBEDIENCE by the things which He SUFFERED; And being MADE PERFECT, He BECAME the AUTHOR of ETERNAL SALVATION unto all them that obey Him; Called of God an High Priest after the ORDER of Melchizedek. (not of Aaron the Levite)
[Heb 5:7-10]

*son Gk #5207 huios (hwee-os) it is literally a son

*learned Gk #3129 manthano (man-than-o) it means to learn and understand

*obedience Gk #5218 hupakoe (hoop-ak-o-ay) it is attentive hearkening, compliance and submission

*suffered Gk #3958 pascho (pas-kho) it means to experience a painful sensation and impression

*made perfect Gk #5048 teleioo (tel-i-o-o) it means to complete, accomplish, consecrate, finish, fulfill and consummate in character

*became Gk #1096 ginomai (ghin-om-ahee) it means to cause to be, generate, become and come into being

*author Gk #159 aitios (ah-ee-tee-os) it is a causative that acts as a cause or produces and one who causes

*eternal Gk #166 aionios (ahee-o-nee-os) it means perpetual, which means continuing and enduring forever, everlasting, lasting an indefinitely long time, ceaseless and continued without intermission or interruption

*salvation Gk #4991 soteria (so-tay-ree-ah) it is rescue, physical and moral safety, health and deliverance

*obey Gk #5219 hupakouo (hoop-ak-oo-o) it means to hear under as a subordinate, listen attentively, heed and conform to command and authority

*order Gk #5010 taxis (tax-is) it is an arrangement and fixed succession of rank, character and official dignity in time

Given Who Christ was in heaven prior to experiencing mortality, He had to learn how to become subject to divine rule as a divine Entity Who acquired mortal passions and sensations. [Jn 8:23, 24] This gives credence to the idea of the magnitude of love He has for Yahweh and commitment to fulfilling HIS will. It also gives credence to the idea of the great love Yahweh has for mortals, especially those who genuinely desire to be reconciled to divine worship. [Exo 20:3; Eccl 12:13; St Jn 3:16; II Cor 5:18, 19] Christ became the Chief of High Priests after He was PERFECTED by Yahweh to be the AUTHOR of eternal salvation for mortals who are reconciled to divine worship. [Heb 5:8, 9; 4:11] The scribe then addresses Hebrews who converted to the Christian Faith but were struggling with relinquishing the legalistic rituals of Judaism. The root of this struggle was due to their lack of understanding fully Who Christ was.
The scribe writes,

Of Whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are DULL of HEARING.
[Heb 5:11]

*dull Gk #3576 nothros (no-thros) it means sluggish, lazy and stupid

*hearing Gk #189 akoe (ak-o-ay) it is the act and sense of hearing and the thing heard

Per this statement, this Hebrew audience was not fully ready to engage the necessary intel that would strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ. In [Heb 5:12-14] the scribe admonishes them to be actively involved with obtaining more insight by scrutinizing information given by Yahweh through HIS scribes and prophets from Enoch to Christ and His Original Apostles. [Eno 37; Ps 1:1, 2; Lk 24:44, 45; Jn 5:39, 45-47; 8:31, 32; II Tim 2:15; 3:18] However, per the ancient prophets, the intel they already had was enough to teach others about Christ. This gives credence to the idea that efficient knowledge was not the real problem. It was their conviction about the legitimacy of that knowledge they lacked. This UNBELIEF had to be effectively addressed. Thus, the scribe writes to these Hebrew Christians,

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the FIRST PRINCIPLES of the ORACLES of God; and are become such as have need of MILK, and not STRONG MEAT.
[Heb 5:12]

This statement is in regard to the adequate knowledge possessed by this audience concerning Jesus Christ. They had no lack of ancient texts that plainly taught of Him. [Lk 24: 44, 45] Given this fact, their UNBELIEF mirrored that of their ancestors which suffered death in The Wilderness of Zin.

*first Gk #746 arche (ar-khay) it is a commencement and chief in applications of order, time, place and rank

*principles Gk #4747 stoicheion (stoy-khi-on) it is something orderly in arrangement, a fundamental and initial serial constituent and proposition

*oracles Gk # 3051 logion (log-ee-on) it is an utterance of God

The scribe writes,

For every one that useth MILK is UNSKILLFUL in the WORD of RIGHTEOUSNESS: for he is a BABE. But STRONG MEAT belongeth to them that are of FULL AGE, even those who by reason of use have their SENSES EXERCISED to DISCERN both GOOD and EVIL.
[Heb 5:13, 14]

*milk Gk #1051 gala (gal-ah) it is an opaque white or bluish-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals, serving for the nourishment of their young

*unskillful Gk #552 apeiros (api-ros) it means inexperienced and ignorant

*word Gk #3056 logos (log-os) it is…
• something said including the thought
• a topic or subject of discourse
• reasoning of the mental faculty
• motive or computation, which is a making sense of a thing
• the Divine Expression such as Christ the Word

*righteousness Gk #1343 dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo-nay) it is equity of character and act and specifically Christian justification

*babe Gk #3516 nepios (nay-pee-os) it is an infant, minor, simple-minded person, one who is unable to verbally communicate and an immature Christian

This gives credence to the idea that BABES in Christ should be learning and not trying to teach as do Elders or more mature Christians.

*strong Gk #4731 stereos (ster-eh-os) it means stiff, solid, stable, steadfast and sure
*meat Gk #5160 trophe (trof-ay) it is nourishment, rations, wages and food

*full age Gl #5046 teleois (tel-i-os) it means perfect, completeness and complete in various applications of labor, growth or mental and moral character

*senses Gk #145 aistheterion (ahee-sthay-tay-ree-on) it is an organ of perception and judgment

*exercised Gk #1128 gumnazo (goom-nad-zo) it means to practice naked in the games and train

*discern Gk #1253 diakrisis (dee-ak-ree-sis) it is judicial estimation

*good Gk #2570 kalos (kal-os) it means beautiful, good, valuable and virtuous for use and appearance

*evil Gk #2556 kakos (kak-os) it means intrinsically worthless

In [Heb 6:10] the scribe addresses those who serve Yahweh’s Elect effectively writing,

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward HIS name, in that ye have MINISTERED to the SAINTS, and do MINISTER.
[Heb 6:10]

*minister/ed Gk #1247 diakoneo (dee-ak-on-eh-o) it means to be an attendant, wait upon menially as a host, friend or teacher and to act as a Christian deacon

In [Heb 6:11, 12] the scribe expresses that one should affirm their devotion to Christ and chiefly prioritize His doctrine in their heart. Because there were still many Judaizers and anti-Christs striving to re-capture feeble-minded Christians, it was necessary to re-emphasize focus on the unadulterated doctrine of Jesus Christ. [Gal 6:9; I Pet 5:8, 9; I Jn 2:18-27; II Jn vs 7-11]



The scribe writes,

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not SLOTHFUL, but followers of them who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the promises.
[Heb 6:11, 12]

*slothful Gk #3576 nothros (no-thros) it means sluggish, lazy and stupid

*faith Gk #4102 pistis (pis-tis) it is…
• persuasion and credence
• moral conviction of a religious truth, the truthfulness of Yahweh and a religious teacher
• reliance upon Christ for salvation and constancy in such profession
• the system of religious truth based in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

*patience Gk #3115 makrothumia (mak-roth-oo-mee-ah) it is longanimity, forbearance, fortitude and longsuffering

In [Heb 6:1, 13-18] the scribe notes that Yahweh has obligated HIMSELF to the spiritual perfect HIS Elect. [Jn 6:44, 45, 65; Heb 10:15, 16] In fact, this is the good work HE begins in each of them and is determined to finish. [Jer 29:11; Rm 8:29, 30; Phil 1:6] THE LORD expects them to wholeheartedly trust in HIM at every phase of their maturity. [I Pet 4:19] HE will never place more upon them then they can bear. [Rm 8:28; I Cor 10:13] Having this truth in mind they are to maintain FAITH in HIS WORD. [Heb 6:13-18; Num 23:19; Ps 37:1-7; Pro 8:17-21] The scribe admonishes them writing,

Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment, and this we will do if God permit.
[Heb 6:1-3]

This statement indicates that only Yahweh approves one’s graduation to the next stage of spiritual perfection.
The aforementioned PRINCIPLES are what BABES in Christ must first learn and understand prior to advancing to higher levels of divine insight. UNBELIEF in Yahweh’s WORD is the one element that will surely hinder one’s excellence in spiritual growth. [Heb 12:1] The scribe then reiterates the consequence of losing confidence in GOD’S WORD writing,

For it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once ENLIGHTENED, and have TASTED of the heavenly GIFT and were made PARTAKERS of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good WORD of God, and the POWERS of the WORLD to come, if they shall FALL AWAY, to RENEW them again unto REPENTANCE, seeing they CRUCIFY to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an OPEN SHAME.
[Heb 6:4-6]

*impossible Gk #102 adunatos (ad-oo-nat-os) it means unable, weak, could not do, not possible and impotent

*enlightened Gk #5461 photizo (fo-tid-zo) it means to shed rays, shine, brighten up, illuminate, make to see, bring and give light

*tasted Gk #1089 geuomai (ghyoo-om-ahee) it means to taste, eat or experience either good or ill

*gift Gk #1431 dorea (do-reh-a) it is a gratuity

*partakers Gk #3353 metochos (met-okh-os) it is a participant, sharer and associate

*word Gk #4487 rhema (hray-mah) it is an utterance, matter or topic, narration, command, dispute or saying

*power Gk #1411 dunamis (doo-nam-is) it is force, miraculous power and a miracle itself

*world Gk #165 aion (ahee-ohn) it is perpetuity, present, future, a Messianic period and the world including its inhabitants

*fall away Gk #3895 parapipto (par-ap-ip-to) it means to fall aside or commit apostasy, which is a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party or cause

*renew Gk #340 anakainizo (an-ak-ahee-nid-zo) it means to restore

*repentance Gk #3341 metanoia (met-an-oy-ah) it is compunction for guilt and reformation and reversal of one’s decision

• compunction is…
o remorse or feeling of uneasiness and anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain
o any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action

*crucify Gk #388 anastauroo (an-as-tow-ro-o) it means to re-crucify

*open shame Gk #3856 paradeigmatizo (par-ad-igue-mat-id-zo) it means to show alongside the public, expose to infamy and make a public example

In [Heb 6:7, 8, 18b-20; 10:27-31] the ministry of the Holy Ghost is to influence one’s heart enough to recognize Christ as The Divine Light, which no other can do. Thus, one who renounces allegiance to Jesus Christ, after genuinely receiving revelation of His Divinity from the Holy Ghost, has committed a most unfortunate offense. If the influence of the Holy Ghost is not sufficient enough to convict one of their APOSTACY then no one can. The scribe describes the fate of apostates writing,

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
<regarding the loyal the scribe writes>…we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
[Heb 6:7, 8, 18b-20]

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