January 8. Hebrews 5
Hebrews 5: Jesus Was Heard
Tom Benton January 7, 2021 New Testament 2021
HRC New Testament Reading Plan: daily NT reading devotional thoughts.
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
How confident are your prayers?
The Hebrews author began talking about Jesus as our great high priest in the previous chapter, Hebrews 4:14-16. He tells us that Jesus is a high priest who can empathize with us and gives us the confidence to approach God for the mercy and grace we need. In Chapter 5, he tells us more about Jesus as a high priest by comparing him to the high priests of the old covenant. The key point is that like the Levitical high priests, Jesus was called by God. He quotes Psalms 2 and 110 as examples of God calling Jesus as His Son and as a priest, in the order of a mysterious priest called Melchizedek. More on that later.
In Hebrews 5:7-10, the author contrasts the Levitical high priests and Jesus as our great high priest in terms of the sacrifice made. Hebrews 5:2-3 discuss how the high priests were subject to weakness and had to offer sacrifices for their own sins. Jesus was subject to suffering as he perfectly obeyed God out of reverent submission. Because he was perfect and “did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15), he was able to become a sacrifice for us, the source of our eternal salvation. Jesus’ sacrifice was superior to the sacrifices made by the high priests. He is our Great High Priest.
The author tells us that Jesus was heard by God, and in Chapter 4 he tells us that because of his sacrifice we can also approach God with confidence to be heard. We don’t need a high priest to make sacrifices and ask God for our forgiveness: we have access to God through Jesus. What an amazing privilege we have in prayer – pray confidently!
Questions:
Compare the high priests to Jesus. How were they similar? How are they different?
What does Hebrews 5:8 mean by “he learned obedience from what he suffered”? Find scriptures that show examples of this in Jesus’ life.
Jesus was ‘heard because of his reverent submission” (Hebrews 5:7) and he gives us the confidence to approach God for grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16). How can you deepen your prayer life? Take time today to pray and express to God your desire to be like Christ in your submission. your need for grace and mercy, and your appreciation of Jesus’ sacrifice as your Great High Priest.