Tyndale Open Study NotesHebrews 5

This section discusses how the Son of God became a superior high priest. The main text is Psalm 110:4, where God promises that the Son will be a priest forever like Melchizedek.

• Every high priest: This phrase outlines what high priests must do.

• among men: The high priest was one of the people, so Jesus needed to become human (see Hebrews 2:17–18).

• Another requirement for high priests was to represent others by offering sacrifices for them (7:25–28). Only the high priest could offer the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 29; Leviticus 16:1–25).

A high priest could be kind to those who sin because he also had weaknesses, meaning he was sinful (Hebrews 5:3; compare 4:15).

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to offer sacrifices for himself and his family before offering sacrifices for the people (Leviticus 16:11).

God appoints the high priest, not humans (see Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:1–12; Numbers 16:1–26).

The author connects Psalms 2:7 and 110:4 because both passages feature God speaking to his Son. The exalted Son, who became human (Hebrews 1–2), is appointed by God to a special high priesthood.

The suffering of Jesus was the basis for his higher role as a priest. His humiliation and suffering came before his rise to glory (Hebrews 2:9; Philippians 2:5–11).

The phrase with loud cries and tears likely refers to the suffering Jesus experienced in the garden of Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:40–46). God heard his prayers by affirming his righteousness and his role as high priest. Jesus showed faithful devotion to God. His example encourages the readers to remain faithful as well (compare Hebrews 12:2–3).

He learned obedience through his suffering. Jesus was always obedient, even before his suffering. He lived his human life, including his death on the cross, fully submitting to God's will. We are expected to follow the same path (Hebrews 12:1–11).

• And having been made perfect: In Hebrews, perfect means "complete" or "mature" (see Hebrews 2:10; 5:14; 7:11; 9:9–11). Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him through his sufferings.

• As the Son obeyed the Father (5:8), fully following the Father's will, those seeking salvation must obey him.

high priest in the order of Melchizedek: See Hebrews 7:1–28 for more details.

After starting to talk about the role of Jesus as high priest (Hebrews 5:1–10), the author addresses the audience with several encouragements (5:11–6:20). This change in the sermon or speech aimed to capture the listeners' attention.

This message addresses the spiritual laziness of the recipients.

dull of hearing: The Greek term means "slow, not very smart, careless, or lazy."

• Their lack of spiritual energy was surprising because they had been believers for so long. They should have been spiritual leaders teaching others from their knowledge and Christian experience.

• the basic principles: The simplest parts of the Christian faith (see Hebrews 6:1–3).

• The imagery of milk and solid food was used to separate basic from advanced education, and immature from mature students.

Knowing the difference between right and wrong shows spiritual maturity.