1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
From the beginning- after the fall, when the Seed of the woman was promised who would crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15; Rom 16:20), God wanted everyone to believe- to eagerly await His coming, and to be a priest of God in sharing the good news. In the early days, it was the male head of each household who led out in making burnt sacrifices. But after the Exodus, God made Aaron's sons (the descendants of Levi) the priests... and Aaron the high priest. "All the males of the family of Aaron were equal, and brethren, as to the priesthood; but there was one who was the head and prince of the rest, whose office was not distinct from theirs, but in the discharge of it, and preparation for it there were many things peculiarly appropriated unto him. And these things are distinctly appointed and enumerated in several places. The whole office was firstly vested in him, the remainder of the priests being as it were his present assistants, and a nursery for a future succession. The whole nature of the type was preserved in him alone." (Owen Exposition)
For each generation, Yahweh God chose the successive high priest from Aaron's sons. Here are the qualifications. "Every high priest.... The reasoning is suggested by the case of the Aaronic priesthood, and refers in detail to that; but the words are applicable to all priesthoods i.e. to all who act for others in things pertaining to God." (Schaff's Commentary)
It was very important firstly for the high priest to be “taken from among men”— Leviticus 21:10, “‘taken mee'echaayw (heb 251), from his brethren’; i. e. he shall be of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of Aaron.” (Adam Clarke) "An angel would be no fitting priest to act on behalf of men, for he possesses not their nature, is not subject to their temptations, and has no experimental acquaintance with their sufferings; therefore is he unsuited to act on their behalf: therefore is he incapable of having ‘compassion’ upon them, for the motive-spring of all real intercession is heart-felt sympathy. Thus, the primary qualification of a priest is that he must be personally related to, possess the same nature as, those for whose welfare he interposes.” (A. W. Pink)
The high priest is "appointed for men in things pertaining to God,… “(1a) "that is, he was to act and negotiate, for the good of sinful men, in things wherein they have to do more immediately with Almighty God; particularly to offer gifts, oblations, and sacrifices for their sins." (Burkitt's Notes) "Thus were the Hebrews, from the beginning, shown the awful truth of Isaiah 59:2—‘Your iniquities have separated between you and your God.’… But in the person of their high priest, through his representing of them before God, Israel might approach within the sacred enclosure." (Pink)
The priests offered the daily sacrifice, but the high priest offered the annual, which was a type of that blessed future, Day of Atonement for God's people at the consummation. The high priest offered both "gifts and sacrifices for sin" (1b) on the annual Day of Atonement. “The separate mention of gifts and sacrifices is a distinction between the un-bloody offerings and the bloody ones, both classes of which were offered on the Day of Atonement. Barmby called attention to this distinction in these words, ‘Though bloodshedding was essential for atonement (Heb 9:22), the unbloody [Hebrew: minchah] formed part of the ceremony of expiation [penance], and this notably on the Day of Atonement.’” (Coffman)
“He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray" (2a)- not on those in a state of willful disobedience- since he himself is also beset by weakness. (2b) "There was no person in the Hebrew economy that was so revered as their high priest. He became more corrupt in the political times preceding Christ; but the name high priest, as interpreted by the whole history of the Hebrew people, was one that was not only reverenced, but loved. He was ordained, it is said, to have compassion; he was their highest ideal of purity; he stood in the grandeur of a supposed inspiration; he represented God, or, still better, he represented the people to God; he was their advocate; he stood in their place officially, and in every way helped to bring men up without any oppression; he was a minister of mercy to them." (H. W. Beecher)
“Because of this"- his human nature and qualification of spiritual compassion- "he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.” (3) "Before Aaron could present an offering on behalf of Israel, he must first bring a sacrifice for his own sins that he might be purified and stand accepted before Jehovah… Thus, personal fitness was an essential qualification of the priest: in the case of the Levitical, a ceremonial fitness; with Christ, a personal and inherent.” (A. W. Pink)
“And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.” (4) But these qualification alone are not sufficient to invest any one with that office; "for it is required that he be called thereunto. Aaron was called of God immediately, and in an extraordinary way. He was called by the command of God given to Moses, and entrusted to him for execution; he was actually separated and consecrated unto the office of high priest, and this was accomplished by special sacrifices made by another for him; and all these things were necessary unto Aaron, because God, in his person, erected a new order of priesthood.” (Owen Exposition)
“That which makes an office lawful is the personal call of God… But in these days, how many there are who run without being ‘sent!’ Men have taken it upon themselves to be evangelists, pastors, teachers, who have received no call from God to such a work. The absence of His call is evidenced by the absence of the qualifying gift. When God calls, He always equips…. Returning to the call of Aaron, we may observe that a time came when his official authority was challenged (Num. 16:2). The manner in which God vindicated His servant is worthy of our most thoughtful attention. The record of it is found in Numbers 17: Aaron’s rod budded and brought forth almonds.” (A. W. Pink)
"The rod was then kept there as a continual sign to Israel that the Lord had established the authority of Moses and Aaron (Nm 17:1-11; cf. Heb 9:4)... The almond... blooms very early in the year; its Hebrew name has its roots in 'watch for.' To the Jews it was a welcome harbinger of spring (Jer 1:11)." (Tyndale Bible dictionary)-- of new life or the resurrection.
5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” [Psalm 2:7] 6 as He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; [Psalm 110:7] 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Just as Aaron did not glorify himself to be made high priest, neither did Christ. (5a) “but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ [Psa. 2:7] "Jesus was not ambitious; that He did not obtrude Himself into the great office of high priest; He did not enter upon its duties without being regularly called to it.” (Albert Barnes)
"At the Baptism there came to Jesus the voice which said: 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you'" (Psalm 2:7) This was a call to the throne of that Kingdom made not by hands, when it was prophesied that Yahweh would "speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 'Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.' I will declare the decree: Yahweh has said to Me, 'You are My Son; today I have begotten You.' Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession." (Psalm 2:5–8)
“as He also says in another place: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’;” [Psa. 110:4] (6) Paul wants to show "that He who made Him King (for the reference in Psalms 2:7 is to his appointment as King) made Him also a High Priest….for in the first verse [quoted] He is spoken of as a king, and then in Psalm 110:4 His priesthood is mentioned.” (John Calvin)
"You cannot accept Christ as your high priest,’ the Pharisees said, ‘because, since he does not belong to the posterity of Aaron, he is disqualified from being any kind of priest whatever!’… Speaking of the dramatic problem-solving exegesis set forth in this instance by the inspired author of Hebrews, Bruce said, ‘Our author takes up verse 4 of the Psalm and applies it to Jesus in a way which, as far as we can tell, was unprecedented in the early church.’” (A. W. Pink)
"who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear." (7) “These words not only intimate the intensity of the sufferings endured by our Priest, but also the extent to which He felt them. The God-man was no stoic, unmoved by the fearful experiences through which He passed. No, He suffered acutely.” (A. W. Pink) Moreover, in His suffering Christ asked for the cup to be removed and the prayer was heard “because of His godly fear;” but the cup was not removed. “Christ's prayer was truly heard…, although the specific petition to remove the cup was not granted, it is declared that angels came and strengthened him (Luke 22:43); and here is seen God's method of answering prayers in some instances, in which he sends not a lighter load but a stronger heart to bear it.” (Burton Coffman)
“though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” (8) “He came to know by experience what a hard matter it was thus to obey God…. Gideon, by threshing the men of Succoth, taught them, 8:7-16. God’s chastisements are our advertisements…” (John Trapp)
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
"And having been perfected…" (9a) or having been declared perfect by the Father upon His ascension. This declaration was made on the annual day that the sheaf of the first fruits was waived by the high priest in the tabernacle to be accepted on our behalf- the behalf of all Israelites indeed. His sufferings were thus not the result of His own sins. “Jesus felt all our infirmities and sorrows, He bore our sicknesses, He sighed over the misery that is in the world through sin culminating in death,” (Adolph Saphir) Thus lived and declared- a perfect life, "He became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (9b) Note also that God’s salvation is “bestowed on none but those who obey Christ.” (Matthew Henry)
“If you love Me; keep My Commandments.”
Moreover holy brethren, Jesus was ”called [named] by God as High Priest 'according (after) to the order of Melchizedek'," (10) ”Here and here alone could they see their true position as worshippers in the true tabernacle, the heavenly sanctuary. Here and here alone was consolation for them in the trial which they felt on account of their excision from the temple and the earthly service in Jerusalem…” (Adolph Saphir)
”Both Aaron and Melchizedek were needed to foreshadow His sacerdotal office. The reason for this was that the priestly work of Christ would be performed in two distinct stages: one in the days of His humiliation, the other during the time of His exaltation. Aaron prefigured the former, Melchizedek the latter. In perfect keeping with this fact Christ is not said to be a high priest ‘after the order of Melchizedek’ in Hebrews 2:17; 3:1, or 4:15. It was not until after the apostle has shown in Hebrews 5:5-9 that Christ fulfilled that which Aaron typified (Heb. 5:1-4), that He is ‘saluted of God’ as an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” (A. W. Pink)
Paul had more to say about this Melchizedek ".... of whom we have many things to say and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing." (11) “A digression until he comes to the beginning of the seventh chapter in which he partly holds the Hebrews in the diligent consideration of those things which he has said, and partly prepares them for the understanding of those things of which he will speak.” (Geneva Study Bible) Now , they are dull of hearing— “slow paced and heavy handed, τωθροι, from νε and θεω, curro. Our minds are like narrow mouthed vessels. Our Saviour therefore spake as the people could hear, Mark 4:33, like as Jacob drave as the little ones could go.” (John Trapp) Thus did the apostle Paul here.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
"Their spiritual state was that of babes as still under the ordinances and requirements of the law. They clung to Judaism and could not fully break loose from the shadow things of their system. They were dull of hearing and while they ought to have been teachers (having believed in Christ) there was need of teaching them again what are the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God." (Gaebelein)
All Christians ought to first learn and then teach, but some needed to re-learn the basics- the ABCs of the faith. These had "come to need milk and not solid food [strong meat]." (12b) "Milk is a metaphor by which many authors, both sacred and profane, express the first principles of religion and science; and they apply sucking to learning; and every student in his novitiate, or commencement of his studies, was likened to an infant that derives all its nourishment from the breast of its mother, not being able to digest any other kind of food. On the contrary, those who had well learned all the first principles of religion and science, and knew how to apply them, were considered as adults who were capable of receiving..., solid food; i.e. the more difficult and sublime doctrines." (Adam Clarke)
The milk here- the first principles of the oracles of God- is namely, "that the Old Testament economy was strictly a typical one, that its ordinances and ceremonies foreshadowed the person and work of God’s Son, who was to come here and make an atonement for the sins of His people... The ‘strong meat’ had reference to the offices of Christ, especially His priesthood, as suited to our needs and affections. ‘Milk’ is appropriate for babes, but Christians ought to grow and become strong in the Lord….to ‘be not children in understanding.’” (A. W. Pink)
Some babes in Christ are "unskilled in the Word of righteousness" (13b), "that Word that teaches [God's] righteousness." (Geneva Study Bible) "that is, in the more solid doctrine of the gospel concerning Christ, who is our righteousness." (John Trapp) Moreover, this needed Word is "the doctrine of our being treated as righteous, in consequence of our faith in Christ." (Thomas Coke) These babes in Christ are "inexperienced, having comparatively little knowledge of the character and work of Christ, and the way of salvation through him as revealed in the Scriptures." (Justin Edwards)
"The deeper mysteries of religion belong to those that are of a higher class in the school of Christ, who have learned the ‘first principles’ and well improved them…” (Matthew Henry)
These needed to have "their senses exercised by daily study of God's Word to discern both good and evil" (14b), "that is, in doctrine. [Thus] they will appreciate and understand what is true; they will reject what is false." (Albert Barnes)
"The strong meat comes after Hebrews 7:1, and consists in starting from Melchizedek, and evolving the whole priesthood of Christ as based in the Old Testament, and superstructured in the New." (Whedon's Commentary) The crux of the matter is that there is only one way. Judaism as a religion is finished after the destruction of the temple. It does not matter if the teaching is popular, it only matters that it is consistent with the Word. Neither the rabbi, nor Mohammad, nor Buddha can help you. God's righteousness is only by faith in Jesus- the High Priest of our confession. If you reject Him, you will die in your sins.
"The Lord has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.' (Psalm 110:4)
“And will not repent. The meaning of this phrase is, that the priesthood of Christ is not like that of Aaron, which was after a time to expire, and is now actually with all the ceremonial law abolished, but a priesthood never to be altered or changed.” (Daniel Featley) The sacrifice of God is the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.
"What doctrine doth the Scripture afford more comfortable to a drooping soul than this, that God hath sworn His Son a priest forever, to sanctify our persons, and purge our sins, and tender all our petitions to His Father? What sin is so heinous, for which such a priest cannot satisfy by the oblation of Himself? what cause so desperate, in which such our Advocate if He will plead, may not prevail? We may be sure God will not be hard to be intreated of us, who himself hath appointed us such an Intercessor, to whom He can deny nothing; and to that end hath appointed Him to sit at His right hand to make intercession for us.” (Abraham Wright)