Hebrews 5:1

1 Every high priest selected to represent men and women before God and offer sacrifices for their sins

Hebrews 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 5:1

For every high priest taken from among men
Every one that was an high priest under the law was a man, and not an angel; and it was proper he should be so, that he might be a priest for men, have compassion on them, and offer for them; and he was among the number of common men, and was taken out from them, and chosen and separated from the rest of men, as Aaron and his sons were from the children of Israel, ( Exodus 28:1 ) . And such an one

is ordained for men;
in their room and stead, and for their good; and above them, as the word sometimes signifies; he was exalted unto, and invested with a superior office, to which he was ordained according to the law of a carnal commandment, by anointing with oil, and without an oath.

In things pertaining to God;
in things in which God had to do with men; and so he presided over them in the name of God, and declared the will of God unto them, and blessed them; and in things in which men had to do with God; and so he appeared in their name, and represented their persons, and presented their sacrifices to God, as follows:

that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
freewill offerings, peace offerings, burnt offerings, sin and trespass offerings, all kind of sacrifice.

Hebrews 5:1 In-Context

1 Every high priest selected to represent men and women before God and offer sacrifices for their sins
2 should be able to deal gently with their failings, since he knows what it's like from his own experience.
3 But that also means that he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as the people's.
4 No one elects himself to this honored position. He's called to it by God, as Aaron was.
5 Neither did Christ presume to set himself up as high priest, but was set apart by the One who said to him, "You're my Son; today I celebrate you!"
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.