HEBREWS 9

     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 5:1 "For every high priest
taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to
God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:"

     We know that the high priest in the temple was the only one to go
into the most holy place. He was not to go in unworthily, and he must
carry the blood with him into the most holy place. This blood was not
only for the people, but for his sins, as well. The high priest was
the representative of the people to God. God spoke to the people
through the Urim and Thumin which was behind the breastplate worn by
the high priest. This was symbolic of God speaking to the people
through the heart of the high priest. The people had no direct contact
with God at this time, but were represented by the high priest.

     Hebrews 5:2 "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."

     The high priest was not a perfect man, but was chosen of God to
represent the people. Aaron was a good example of the weakness of the
high priests. He was the first high priest. Even though he was chosen
of God for this job, and had actually heard the voice of God, he still
built the golden calf which God had forbidden. Moses was gone to the
top of the mountain to receive the 10 commandments from God. Aaron,
and the people decided that he was not coming back, and they did this
terrible thing. We find that Aaron's 2 oldest sons were no better
than he was. God killed them for their sin. Leviticus 10:1 "And Nadab
and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put
fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before
the LORD, which he commanded them not." Numbers 3:4 "And Nadab and
Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the
LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and
Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of
Aaron their father." Most people believe this strange fire, that they
offered was that they were drunk when they made the offering. This is
not in the Bible, however. Some of the other sons of high priests
sinned and were killed, but we have already covered that here.  It is
enough to say these were not perfect men.

     Hebrews 5:3 "And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so
also for himself, to offer for sins."

     This Scripture should cover this fact that even the high priest
was many times guilty of sin. Leviticus 4:3 "If the priest that is
anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring
for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish
unto the LORD for a sin offering."

     Hebrews 5:4 "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he
that is called of God, as [was] Aaron."

     Ministry, for the priest, or for preachers today, should not be
undertaken as a profession. Those who minister must be called of God.
To go into the ministry without God calling you to that job, would be
a sin. II Chronicles 26:18 "And they withstood Uzziah the king, and
said unto him, [It appertaineth] not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn
incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are
consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast
trespassed; neither [shall it be] for thine honour from the LORD God."
This Old Testament Scripture shows, that not even a king could take it
upon himself to minister in the temple, God is the only one who can
ordain someone to minister. I will give one New Testament Scripture on
this and then go on. John 3:27 "John answered and said, A man can
receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."  We see that
even the Christians must be called to be God's children.
I Thessalonians 2:12 "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath
called you unto his kingdom and glory."

     Hebrews 5:5 "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."

     There are so many Scriptures that pertain to this, that it is
difficult to choose just one or two. Jesus Christ [for His stay on
earth] was the Son of God. In heaven, He is the Word of God. We know
that the birth of Jesus was not a natural birth. Jesus was born of a
virgin. The Holy Spirit hovered over Mary and she conceived of the
Spirit of God. It was planned by the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost from
the foundation of the world for Jesus to die for the sin of the
people. In fact, not only did Jesus not glorify Himself, but all 3 of
the Godhead glorified Him. The people were the Word's creation, so it
was only proper for Him to save them. John 1:1 "In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:2
"The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 "All things were
made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth." We can easily see from this that not only
are we all, the creation of the Word of God, but that Word took on the
form of flesh and dwelt among us as Jesus Christ, The Son of God. He
took the name of Jesus, for His stay on the earth, because Jesus means
Saviour.

     Hebrews 5:6 "As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

     This Melchisedec is the same as Melchizedek in the Old Testament.
The name is different, because the Old and New Testaments are
translated from different languages. This Melchizedek has been a
mystery for thousands of years. I will give my own personal opinion
and give Scriptures to back it up, but you make up your own mind who
you believe He is. Genesis 14:18 "And Melchizedek king of Salem
brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high
God." This Melchizedek appeared to only one man that we know of, and
that man was Abraham; the father of all the believers. For us to be a
spiritual son or daughter of Abraham, he would have to believe the
same thing we do. If this Melchizedec is an appearance of our Lord,
then he would believe the same as believers do. This Melchizedek
appeared approximately 2000 years after the birth of Adam. Jesus the
Christ Child appears approximately 2000 years after this happening.
The King of kings and Lord of lords will appear about 2000 years after
the birth of Jesus. Is this all coincidence, or is God telling us
something? Abraham paid tithes to this High Priest. This High Priest
served Abraham the same elements that Jesus served the disciples at
the Last Supper {bread and wine}. I do not believe that it would be
impossible for the Word of God to take on another name and appear to
Abraham. Melchizedek means King of Righteousness. When Abraham paid
tithes to Him it recognized His divine Priesthood. In these next few
lessons, we will come to know this High Priest very well and I believe
you will recognize Him as the one we call Jesus. There are actually 99
names that speak of Jesus in the Bible including this one.

     Some of the things I want you to consider as we study in the next
few lessons on this High Priest, is that this priesthood was forever.
He will be spoken of as THE High Priest. He had no mother or father,
He is THE King of Peace. He is spoken of as having no beginning and no
end. At the very least He is a type, but look carefully. There can be
only one THE High Priest, or one THE King of Peace. THE KING OF PEACE
IS JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Pray about this.































                             Questions 9

1.  What are the 2 things the high priest does for the people in verse
    1?
2.  Who was the only person allowed to go into the most holy place in
    the temple?
3.  What must he carry with him when he goes into the most holy place?
4.  Through what, did God speak to the people?
5.  Was the high priest a perfect man?
6.  Who is a vivid description of how bad the high priest does sin
    sometimes?
7.  What did He do?
8.  What did Aaron's sons do, that was displeasing to God?
9.  How did God punish them?
10. Was the high priest above the law?
11. What was the high priest's sin offering?
12. How did they become high priest?
13. Should our ministers today preach for the purpose of making a
    living?
14. Where do we find the Scripture that tells us it was wrong for a
    king to do the duties of priest in the temple?
15. Quote John chapter 3 verse 27.
16. Who actually glorified Jesus as High Priest?
17. Why was it important for Jesus to be the one to save us?
18. When was the plan made to save us by the way of the cross?
19. How do we know that the Word is Jesus?
20. What does the name Jesus mean?
21. Jesus was a priest after the order of whom?
22. What is the author's opinion of who this is?
23. Who was the only man that Melchizedek appeared to?
24. Approximately how many years after Adam's birth did He appear?
25. What two elements did He feed Abraham?
26. What did Abraham do that showed Melchizedek's priesthood?
27. What does Melchizedek mean?
28. Why was it important for Abraham to see Him and believe He
    existed?
29. How many different names in the Bible indicate Jesus?
30. Who is THE KING OF PEACE?