Hebrews 5 - Introduction
Two qualifications for High-Priesthood: (1) capacity for sympathy (Hebrews 5:1-3); (2) a special call (Hebrews 5:4-10). Spiritual dulness of the Hebrews (Hebrews 5:11-14)... [ Continue Reading ]
Two qualifications for High-Priesthood: (1) capacity for sympathy (Hebrews 5:1-3); (2) a special call (Hebrews 5:4-10). Spiritual dulness of the Hebrews (Hebrews 5:11-14)... [ Continue Reading ]
_For every high priest taken from among men_ Rather, "being taken," or "chosen as he is" (comp. Exodus 28:1). The writer now enters on his proof that in order to fit Him for the functions of a High Priest for men it was necessary that Christ should become Man. He has already called attention to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_have compassion on_ Rather, "_deal gently with_" The word _metriopathein_means properly "to shew moderate emotions." All men are liable to emotions and passions (_pathç_). The Stoics held that these should be absolutely crushed and that "apathy" (ἀπάθεια) was the only fit condition for a Philosophe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And by reason hereof_ i.e. because of this moral weakness. _he ought_ He is bound not merely as a legal duty, but as a moral necessity. _so also for himself_ The Law assumed that this would be necessary for every High Priest (Leviticus 4:3-12). In the High Priest's prayer of intercession he said,... [ Continue Reading ]
_this honour_ i.e. this honourable office. We have here the second Qualification for Priesthood. A man's own caprice must not be the Bishop which ordains him. He must be conscious of a divine call. _but he that is called of God_ Rather, "but on being called by God," or "when he is called by God." Gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_So also Christ_ Rather, "_So even the Christ_." Jesus, the Messiah, the true Anointed Priest, possessed both these qualifications. _glorified not himself_ He has already called the High Priesthood "an honour," but of Christ's Priesthood he uses a still stronger word "glory" (Hebrews 2:9; John 12:2... [ Continue Reading ]
_in another place_ Psalms 110:4. This Psalm was so universally accepted as Messianic that the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases the first verse of it "The Lord _said to His Word_:" _after the order al-dibhrathi_, "according to the style of." Comp. Hebrews 7:15, "after the likeness of Melchisedek. _aft... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who_ i.e. the Christ. _of his flesh_ The word "flesh" is here used for His Humanity regarded on the side of its weakness and humiliation. Comp. Hebrews 2:14. _when he had offered up_ Lit. "having offered up." _prayers and supplications_ The idiosyncrasy of the writer, and perhaps his Alexandrian... [ Continue Reading ]
_Though he were a Son_ Rather, " SON though He was," so that it might have been thought that there would be no need for the great sacrifice; no need for His learning obedience from suffering. _yet learned he obedience_ Perhaps rather "His obedience. The stress is not on His "_learning_" (of course _... [ Continue Reading ]
_and being made perfect_ Having been brought to the goal and consummation in the glory which followed this mediatorial work. See Hebrews 2:10 and comp. Luke 13:32, "the third day _I shall be perfected_." _he became the author_ Literally, "the cause." _of eternal salvation_ It is remarkable that th... [ Continue Reading ]
_called_ Lit, "saluted" or "addressed by God as." This is the only place in the N.T. where the verb occurs. _a high priest after the order of Melchisedec_ We should here have expected the writer to enter at once on the explanation of this term. But he once more pauses for a solemn exhortation and wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Complaint that his readers were so slow in their spiritual progress 11. _Of whom_ i.e. of Melchisedek in his typical character. There is no need to render this "of which matter" or to refer it to Christ. The following argument really centres in the word Melchisedek, and its difficulty was the novel... [ Continue Reading ]
_For when for the time ye ought to be teachers_ That is, "though you ought, by this time, to be teachers, considering how long a time has elapsed since your conversion." The passage is important as bearing on the date of the Epistle. _ye have need that one teach you again which be the first princip... [ Continue Reading ]
_that useth milk_ The meaning is "who feeds on milk." _unskilful_ "Inexperienced." _for he is a babe_ This is a frequent metaphor in St Paul, who also contrasts "babes" (_nçpioi_) with the mature (_teleioi_), Galatians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 2:6; Ephesians 4:13-14. We are only to be "babes" in wickedn... [ Continue Reading ]
_belongeth to them that are of full age_ The solid food of more advanced instruction pertains to the mature or "perfect." _by reason of use_ "Because of their habit," i.e. from being habituated to it. This is the only place in the N.T. where this important word ἕξις _habitus_occurs. _their senses_... [ Continue Reading ]