(Heb 5:1) For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

My first note is how the High Priest is taken FROM among men...is ordained FOR men...IN things pertaining TO God...He is to offer "both gifts and Sacrifices for sins."

(Heb 5:2) Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

Next the High Priest is one who CAN HAVE compassion...
This is the only time this word in Greek is used in the NT. Meaning they can "deal gently with." Thayer gives us another insight, "of one who is not unduly disturbed by the errors, faults, sins of others, but bears them gently." Do we follow this example when dealing with brothers and sisters who are not as far on their journey as we?

This compassion is not given to the learned; it is compassion ON the ignorant. Thayer's, once again, gives us insight, "1) to be ignorant, not to know 2) not to understand, unknown 3) to err or sin through mistake, to be wrong"
And Strong's Exhaustive Concordance further clarifies, "not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - (be) ignorant (-ly), not know, not understand, unknown." 
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On Whom are we to deal with compassion? Everyone we have not personally discipled. Because they are ignorant in one area does that mean they are not learned in another? Perhaps in areas where we are lacking; they are strong. This is why each member of the Body is needed for the whole. (See 1 Cor 12:27)

Secondly, they have compassion on, "...them that are out of the way..."What is the meaning to be "out of the way?" Strong's helps us understand more. " to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way." This word is found 43 times in the NT. 
Thayer's definition is for those who have 1: "to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way" 2. "to go astray, wander, roam about..." So it is from those who man well and have caused others to stray or have led them in a wrong teaching. And those who have been led into the error; both are those who are "out of the way."

So it is our responsibility to gently lead them back into the right path...the right way so they can continue in the path of righteousness.
Have you ever been taught an incorrect truth...a doctrine that was slanted on way; generally due to denominational bias, to study and find that the teaching was in error? Or have you taught others that a particular doctrine was true/false only to have it more clearly explained so that your position on the matter changed?

Don't misunderstand me. There are certain foundational doctrines that allow for ZERO exceptions. These are Salvation Issues. They other issues have to deal mainly with a person's walk and are not salvation issues. In the first; hold fast. In the latter, allow room for understanding and clarity.

We have an High Priest; Messiah Yahushua, Who learned obedience by the things He suffered. (v 8). And yet we are also told in Hebrews 4:9 that He, "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."(Hebrews 4:15) Because of this we can, "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:16)

(Heb 5:3) And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

The earthly High Priests of necessity had to offer sacrifices for themselves (see Leviticus 4, Hebrews 7:27, and 9:7) the people, and the rulers. Numbers 15:22-29 and Leviticus 5:17-19 deal with the entire congregation, including the strangers who sojourned with them, and individuals which sinned in ignorance. When Messiah died in our stead; did He become our sacrifice for sins committed in ignorance? Yes. He offered Himself once for our sin...in its entirety...His sacrifice is complete and perfect. And we have no need any further to offer sacrifices for sin.

Instead we are told, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) Many today in the Hebraic community today are quick to run to Jeremiah 31:31-34 also quoted in Hebrews 10:16 but how does Hebrews 10:17-22 expand what is meant by Jeremiah 31:34?

Hebrews tells us that after He has written His laws/Torah/instructions into/upon our hearts and minds that He will no longer remember our sins and iniquities. In Hebrews 10:18 we read, "Now where remission ("freedom, pardon, deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, and remission" Strong's G859) of these is, there is no more offering for sin." That is worth repeating... "NOW where remission of these is, THERE IS NO MORE OFFERNG FOR SIN"

This is why we have the "boldness to enter into the holiest BY THE BLOOD OF YAHUSHUA (Jesus)." (v19) This is called "...a new and living way," in verse 20. New in the fact that before only the High Priest could enter once yearly on the day of atonement. Now we can go there by the blood of Messiah with boldness knowing that our sacrifice for sin has already be provided for us! 
Messiah is the One Who, "Consecrated" this new and living way, "for us, through the veil...His flesh." He is our" High Priest over the house of God" (v21) whereby we can "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (v22)

Is this a "new way" which was not known? What do we read in Hebrews 9:8-15?

(8) The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
(9) Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
(10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
(11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
(12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
(13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
(15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

So this was a way "not yet made manifest" with the earthly tabernacle standing. In the earthly tabernacle sacrifices were a necessity. The sacrificial ordinances dealing with ritual purification, meat, grain, and drink offerings were all necessary until Messiah came. Hence we read, "But Christ..." (9:11) He entered "once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (9:12)

By His blood we have our conscience purged from "dead works to serve the Living God!" No more do we need to offer sacrifice for sin. Heaven's perfect sacrifice has already been sacrificed for us. And those which are the called can now receive "the promise of eternal inheritance." (9:15)

Back to our text...

(Heb 5:4) And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
(Heb 5:5) So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
(Heb 5:6) As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
In our text, Messiah is the one revealed as a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Then in Hebrews 6:20 Messiah is called "the Forerunner" that has been "made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

And it is in Hebrews 7 that we have the detailed account of the order of Melchisedec to which our Messiah has risen. We have the necessity of "another priest" which should not be "called after the order (lineage) of Aaron" (7:11)

In this we have the revelation of the changing priesthood, which also required "of necessity a change also of the law." And a change in the tribe form where the High Priest should come: Levi to Judah. From this tribe none but Messiah has served as High Priest.

In the following passage, Messiah is become "a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec." (7:17) The weakness of the law, being unable to make anything perfect, is revealed. but Messiah brought unto us a better hope whereby we can "draw nigh unto God." (7:19)

And we have the perpetual oath declared (7:21) first found in Psalm 110:4, " The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. " From this we have our Messiah being separated as "a surety of a better testament." (7:22)

His priesthood is declared "an unchangeable priesthood" (7:23) because "He ever liveth" He is also able "to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." And He is the One Who "ever liveth to make intercession for them."

His priesthood, unlike those of Aaron's order, did not need to offer up sacrifice for any sin in Himself. then for the people. the spotless Lamb and Perfect High Priest only needed to offer "once, when He offered up Himself."(7:27) Unlike the law which "maketh men high priests which have infirmity," changed by "the Word of the Oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, Who is consecrated for evermore." (7:28)

Glory to God and our Father Who has revealed His plan for our eternal redemption! For our High Priest "is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens!" (7:26)

Read Hebrews 7:11-28 with me...

(11) If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
(12) For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
(13) For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
(14) For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
(15) And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
(16) Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
(17) For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
(18) For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
(19) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
(20) And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
(21) (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
(22) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
(23) And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
(24) But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
(26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
(27) Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
(28) For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

So now I implore you to read the rest of our main text with me...

(Heb 5:7) Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
(Heb 5:8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
(Heb 5:9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
(Heb 5:10) Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
(Heb 5:11) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Has your hearing become dull? Can you hear those things are "hard to be uttered" or like the recipients of the book of Hebrews are you still as one have a need for one to teach you? Should you by now after your 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50+ years in Messiah be teaching and discipling others?

(Heb 5:12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Do you understand the first principles of the oracles of God? Do you understand the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings commonly called the Old Testament? Can you discern a pagan tradition of man from the Torah? Have you read Romans 3:1-2?

(1) What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
(2) Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

And have you learned of the lively oracles spoken about in Acts 7:38?

(Heb 5:13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
(Heb 5:14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This is your call to arms, your wake-up call... It is time to push away from the teachings which have made you fat and lazy. It is a call to Take up the mantle once cherished and pushed aside. Or to take up the mantle you have refused thinking that ignorance is bliss; when, in fact is no excuse for any blood bought child of the Most High God.

Perhaps we will go into the depths of the First Principles of the Oracles of God found in Hebrews 6:1-3 later. Or perhaps you will accept the challenge to do so! It is our prayer that you too have been encouraged and inspired to open up the Book and Study to show yourself unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. How? Rightly dividing the Word of Truth!

Shalom Aleichem!
Ro'i u'Moreh Larry Walters (Pastor and teacher)
Bayith Tephillah (The House of Prayer Ministries)
1442 Sullivant Ave
Columbus, Ohio 43224
614-745-3975
Acts 24:14-16