Hebrews 5

The writer shows that Jesus fully meets the job description of a high priest: he is chosen by God and understands human weakness. He is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The chapter then turns to a warning, for the readers have grown slow to understand and need to move from milk to solid food.

Hebrews 5:1

A high priest was one of the people, taken from among them to stand before God for them. His work was to bring gifts and sacrifices for sins. He was a bridge between a holy God and sinful people.

BSA: represent (“to stand in their place, to act on their behalf”): The priest does not act for himself but stands in the people’s place before God.

See also: Leviticus 16:15-16.

Hebrews 5:2

Because the priest knew weakness from the inside, he could be gentle with people who sin through ignorance or wander off course. Good priesthood needs a tender heart as well as authority.

BSA: deal gently (“with compassion, kindly”): The priest is meant to meet failing people with patient kindness, not harshness. beset (“surrounded, encircled”): His own weakness hems him in on every side, which is why he can sympathize.

Greek: μετριοπαθεῖν (metriopathein, G3356) — “to feel in due measure, to deal gently.” The word describes a measured, patient response, neither harsh anger nor careless indifference toward those who fail.

Hebrews 5:3

Since the priest was himself a sinner, he first had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins before he could offer for the people. His weakness meant he needed the very mercy he helped dispense.

BSA: obligated (“to owe, under obligation”): He was bound by duty to deal with his own sin first.

See also: Leviticus 9:7; Leviticus 16:6.

Hebrews 5:4

No one could claim the priesthood by his own ambition. It was an honor God gave, as he gave it to Aaron, Moses’ brother. The office rested on God’s call, not on a man’s wish.

See also: Exodus 28:1; Numbers 16:40.

Hebrews 5:5

Christ did not promote himself either. The Father who called him his Son also called him to be priest. His priesthood is not self-appointed but given by God, who spoke the words of Psalm 2.

BSA: called (“appointed, designated”): Jesus’ priesthood is a formal appointment from the Father, not something he seized.

See also: Psalm 2:7.

Hebrews 5:6

A second Scripture, from Psalm 110, names him a priest forever. Melchizedek was the king-priest who blessed Abraham long before Aaron’s line. So Jesus’ priesthood does not depend on the Levitical order and never ends.

BSA: forever (“for all eternity, throughout the ages”): Unlike Aaron’s priests, who died, his priesthood has no end.

See also: Psalm 110:4; Genesis 14:18-20.

Hebrews 5:7

The Son of God truly lived as a man. He prayed with loud cries and tears, most plainly in Gethsemane, to the Father who could save him from death. He was heard because of his devout trust and reverence. He knows what it is to pray in anguish.

BSA: reverence (“deep respect, godly fear, awe”): His prayer was heard because of a humble, God-honoring submission, not because he demanded his own way. loud cries (“strong shouting, intense vocal expression”): His prayer was no polite formality but deep and honest agony.

Greek: εὐλαβείας (eulabeias, G2124) — “godly fear, reverent care.” It describes a humble, careful awe before God. Jesus’ prayer was marked by surrender, which fits his words in Gethsemane, ’not My will, but Yours.'.

See also: Luke 22:41-44; Matthew 26:39.

Hebrews 5:8

Though he was the Son, he went through real suffering and so lived out obedience in the hardest of circumstances. This does not mean he ever disobeyed. He learned obedience by experience, at its full cost.

BSA: learned (“through experience, came to understand”): He came to know obedience by living it through pain, not merely in theory.

Greek: ἔμαθεν (emathen, G3129) — “he learned.” The word is a wordplay with ‘suffered’ (epathen) in the Greek, tying learning and suffering closely together.

See also: Philippians 2:8.

Hebrews 5:9

Having completed his path of obedience through suffering and death, he was fully qualified as Savior. He became the source of salvation that never ends, for all who listen to him and follow him.

BSA: perfect (“completely qualified, perfected”): This is not about fixing a fault but about being fully fitted for his saving work. source (“giver, author, cause”): Salvation flows from him as its cause and giver.

Greek: τελειωθείς (teleiōtheis, G5048) — “having been brought to completion.” The word means being brought to the goal. It speaks of Jesus being fully equipped for his office, not of his being cured of sin.

See also: Hebrews 2:10.

Hebrews 5:10

God publicly named him high priest in Melchizedek’s order. This sums up the argument so far and prepares for the longer teaching on Melchizedek that follows.

See also: Hebrews 7:1-3.

Hebrews 5:11

The writer has more to say about Melchizedek, but it is hard to explain to these readers. The problem is not the subject but their hearing. They have become slow and sluggish in understanding.

BSA: dull (“slow”): They have grown sluggish in spiritual hearing, which is a decline from earlier days.

Greek: νωθροί (nōthroi, G3576) — “sluggish, slow.” The word pictures a lazy, heavy listener. ‘Have become’ implies they were once keener.

Hebrews 5:12

By now they should have been teaching others, yet they needed to be taught the ABCs again. They had drifted back to milk, the simple first teachings, when they ought to be eating solid food.

BSA: basic principles (“fundamental, elementary”): These are the first letters of the faith, not its full reading. milk (“elementary teaching”): Milk stands for the simple first lessons given to new believers.

Greek: στοιχεῖα (stoicheia, G4747) — “elements, first principles.” The word was used of the letters of the alphabet. The readers were back at spiritual A-B-C.

See also: 1 Corinthians 3:2.

Hebrews 5:13

Someone who lives only on milk is still a baby and has little skill with the word of righteousness. The fault is not in being a new believer but in staying one when time has passed.

BSA: inexperienced (“unacquainted, lacking knowledge”): They have little practice in applying the word to real life.

Hebrews 5:14

Solid food belongs to the mature, whose senses have been trained by practice. Growth comes through use: those who live out the truth learn to tell good from evil. God invites us to grow up in him.

BSA: trained (“exercised, disciplined”): Discernment grows like a muscle through steady exercise. mature (“perfect, complete, fully grown”): This means full-grown in faith, not sinless.

Greek: γεγυμνασμένα (gegymnasmena, G1128) — “trained, exercised.” This is the word behind ‘gymnasium.’ It pictures an athlete’s training, with discernment strengthened by daily practice.

See also: Philippians 1:9-10.