Hebrews 5

Christ’s priesthood is greater than Aaron’s

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things relating to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He should be able to have compassion on those lacking understanding and on those who have gone astray, since he himself is clothed with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to make offerings for sin for himself, as well as for the people.

The necessity for God’s call

4 And no man takes this honour for himself, but only he who is called of God, as Aaron was.

5 So Christ also did not glorify himself to become high priest, but he who said to him,

Priesthood in the order of Melchizedek

You are my Son,

today I have begotten you,

6 also speaks like this in another place,

You are a priest forever according

to the order of Melchizedek.

5:6 Verse 10; Heb 6:20; 7:17. See Ps 110:4. Ps 110 is a prophesy about Christ, the “son” of v 5. God the Father appointed Him high priest just as He had Aaron.⚜

7 Jesus, during the days of his earthly life in the body, when he had offered up prayers and requests with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, was heard because of his reverence. 8 Despite being the Son, he still learned the meaning of obedience by the things he suffered, 9 and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.

5:7-9 The writer shows that Christ had another of the qualifications of a high priest – the ability to “have compassion” on people. This ability was made perfect because of His sufferings on earth. In other places in the letter he shows how Christ fulfilled the other duties of a high priest – representing people before God (v 1; Heb 7:25; 9:24), and offering a sacrifice for sins (Heb 7:27; 8:3; 9:11-12; 10:28; 10:10, 14).⚜

10 He was called of God to be high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

5:1-10 He continues with the subject of Christ as high priest. Verses 1-4 give the qualifications of a good high priest among the people of Israel. Verses 5-10 show that Christ has these qualifications.⚜

THIRD WARNING: Do not fall away

11 We have many things to say concerning him, things difficult to explain, because you are slow to understand what you hear. 12 By now you ought to be teachers, but you still need someone to teach you again the basic things of God’s revelation, and have become like those who need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who takes milk is inexperienced in the teaching of righteousness, for he is a little child. 14 But solid food is for those who have grown up, to those who by continual use have trained their minds to discern both good and evil.

5:11-14 The writer begins another exhortation and warning which concludes at Heb 6:12. It is a warning against falling away (Heb 6:6). He gave it because he saw in some of these Hebrew Christians a lack of progress in the Christian life.⚜

5:12-14 This, no doubt, is the complaint of many a pastor, teacher and evangelist today also. Many Christians there are who, after years of Christian profession, still want only milk and seem able to take only milk, that is, the more simple truths of the gospel. They flock to evangelistic meetings and stay away from meetings for Bible study. And even the basic truths seem to slip away from them so that there is need to teach them over again.⚜