The high priest in ancient times needed to have compassion for the people with whom he worked. The Scripture states, “He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also beset by weakness” (Heb. 5:2, NKJV). He must have compassion; the margin states “deal gently.”
The Greek verb metriopatheo has the thought of holding one’s passions in check. It is very easy to lose patience when people make the same stupid mistakes over and over. But when one is prone to judge and condemn, he needs to remember his personal failure and weakness.
Aaron could remember his own failure. There was that fearful time when he and Miriam rebelled against Moses’ leadership and criticized his marriage (Num. 12:1-2). Miriam was struck with leprosy and Moses had to cry out to God for her healing.
Earlier the people had become restless while Moses was on the mountain with God, and asked for an idol like they had seen in Egypt. Aaron yielded to their desire and made a casting of a golden bull. The people worshiped the idol and rejoiced. It was a terrible departure from the truth of God, and God judged Israel severely for their sin (Ex. 32). Yes, Aaron had lived long enough to remember his own personal failures.
Aaron had known failure on the part of his family. Two of his sons, Nadab and Abihu, were struck dead when they offered “profane fire” with their incense in the tabernacle (Lev. 10:1-3). Two sons were lost in a moment of time because of disobedience to God. The fire for the incense was to be taken only from the altar of sacrifice (Lev. 16:12). It was a fearful loss. Yes, Aaron had known tragedy and loss in his family.
These failures made Aaron a compassionate and patient high priest when dealing with the sins and failures of God’s people. The experiences of life with its joys, its sorrows, its failures, conditions one to be more patient with others.
Paul exhorts us, “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” (Titus 3:2-3). We should be patient with unbelievers in their folly; we were also once foolish. We should be patient with God’s people; we too have made our share of mistakes.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect High Priest. He has not needed to know personal failure to be compassionate. “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens” (Heb. 7:26). God is love; His very nature is compassionate. And Christ is perfectly understanding, having lived here on earth and gone through the varied experiences of life. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Thank God!
It seems as if marriages and families are under attack as never before in this country. Marriage is no longer held sacred and divorce is common. Children from godly homes go astray, deceived by the lies of this godless culture. Drinking, drugs, sexual promiscuity and perversion abound. The sexual revolution of the 60’s and 70’s is now a permanent part of our culture. It is a fearful age for God’s people.
The Word of God needs to be proclaimed fearlessly. God’s standards need to be held high as His will for His people. Elders in an assembly, the shepherds of the flock, need great wisdom and compassion when dealing with sinners and with the saints of their local assembly. The erring child of God must be disciplined, but with love and compassion. The shepherd must remember his own failures and weep over the failures of others. May God give us compassionate shepherds.