A Superior High Priest (5:11-9:14)

The desire among God’s people for a High Priest was not altogether wrong, after all it was a system that God Himself introduced, but a human High Priest would never be sufficient.  Primarily it is because he could never sacrifice himself for he was not without blemish.  Therefore a substitute would always be required.  And because a substitute is required, it had better be the best there is - and that is why we need a High Priest direct from God.  Really…what better sacrifice could there be than the one given direct from God, even God Himself?

The sacrifice had to be of God's work, not man's work (cf. Ex.20:22-26).  If, indeed, something did need Man's work, it had to be made exactly according to God's blueprint.  The blueprint for a sacrifice was a death - the death of something of God, not something of man.  This was shown to Adam right in the beginning: God sacrificed an animal that He had created, not anything that came from Adam’s making or growing.  The most perfect sacrifice then would have to be the most perfect thing of God, and that was His own Son.

This portion of the letter to the Hebrews (5:11-14) contains a strong rebuke.  If faith weakens it leads to unbelief, which leads on to disobedience, and finally to apostasy.  The writer wants them to be aware of the implications of Jesus' High Priesthood; it is fundamental to growth and maturity.

As High Priest Jesus became like us, in order to reveal a perfect 'us'.  He came to perfectly represent us to the Father, and the Father to us.  We don't have to come to our High Priest just for forgiveness; we come to Him for the whole disclosure of God - His compassion, mercy, truth, faithfulness, longsuffering, love and forgiveness. 

We have a High Priest… and it is not us!  Jesus came as our High Priest, not as someone who could fail, but one who is superior in everything.  He shows us a better way, with better things, built on a better foundation; a foundation that is unchangeable (6:17-20, cf. 7:21).  His ways are perfect forever, sealed with an oath, steadfast and true.  He provides a better salvation (6:9), and we have a better hope (7:19), secured for us in heaven (Col.1:5).  He offers a better covenant (7:22), guaranteed to save us to the uttermost (7:25).  He holds out a better promise (8:6); a promise that we will know Him (8:10-12), and that we will receive mercy and forgiveness (8:12).