Hebrews 4 and 5

Hebrews 4

Paul teaches how, because of their unrighteousness, ancient Israel forfeited the blessing of entering into the Lord’s rest or glory. Had they been righteous, they would have become sanctified. He promises the saints (and us) that if we are wiser and more obedient than they were, the promises still stand. We will still be tempted to not live righteously. Righteous living doesn’t protect us from being tempted. But it does give us the strength to avoid giving into it. The greatest help we can gain is found in verse 16. Just as D&C 121:45 promises, virtuous living increases our confidence in being in the presence of the Lord. When we have that confidence, we can approach him without fear and receive the help that God knows is best for us.

Hebrews 5

There is an order in the way that God conducts his business. Paul teaches an important principle in this chapter concerning the authority to act in God’s name. This authority, or the priesthood, is not something that man can take upon himself. It is not something that simply comes through a prompting to the heart and mind. Conversion doesn’t give one authority. A college or seminary degree can’t give a person God’s authority to act in his name. As Paul says, “No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” If you go to Exodus chapter 28, you can see how Aaron was called of God. God spoke to Moses, one who had previously been ordained by God, and instructed Moses, to ordain Aaron. That is the procedure that God requires.

The same procedure was followed in the New Testament. Christ chose and ordained his apostles. He said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you.” Christ set the example. Verse 5 states that he didn’t take it upon himself “to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.” In other words, it was the Father who ordained Christ, who is our great high priest.

The 11 apostles ordained Matthias to replace Judas. Paul received his call directly from the Lord, but he didn’t just go and start preaching. He was sent to Damascus to be healed and taught by Ananias and the disciples. It is only logical that before Paul began his preaching, he was ordained by those same disciples who had the authority to do so. At some later point, he had to have been ordained an apostle to be an apostle, just as all of the apostles were before him.

You will remember that Simon offered to give Peter and the apostles money to have priesthood power and authority and he was condemned because they thought that it could be obtained that way. A man must be called and ordained by the laying on of hands by those are in authority. That is the way it was done anciently. It is the way that it was done in New Testament times. And it is the same today.