“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
My Notes
What Does Hebrews 5:4 Mean?
"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." The high priesthood isn't self-appointed. It's divinely called. Nobody claims the honor of mediating between God and humanity on their own initiative. The priest serves by calling, not by choice. Aaron didn't volunteer. God selected him (Exodus 28:1). And every legitimate priest after Aaron served by the same principle: called, not self-appointed.
The verse sets up the argument that Jesus' priesthood is also divinely appointed (v. 5-6): God called Jesus to be high priest the way God called Aaron — by divine declaration, not by human ambition. The legitimacy of the priesthood rests on the call, not on the person's desire for the role.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does the distinction between called and self-appointed change how you evaluate spiritual leadership?
- 2.Where have you seen someone 'take the honour to themselves' — and what was the result?
- 3.What does Aaron's selection (no résumé, no campaign, just God's choice) teach about how God picks leaders?
- 4.How does Jesus' priesthood being divinely appointed (not self-claimed) strengthen your confidence in his intercession?
Devotional
Nobody takes this honor for themselves. The priesthood is received, not seized. Called, not claimed. The highest spiritual office available to a human being is the one you can't apply for.
No man taketh this honour unto himself. The word 'honour' (timē) means the priesthood is a dignified, weighty, valuable position. And the verb 'taketh' (lambanei) means to seize, to take for yourself. Paul says: nobody does that legitimately. The person who seizes the priesthood hasn't received it. The person who campaigns for the spiritual office disqualifies themselves by the campaigning. The honor is bestowed, not achieved.
But he that is called of God. The priesthood comes by calling — klētos, divine summons. God says: you. Not: the candidate with the best qualifications. Not: the volunteer with the most enthusiasm. God says: you. And the 'you' is often the person who wasn't seeking the position (Moses resisted, Jeremiah resisted, Aaron was simply selected).
As was Aaron. Aaron didn't write an application. Didn't submit a résumé. Didn't campaign among the elders. God said to Moses: bring Aaron (Exodus 28:1). And Aaron served. The calling preceded the serving. The divine selection preceded the human functioning. The legitimacy of Aaron's priesthood rested entirely on the fact that God chose him — not on Aaron's skills, experience, or desire.
The application to Jesus (v. 5): Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest. Jesus didn't self-appoint. The Father declared: "Thou art my Son" (Psalm 2:7) and "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Psalm 110:4). The Father called the Son to the priesthood the same way the Father called Aaron to the priesthood: by sovereign declaration.
The principle extends to every spiritual role: the legitimate leader is the called leader. Not the one who wanted the job most. Not the one who positioned themselves best. The one God called. And the calling — not the ambition — is the authorization.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And no man taketh this honour to himself,.... That is, the honour of the priesthood: the office of the high priest was a…
And no man taketh this honor to himself - No one has a right to enter on this office unless he has the qualifications…
This honor - Την τιμην undoubtedly signifies here the office, which is one meaning of the word in the best Greek…
We have here an account of the nature of the priestly office in general, though with an accommodation to the Lord Jesus…
this honour i.e. this honourable office. We have here the second Qualification for Priesthood. A man's own caprice must…
Cross References
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