These small group Bible studies of Hebrews contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Hebrews 5:1-6 Bible Study Guide With Discussion Questions
Hebrews 5:1-6 Bible Study Video
Hebrews 5:1-6 Podcast
Outline
I. The role of the high priest (1-3)
II. The appointing of the high priest (4)
III. Christ was appointed as high priest by God Himself (5-6)
I. The role of the high priest (1-3)
Discussion Questions
• What is the role of high priest?
• What does he do on “behalf of men?”
• In what field does he work?(in things pertaining to God)
• What is his role towards people? How do a high priest’s weaknesses affect his attitude towards those who cares for? What application is there here for us? How should remembering our own sins and failures affect how we treat others?
• What is the chief role of the high priest? (verse 3)
Cross References
Exodus 28, Numbers 16 – Chapters describe the consecration process of the priests.
Leviticus 16, Exodus 30:10 – The high priest offers atonement for the people’s sins.
Matthew 7:3-5 – “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. On behalf of men – Verses 1-4 tell us about the role of high priest, with the point to later show that Jesus fulfilled these roles as our perfect high priest. Here we see that a high priest fulfills his duties on behalf of men. His position of leadership is used not for himself. It is not used for his own benefit, career, or finances. His job is truly “for the people.” Some leaders wrongly use their positions for their own gain. Jesus warned His disciples to beware of such “wolves in sheep’s clothes”.
2. In things pertaining to God – The job of the high priest was a spiritual position. I am reminded that when Jesus came to earth, at various times the people sought to make Him king. He didn’t let them. Pilate asked if Jesus was a king (John 18:33-36) and Jesus responded that His kingdom was not of this world. In the same way, a high priest doesn’t focus on the affairs of the world. His focus is on the things of God. His focus is on helping God’s people grow closer to God. There is a subtle reminder here that believers are first and foremost citizens of and ambassadors of heaven.
1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Colossians 3:2 – Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
John gives the warning in 1 John 2:15-17 about not loving the world and Paul expresses the same thought in Colossians 3:2. Sometimes ministers may have a hard time balancing these two thoughts. Like in many areas of life it is easy to go too far to one side or too far to the other. Some may pay a lot of attention to the earthly needs of man such as visiting orphanages, dispensing medical help, feeding the poor, helping the sick, etc. All of these things are worthy goals. Yet some Christians who focus on them may forget about the “things of God.”
Helping the physical issues should be a means to an end of helping these people spiritually.
There is a Chinese proverb: “Give a man a fish and he will not be hungry for a day. Teach him how to fish and he can feed a village.” You could add a line on to that: “Teach him about God who made the fish and he need never be hungry (spiritually) again.” So this is the job of the high priest. He teaches people the things of God so that their relationship to God can be restored.
3. Offer gifts and sacrifices for sins – One of the ways that a high priest looks out for the spiritual needs of his “flock” is by offering sacrifices for sins. These sacrifices were offered daily on behalf of the people. Also, the high priest would once a year go into the Holy of Holies to offer atonement for all the people. One of the high priest’s main roles was to represent the people before God as a mediator to bridge the gap that separated sinful humans from a holy God by offering sacrifices for sins.
The gifts may refer to the grain offerings which the people voluntarily offered before God to show their gratitude or it could just be a synonym for “sacrifice.” Throughout the Old Testament we see this principle that sacrifice must be made for sins. Later in Hebrews 9:22 we learn that “without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
4. Verse 2 – In this verse the author emphasizes that the high priest was one of the people. He was not set apart as being above the people. He came from among them and he was like them. His own weaknesses and sins and mistakes enabled him to treat others with mercy. A priest would often listen to people tell their sins. After all, they may say why they brought an animal and why they needed to offer a sacrifice. He surely would hear about many terrible things that people had done. One part of him would be tempted to pridefully look down on the people he was serving and harshly rebuke the people for their sins.
Yet a good high priest should remember that he too is a sinner with plenty of his own mistakes. Remembering that would help him to show mercy and forgiveness to others who had erred. The principle is like the parable of the slave who was forgiven the huge debt by the master and then went and refused to forgive.
Application: Remember that we are all sinners. We are not better than any of the people we share the gospel with. We are not better than any of the people we go to church with. We are not better than our unsaved or saved family members. All of us are sinners and all of us need God’s forgiveness.
Next time you are tempted to climb up onto your throne and judge others take a moment and look at yourself. Looking at our weaknesses will help us to be more patient and kinder to others when they make mistakes. This is the lesson Jesus sought to teach the mob who was going to stone the lady caught in adultery. “He among you who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.”
At the same time this is a reminder that we have no excuse for not obeying God and serving Him in the area He has called us to. We might be tempted to make the excuse that we are sinful and therefore not fit to serve God. But even the high priests were sinful and they were still appointed.
5. As for the people, as for himself – The high priest was obligated to offer sacrifices not only for others, but also for himself. A Christian leader must never neglect his own walk with God in order to help others. We will not be able to serve others as effectively unless we have a thriving relationship with God ourselves. Every sermon we preach should be a sermon preached to ourselves first and foremost. Every prayer offered for wisdom, forgiveness, and grace for others should be offered for ourselves as we need the wisdom, forgiveness, and grace as much or more than they do. Every principle we ask others to follow, we should do ourselves. This attitude will not only sharpen our walk with the Lord and help us grow, but it will also humble us and help us become both more dependent on God and more merciful to others.
II. The appointing of the high priest (4)
Discussion Questions
• How does one get chosen to be high priest (1,4)?
• Can a person decide he wants to be high priest, then prepare, study, pass some tests, get the top score, and become high priest?
• Are there any examples in the Bible of priests that men chose/appointed, but whom God rejected?
Cross References
1 Samuel 2:34-35 – And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. The high priest is appointed by God – This principle is seen in verse 4 and in the first part of verse 1. We see that this is first of all an honor. It is not a burden to have to serve others, but a privilege to be able to. We also see that a high priest could not enter this vocation of his own volition. It is not just another career path like becoming a farmer, a soldier, or a banker. A person could not apply for the position and seek it out. One could only be chosen for it, just like God chose Aaron as the first high priest and then chose his line to carry on the priesthood. How might it affect a high priest to know they had been chosen by God? How might this knowledge affect the people whom he served?
A. Knowing God chose him, would challenge the high priest to do his best. He should take his position seriously. He should adopt a humble attitude knowing it was not his own ability. He should depend on God who appointed him. He should do it for God and not for man.
B. For people, it put God’s stamp of approval on the high priest. That meant that they should respect and obey him. He was the rightful authority in spiritual matters whom even the king couldn’t usurp (2 Chronicles 26:19).
2. What applications are there for us today?
A. Do not consider going into the “ministry” like any other career path. For a lot of church history, it was just a career. We should do whatever God calls us to and do it with all of our hearts. If we do go into the ministry take it seriously and serve God faithfully for His glory.
B. Be respectful and obedient to the God-appointed leaders of the church. Obey in such a way that can give them joy and not grief.
III. Christ was appointed as high priest by God Himself (5-6)
Discussion Questions
• What is the relationship between verse 5 and the passage in verses 1-4?
• Why is it important that Christ did not choose this role for Himself?
• Is there any application we can get from here about our own service or ministry?
• Who appointed Christ to this role?
• Remembering the theme of Hebrews (Christ’s supremacy), how does God appointing Christ as high priest fit into this overarching theme?
• Who is Melchizedek?
• What does it mean that Christ is a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek?
• What were the key characteristics of Melchizedek’s priesthood?
Cross References
Psalm 2:7, 110:4 – Verses 5-6 are quoted from these Old Testament verses.
Genesis 14:18-20 – Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. In verse 5 we start to see the connection that the author is making. He first establishes the roles and character of a high priest and then will go forward to prove that Jesus met the appropriate criteria, therefore proving that Jesus is superior since He is the perfect high priest.
2. We see in verse 5 that Jesus was also appointed to become high priest (Luke 9:35). God the Father appointed Jesus to this. Throughout the gospels we see over and over again that Jesus came to obey the will of His Father (John 4:34), which required great humility and submission. And it was no easy task.
3. According to the order of Melchizedek – The writer goes into greater detail about this in chapter 7. Read cross reference. For now, it is enough to note that Melchizedek was a priest-king. Aaron’s line were priests, but they were not kings. David’s line were kings, but not priests. The two roles were distinct and separate. Melchizedek performed both roles in his office of priest-king. This is the type of high priest that Jesus was, reaffirming once again His supremacy.
Application: List one specific area you need to change in order to obey what God has taught us in this passage.
Comment: What are your thoughts on this Hebrews 5:1-6 Bible study? We would love to hear your insights below in the comment section.
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