Hebrews 5:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then he adds something else, namely that the priest receives the priesthood from another and does not appropriate it for himself. This also is common: "And no one takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, as Aaron was." Here he guards against another error and shows that Christ was sent by God. Christ Himself often said the same in conversation with the Jews: "I proceeded forth and came from God," and, "I have not come of Myself" (Jn 8:42). Here, it seems to me, he also alludes to the Jewish priests as untrue priests, who appropriated the rank for themselves and violated the law of the priesthood.

"And no one takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God." He also indicates another distinguishing mark of the high priest, which is also revealed in Christ. It is that He did not appropriate the priesthood to Himself, but was called by God and thus received it. Here he also hints at the Jewish high priests of that time, who sought the rank by buying it and breaking the Law. "As Aaron also was." For Aaron too was first called by God through Moses, and thus he served as priest. He did not appropriate this rank to himself. Again, when the rod blossomed, it was shown that he had been sent by God. This was also shown when fire consumed those who encroached upon the priesthood (Num 16 and Num 17).

He is chosen from among men and appointed for men to the highest service of God, in order to offer Him gifts and sacrifices for sins. Gifts are offerings of inanimate things or objects, such as oil, bread, wine, grain, and wheat or barley flour. Sacrifices were clean and healthy animals presented for slaughter on the altar. Among the Hebrews, these sacrifices and gifts were brought to the tabernacle both for sins and as a sign of thanksgiving, every day and every evening. Special gifts and sacrifices were brought on feasts. For the most part, priests received these sacrifices and brought them before the tabernacle. But the hierarch offered them in special cases, at special solemnities, and on feasts.

Nor did he receive the priesthood by any kind of seizure, but as Aaron did, whom God chose by means of the blossoming rod (cf. Num 17:1-5). Do not persecute the brethren out of love of authority. For if this counsel is not from God, it will not stand. But if it is from God, then even if you hide yourself "among the vessels" (1 Sam 10:22), like Saul, the Lord will take you from there and set you as elder over His people. Who will not sigh when he sees that we seek authority without having shown in ourselves even one virtue of the monastic life? Why do we often suffer shipwreck even on dry land? Is it not from unbelief and ignorance? Not knowing how to hold the oar, we undertake to steer the rudder.

For the lawful high priest is the one who receives ordination from God. Aaron, the first high priest, also received this rank. The divine Apostle said this not to set forth for us here the rules of the high priesthood, but to prepare us for the teaching concerning the Master's high priesthood. Therefore he wisely added immediately afterward: Heb 5:5. "So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but He who said to Him: You are My Son, today I have begotten You."

"And no one takes this honor to himself," not by his own will and not from himself. By honor he means the honor of the high priesthood. Here he alludes to those who appropriate the priesthood by purchase. "But he who is called by God, as Aaron was." Aaron's call by God to priestly ministry was expressed in various ways. It was shown when his rod budded, and when fire consumed those who rose up against him and attacked his high priesthood (Num 16:17).

The hierarch receives the dignity of the hierarchy not by his own power and authority, but by God's good pleasure and calling. That is, God calls him, as He called Aaron when He said to Moses: "Bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister to Me as priests: Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron" (Ex 28:1). Here is the fourth mark of the hierarchy: the calling from God. But why does the apostle recall this? Because these things were types and foreshadowings of the hierarchy of Jesus Christ. Since he said that Christ is High Priest, he described the characteristic signs of the lawful hierarch.

The Apostle forestalls an objection concerning Jesus Christ being called High Priest, though He did not receive a special consecration and did not come from the line of Aaron. Having entered into the depth of the mystery of Christ's high-priestly ministry, the Apostle shows that Christ too was chosen for this ministry by God Himself. Therefore He is in no way beneath Aaron.

This means that a man may receive an honorable ministry, such as that of high priest, teacher, or preacher, only by a calling from God (Rom 10:15). The apostle points to Aaron's example, thereby showing that the same rule applies in the New Covenant as in the Old. Aaron did not assume the dignity and duty of high priest by his own will, nor by election from men. He received it by election and calling from God. This is what the book of Numbers tells us. "Korah, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Reuben, rose up against Moses and Aaron and said to them: You take too much upon yourselves. All the congregation, all are holy, and the Lord is among them.

The ordinary features that characterize the ministry of human high priests are also present in Christ as the true High Priest. What are the features of every high priest chosen from among men (Heb 5:1-4)? First, he is appointed for men themselves in service to God. The chief work of this service is to offer gifts and sacrifices for the sins of men. Second, since he is beset with human weakness, he must naturally be inclined to show compassion to ignorant and erring people. Therefore he must offer sacrifices for sins not only for the people, but also for himself. Third, he must not receive the honor of the high priesthood from himself. He must receive it from God, as one called by Him, like Aaron.

Will they say that everyone must be a teacher of others? By no means. Against this extreme we have the clear apostolic prohibition: "Let not many of you become teachers" (Jas 3:1). God "gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers" to His Church (Eph 4:11). He did not leave it to each person's whim to appoint himself a spiritual instructor. Precisely of this it is said that "no one takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God" (Heb 5:4). This calling is either direct, as with the apostles at the beginning, or by succession through those previously called by God. Concerning the multitude of uncalled teachers, the Holy Spirit forewarns us as a mark of unhappy times.

Secondly, it is absolutely required that the high priest be called to his ministry by God Himself, like Aaron (see Ex 28:1 and following). Indeed, since this ministry properly has reference to God, only God can appoint men to it.