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Introduction**
For us to move forward into chapter 5, it’s important that we understand verses 14-16 of chapter 4.
With those 3 verses, the author of Hebrews moves into a very important aspect of his argument.
We studied these verses as a part of chapter 4, but we need to refresh so that we can move into chapter 5.
Hebrews
So, with verse 14 of chapter 4 the author introduces the idea of the High Priest.
With verse 14 of chapter 4 the author introduces the idea of the High Priest.
Now, prior to this, the author told us that Jesus the Son is “better.”
“Better” is a word that is used in reference to Jesus and His ministry over and again in this letter … in fact, 12 times in 13 chapters.
κρείττων kreittōn means “Better.”
So … The “betterness” of Christ and His ministry is consistent as a theme in this letter.
He’s better than the forefathers.
He’s better than the prophets (including Moses)
He’s better than the angels.
And now the author says that Jesus Christ is the better High Priest.
The roads that have led to this point are: Jesus the Son is better (a continuing theme), the importance of faith, and God’s continued work of conforming us.
And now the author says that Jesus Christ is the better High Priest.
He has made the perfect once-for-all sacrifice and has ascended to the Father.
Because of this, we can hold to what we believe (or hold firmly to the faith we profess - NIV) and we can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
A key idea here is that when we are tempted, and we desperately need mercy … … Because Jesus sits on the throne, we can come to Him for grace to help because we ourselves are weak.
This is incredibly important to the theme of “rest” … because if this were not the case, we would have no rest from works of the law.
But because Jesus was tempted in all points yet without sin, He is able to intercede on our behalf.
(We’ll be on this idea of Jesus as the Great High Priest through chapter 10, which gives us an idea of how important this is.)
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The High Priest also known as Chief Priest or in the Hebrew, Kohen Gadol, had an intercessory role between God and man.
In the sacrificial system that God set up, the High Priest was the main representative between the nation of Israel and God.
He was the main representative between the nation of Israel and God.
Moses led Israel, and could be said to have operated in the role of a Priest for a short period.
names Moses as a priest:
In fact, Moses functioned as a priest on several occasions … all before the priesthood was consecrated to serve "after the order of Aaron."
Moses led Israel, and could be said to have operated in the role of a High Priest for a short period before God gave that role to Aaron … he did not operate in the role of High Priest.
So … Ultimately, for Israel, it was Aaron who was the High Priest.
The Tabernacle began at Mt. Sinai, probably around 1446 BC.
The Levitical Priesthood served Israel at the Tabernacle.
This priesthood was through the 3 sons of Levi … Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
(Both Moses and Aaron were from the line of Levi from the family of Kohath.)
Special duties were given to each of the 3 lines of priests.
But Aaron and his line were the only ones who could offer animal sacrifices or incense.
And only they had access to serve in the Holy Place and once a year in the Holy of Holies.
To facilitate this, Moses and Aaron and his sons lived on the east side of the camp of Israel, at the entrance to the Tabernacle.
It is interesting to me that the Bible in speaks of the eastern gate being closed.
But then in it says that a future prince will be able to enter through that gate to make a peace offering as a freewill offering.
In Hebrew the eastern gate is Sha’ar Harahamim … which means “Gate of Mercy.”
So, the priesthood was divided into orders and each order had a job to do.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives in , He used this gate.
Later, when King David designed the temple, he also reorganized the priesthood into 24 divisions.
And only they had access to the Holy and Most holy place of the tabernacle in service.
It was the duty of the Aaronic priesthood … that is the line of priests of the family of Aaron … to
The gate was sealed up about 500 years ago by the sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Jewish tradition said that the Messiah would come through that gate, and the sultan sealed it up to prevent that from happening.
It is interesting that speaks of the gate being shut up:
But then says that there is one person who will will enter through that gate.
Ezekiel 46:
Later, when King David designed the temple, he also reorganized the priesthood into 24 divisions.
Later, hen King David designed the temple, he also reorganized the priesthood into 24 divisions.
These 24 divisions continued down to the time of Christ.
David's high priest was Abiathar.
But because of insurrection he was replaced by Solomon with Zadok as high priest.
This fulfilled the prophecy God spoken through Samuel that the priesthood of Eli (which was through Aaron's son Ithamar) would go extinct.
Zadok, Solomon's high priest, was a descendant of Levi's second son Kohath, thus continuing the Aaronic line in the position of High Priest.
Most scholars believe that from the time of David down to 70 AD it was the descendants of Zadok who were often the high priests.
However, there is very little information about the high priests after the return from Babylon.
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The Levitical Priesthood served Israel at the Tabernacle.
This priesthood was through the 3 sons of Levi … Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Special duties were given to each of the 3 lines of priests.
At that time special duties were given to each of the three lines of priests but only the sons of Aaron could offer animal sacrifices or incense.
High priests were appointed for life according to God’s instruction through the line of Aaron.
But at the time of Jesus they were appointed annually by the Romans.
This is why we have multiple high priests at the trial of Jesus (Annas and Caiaphas).
Annas was High Priest from 6-15 AD.
Annas was High Priest from 6-15 AD.
Then from 16-30 AD Caiaphas was High Priest.
Then from 16-30 AD Caiaphas was High Priest.
And in 60-63 AD, Ananias was the high priest who tried Paul … as recorded in .
In 60-63 AD, Ananias was the high priest who tried Paul … as recorded in .
The Sadducees originated in about 150 BC and they were linked with Solomon’s priest, Zadok.
The Sadducees controlled the Temple of Herod during the earthly ministry of Jesus.
The priesthood continued down to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
At that point it became physically extinct.
But it was rendered spiritually extinct at the death of Christ.
It was replaced by the priesthood of believers in Jesus and the High Priesthood of Jesus.
Moses functioned as a priest on 3 occasions … all before the priesthood was consecrated to serve "after the order of Aaron."
Only the Aaronic priests (Aaron and his sons) were permitted to offer animal sacrifices in the Tabernacle or offer the incense.
The High Priest inherited his role and operated in that role for life.
Before the current era, the High Priest operated in that role for life.
And only they had access to the Holy and Most holy place of the tabernacle in service.
Later, the role was
Later, hen King David designed the temple, he also reorganized the priesthood into 24 divisions.
These 24 divisions continued down to the time of Christ.
David planned for the Gershonites to serve in the temple, guarding the treasury.
He planned for the
David's high priest was Abiathar.
But because of insurrection he was replaced by Solomon with Zadok as high priest.
This was to fulfill the prophecy that the priesthood of Eli (which was through Aaron's son Ithamar) would go extinct.
Zadok, Solomon's high priest, was a descendant of Levi's second son Kohath.
Most scholars believe that from the time of David down to 70 AD it were the descendants of Zadok who were often the high priests.
However, there is little information about the high priests after the return from Babylon.
The Sadducees originated in about 150 BC and they were linked with Solomon’s priest, Zadok.
i.
The word Sadducee is etymologically linked to Zadok (Kohathite), who was David's priest.
The Sadducees controlled the Temple of Herod when Jesus was alive.
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