Hebrews 5:1-10

1 For every high priest taken from amongst men is established for men in things relating to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

2 being able to exercise forbearance towards the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is clothed with infirmity;

3 and, on account of this [infirmity], he ought, even as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 And no one takes the honour to himself but [as] called by God, even as Aaron also.

5 Thus the Christ also has not glorified himself to be made a high priest; but he who had said to him, *Thou* art my Son, *I* have to-day begotten thee.

6 Even as also in another [place] he says, *Thou* [art] a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up both supplications and entreaties to him who was able to save him out of death, with strong crying and tears; (and having been heard because of his piety;)

8 though he were Son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered;

9 and having been perfected, became to all them that obey him, author of eternal salvation;

10 addressed by God [as] high priest according to the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 5

The apostle having made mention of Christ as an high priest, in the preceding chapter, proceeds in this to give an account of an high priest, and applies the character of him to Christ; and shows that he is of another order of priesthood than that of Aaron, even of the order of Melchisedec; of whom he could say many things, but the Hebrews were dull of hearing them; which leads him to blame them for their rudeness, and non-proficience. The description of the high priest is taken from his relation to men, separation from them, and ordination for them; from his oblation of their gifts and sacrifices; from his sympathy with them, and from his call of God, Heb 5:1-4 all which are accommodated to Christ; as his vocation of God, Heb 5:5,6 confirmed by two testimonies out of Ps 2:7, 110:4 his being a man, and having infirmities, though sinless ones, and his sympathy with men, and compassion on them, Heb 5:7 his obedience and sufferings, and the oblation of himself, whereby he became the author of salvation to his people, which is the main thing in his priesthood, Heb 5:8,9 and which was not of the order of Aaron, though in some things there was an agreement with it, but of the order of Melchizedek, Heb 5:10 of whom the apostle could say many surprising things; but these Hebrews were dull of apprehension, and incapable of receiving them, Heb 5:11. And then he proceeds to blame them for their dulness, which he aggravates by the time they had been in the school of Christ, when it might have been expected they would have been teachers of others; by their being yet scholars, and of the lowest class, who had need to be taught the first rudiments of the Christian religion; yea, by their being as babes that stood in need of milk, and could not bear meat, Heb 5:12. And then follows a description both of babes, and of adult persons; such as are unskilful in the word of righteousness are babes, and use milk; but those who exercise their spiritual senses, to discern between good and bad doctrine, are adult, and can digest strong meat, Heb 5:13,14.

Footnotes

• [a]. See Ps. 2.7.
• [b]. Eis ton aiona: 'into the age.' Not eis to dienekes, as in chs. 7.3; 10.1,12,14; this last is continuing uninterruptedness more than there being no end, though it may so continue.
• [c]. See Ps. 110.4.
• [d]. Ek, 'out of,' not 'from.'
• [e]. Or 'fear,' as some translate; and then well rendered, as in A.V., 'in that he feared.'
• [f]. Alluding to the citation of Ps. 2 just above.
• [g]. Lit. 'a causer,' 'one who caused.'
• [h]. Or 'saluted of'