Hebrews 5:1-11 paints a picture of a Savior who doesn’t just show us the way to God but becomes the way. Unlike earthly priests, who were weak and temporary, Jesus is the eternal mediator who fully satisfies God’s justice while extending mercy.
By Dr. Tim Orr
We live in a world where people constantly try to prove themselves—whether in their careers, relationships, or spiritual lives. The pressure to measure up, to be “good enough,” is relentless. Some try to silence their guilt through religious rituals, while others attempt to justify themselves through good works. But beneath all our striving lies a deeper question: How can we be made right with God?
The book of Hebrews addresses this question by pointing us to Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest. Hebrews 5:1-11 paints a picture of a Savior who doesn’t just show us the way to God but becomes the way. Unlike earthly priests, who were weak and temporary, Jesus is the eternal mediator who fully satisfies God’s justice while extending mercy. This passage contrasts Gospel-centered Christianity and Islam, particularly in their views of mediation, salvation, divine justice, and human transformation. Islam provides a framework for obedience and submission, but it lacks the certainty of atonement and the intimacy of a Savior who intercedes for us. Hebrews calls us to something radically different—resting in the finished work of Christ rather than striving endlessly to earn God’s approval.
A few years ago, I conversed with a devout Muslim friend about how he understood Muhammad’s role in his faith. He spoke of Muhammad’s greatness as the final prophet who delivered Allah’s revelation. But he hesitated when I asked how Muhammad helped him in his daily struggle with sin. “He showed us the right path,” he finally said. That was it—Muhammad pointed the way, but he did not bridge the gap.
Hebrews 5:1-4 explains the role of a high priest, someone appointed to mediate between a holy God and sinful people. The high priest was not just a religious leader—he was the essential link between humanity and God, offering sacrifices for sin. But there was a problem: every earthly high priest was himself sinful, requiring atonement before he could intercede for others. This is what makes Jesus so unique. Unlike human priests, Jesus was sinless, and unlike temporary mediators, His priesthood is eternal (Heb. 5:5-6).
Islam, in contrast, does not have a high priestly figure. Muhammad is revered as the “seal of the prophets” (Qur’an 33:40), but he does not serve as a priestly mediator. The Qur’an teaches that every person stands alone before Allah, and their deeds are weighed on the Day of Judgment (Qur’an 99:6-8). No one stands in the gap. Though Islamic traditions suggest that Muhammad may intercede for believers on the Last Day (Hadith, Sahih Muslim 197), his intercession is neither personal nor guaranteed. Ultimately, salvation in Islam rests on an individual’s performance.
The difference is profound. Imagine standing in a courtroom, guilty of countless offenses. The judge is righteous, and he cannot simply overlook your crimes. In Islam, Allah is like that judge—he may choose to show mercy, but there is no guarantee. In Christianity, Jesus steps forward as both High Priest and Advocate (1 John 2:1). He does not merely plead for mercy; He has already paid the penalty in full. The judge remains just, and yet mercy is fully realized.
One of the most striking aspects of Hebrews 5:7-9 is how it presents Jesus—not just as a distant mediator, but as a suffering Savior. It describes Him offering "prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears" (v. 7), fully entering into the human experience of pain and struggle. But this suffering was not meaningless—it was the very means through which He became "the source of eternal salvation" (v. 9). Salvation is not something we earn; it is something Jesus secured through His obedience, even to the point of death (Phil. 2:8).
In Islam, salvation operates under an entirely different framework. While Allah is described as merciful, the Qur’an consistently emphasizes that good deeds will be weighed against bad deeds (Surah 101:6-9). There is no certainty, assurance of forgiveness, or a way to know if one has done enough. A devout Muslim may pray, fast, and give to charity, but they can only hope their efforts have been enough at the end of life.
I once met a Muslim convert who told me he found Islam appealing because it gave him structure. “I know exactly what’s expected of me,” he said. The Five Pillars—prayer, fasting, almsgiving, pilgrimage, and the confession of faith—gave him a roadmap for living. But a shadow of uncertainty crossed his face when we got deeper into the conversation. “I just hope,” he admitted, “that my good deeds will outweigh my bad ones.” His entire hope rested on a scale, tipping back and forth with every action.
The Gospel offers something radically different. Imagine a student facing an impossible exam, knowing he will never pass. Then, the professor—who has already mastered the subject—takes the exam for him and hands in a perfect score. That is what Jesus has done for us. He has met the standard of righteousness we never could and offers His perfection in exchange for our failure (2 Cor. 5:21).
The question of justice is one of the most important theological differences between Christianity and Islam. Christianity teaches that sin cannot be overlooked—it must be punished. Hebrews 9:22 states, "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins." Jesus, as the High Priest, fulfills both justice and mercy, offering Himself the perfect sacrifice.
Islam, however, asserts that Allah can forgive sin without requiring atonement. The Qur’an states, "Indeed, Allah forgives all sins" (Surah 39:53), but it does not explain how justice is upheld. If a human judge arbitrarily dismissed criminal cases without consequence, we would call that corruption. Through Christ's priesthood, Christianity uniquely maintains God’s justice and mercy.
Think of a man drowning in an ocean, struggling to stay afloat. Islam offers him a guidebook on swimming techniques, encouraging him to paddle harder. Christianity, on the other hand, throws him a lifeline and pulls him out of the water. The difference is life and death.
At the heart of Hebrews 5 is a simple but radical truth: Jesus is enough. He is the perfect High Priest, the sufficient sacrifice, and the only source of eternal salvation. Islam offers submission but not sonship. It provides law but not love. It teaches morality but not mediation. In Islam, Allah remains distant, and salvation is uncertain. In Christ, we are invited into intimacy with God, knowing that our salvation is secure.
The question every person must answer is this: Will I trust in my own efforts to reach God, or will I rest in the finished work of Christ? Hebrews calls us not to endless striving but to a Savior who has already done what we never could. For those weary of trying to be “good enough,” the invitation is clear—come to the High Priest who intercedes for you, once and for all.
Jesus is not just the way to God. He is the way.
Tim Orr is a scholar of Islam, Evangelical minister, conference speaker, and interfaith consultant with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry. He holds six degrees, including a master’s in Islamic studies from the Islamic College in London. Tim taught Religious Studies for 15 years at Indiana University Columbus and is now a Congregations and Polarization Project research associate at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis. He has spoken at universities, including Oxford University, Imperial College London, the University of Tehran, Islamic College London, and mosques throughout the U.K. His research focuses on American Evangelicalism, Islamic antisemitism, and Islamic feminism, and he has published widely, including articles in Islamic peer-reviewed journals and three books.