1. Hebrews 5:4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What two ways were there to obtain the office of high priest?

Hebrews 5:4 (ESV)

4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

There are two ways to obtain the office of high priest: to take it on one’s own initiative, or to be called. The author expresses this first negatively, then positively.1