Hebrews 5:3

3 Because he has weaknesses, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins in the same way that he does for the sins of his people.

Hebrews 5:3 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 5:3

And by reason hereof
Because of his sinful infirmity:

he ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins;
as he offered sacrifice for the sins of the people, so he was obliged to offer for his own sins; in this Christ differed from the high priest, for he had no sin of his own to offer for, ( Hebrews 7:27 ) but he had, and therefore offered for them, ( Leviticus 16:11 ) and made a confession of them: the form of which, as used on the day of atonement, was this;

``he put both his hands upon the bullock, and confessed, and thus he said: I beseech thee, O Lord, I have done wickedly, I have transgressed, I have sinned before thee, I and my house; I beseech thee, O Lord, pardon the iniquities, transgressions, and sins, which I have done wickedly, transgressed, and sinned before thee, I and my house.''

And this he did a second time on that day ^F26.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F26 Misna Yoma, c. 3. sect. 8. & c. 4. sect. 2.

Hebrews 5:3 In-Context

1 Every chief priest is chosen from humans to represent them in front of God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin.

2 The chief priest can be gentle with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, because he also has weaknesses.

3 Because he has weaknesses, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins in the same way that he does for the sins of his people.

4 No one takes this honor for himself. Instead, God calls him as he called Aaron.

5 So Christ did not take the glory of being a chief priest for himself. Instead, the glory was given to him by God, who said, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father."