Page 47 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

A scholar and theologian, A. T. Robertson makes the theological connection between the premeditated
sins of the OT for which there was no forgiveness through sacrifice and the warnings of 3:12 and 10:26.
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His statement is "for deliberate apostasy (3:12; 10:26) no pardon is offered"
Paul believed God had mercy on him because of his ignorance of the truth and not his intentional
rejection of the gospel.

5:3 "and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins as for the people, so also for himself"
This refers to the procedures for the high priest atoning for himself is found in Lev. 9:7-17 (initial
consecration; 16:6-19 Day of Atonement; and Heb. 9:7. We learn from Heb. 7:26,27 that Jesus never had
to make an offering for His own sin, but He does understand our need (cf. 4:15).

5:4 "no one takes the honor to himself" God appointed a certain tribe (Levi) and a certain family
(Aaron's, cf. Exod.28:1; 1 Chr. 23:13) to act as priests (cf. Num. 16:40; 18:7; 1 Sam. 12:9-14; 2 Chr.
16:18).

5:5 " So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest,” See John 8:50,54.

5:6 "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER

ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK" This is a quote from Ps. 110:4. This Psalm is unique in the fact
that it specifically gives the Messiah both a priestly and a kingly office (i.e., the two olive trees, cf. Zech.
4:3,11-14; and i.e., Joshua as a branch, cf. 6:13). We learn from the Dead Sea Scrolls that the Essenes
were expecting two Messiahs, one royal and one priestly. Jesus fulfilled both offices. As a matter of fact,
He fulfills all three OT anointed offices: prophet, priest and king (cf. 1:1-3).

"Melchizedek" The full development of this theme is in chapter 7. The imagery is taken from Gen.
14:17-20, where he is a Canaanite priest/king of Salem (Jebus, Jerusalem).

5:7 "In the days of His flesh" This refers to Jesus, not Melchizedek. It does not mean to imply that Jesus
is not still human. Jesus became Incarnate and He is still incarnate.

"to the One able to save Him from death" Was Jesus afraid of death? Death is a natural human fear and
Jesus was fully human. Supremely I think He was afraid of the loss of fellowship with the Father (cf.
Mark 15:34, quoting Psalm 22). He knew who He was and why He came (cf. Mark 10:45; Matt. 16:21).

All three persons of the Trinity were involved in Jesus' resurrection, not just the Father (cf. the Spirit,
Rom. 8:11; and Jesus, John 2:19-22; 10:17-18). Usually the New Testament asserts that it was the Father
who raised Jesus (cf. Acts 2:24; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,33,34,37; 17:31; Rom. 6:4,9; 10:9; 1 Cor.
6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 1:10.

This phrase may reflect several OT texts that assert that YHWH will save the Messiah from physical
death (cf. Ps. 33:19; 56:13 or Hos. 13:14) or resurrect Him from death (cf. Ps. 16:10; 49:15; 86:13).

NASB" He was heard because of His piety"
NKJV" and was heard because of His godly fear"

42 Robertson A. T., Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. 5, (p. 368).
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