Hebrews 5:4 - Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.
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What does "Hebrews 5:4" mean?
Hebrews 5:4, "Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was," is a crucial verse in the context of understanding the high priesthood. Let's break down what it means:
"Nobody takes this honor on himself...": This is the central point. It emphasizes that being a high priest is not something someone can simply decide to do or claim for themselves. It's not a position that can be attained through ambition or self-appointment.
"...but he is called by God...": The legitimate path to the high priesthood is through a divine calling. God is the one who chooses and appoints someone to this office.
"...just like Aaron was.": This provides a key Old Testament example. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was specifically chosen and appointed by God to be the first high priest of Israel (Exodus 28). The verse references this well-known precedent to illustrate the principle of divine calling.
In essence, the verse means that the role of high priest is a unique and sacred honor that comes from God's initiative, not from human ambition or self-promotion. It's a calling, not a career path.
Why is this important in Hebrews?
The author of Hebrews is arguing for the superiority of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest. To do this, he lays out the qualifications for a legitimate high priest:
1. Appointed by God: The verse emphasizes that a high priest must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
2. Able to sympathize with human weakness: Previous verses (Hebrews 5:1-3) state that a high priest must be able to empathize with human frailty.
By establishing these criteria, the author prepares the reader to understand how Jesus fulfills and surpasses the Old Testament priesthood. Jesus didn't appoint himself; he was appointed by God (Hebrews 5:5-6).
Therefore, the purpose of Hebrews 5:4 is to establish that a high priest is only legitimate if they have been divinely called to the role. In the broader context of Hebrews, this sets the stage for arguing that Jesus, divinely appointed by God the Father, is the true and ultimate High Priest.
Hebrews 5:4 - Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.
What does "Hebrews 5:4" mean?
Hebrews 5:4, "Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was," is a crucial verse in the context of understanding the high priesthood. Let's break down what it means:
"Nobody takes this honor on himself...": This is the central point. It emphasizes that being a high priest is not something someone can simply decide to do or claim for themselves. It's not a position that can be attained through ambition or self-appointment.
"...but he is called by God...": The legitimate path to the high priesthood is through a divine calling. God is the one who chooses and appoints someone to this office.
"...just like Aaron was.": This provides a key Old Testament example. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was specifically chosen and appointed by God to be the first high priest of Israel (Exodus 28). The verse references this well-known precedent to illustrate the principle of divine calling.
In essence, the verse means that the role of high priest is a unique and sacred honor that comes from God's initiative, not from human ambition or self-promotion. It's a calling, not a career path.
Why is this important in Hebrews?
The author of Hebrews is arguing for the superiority of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest. To do this, he lays out the qualifications for a legitimate high priest:
1. Appointed by God: The verse emphasizes that a high priest must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
2. Able to sympathize with human weakness: Previous verses (Hebrews 5:1-3) state that a high priest must be able to empathize with human frailty.
By establishing these criteria, the author prepares the reader to understand how Jesus fulfills and surpasses the Old Testament priesthood. Jesus didn't appoint himself; he was appointed by God (Hebrews 5:5-6).
Therefore, the purpose of Hebrews 5:4 is to establish that a high priest is only legitimate if they have been divinely called to the role. In the broader context of Hebrews, this sets the stage for arguing that Jesus, divinely appointed by God the Father, is the true and ultimate High Priest.