Hebrews 5:8

Heb. 5:8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Perhaps surprisingly Edwards mentions Hebrews 5:8 while discussing in Freedom of the Will "that it was impossible that the Acts of the Will of the human soul of Christ should be otherwise than holy…."

Thus it is evident, that it was impossible that the acts of the will of the human soul of Christ should be otherwise than holy, and conformed to the will of the Father; or, in other words, they were neessarily so conformed.

I have been the longer in the proof of this matter, it being a thing denied by some of the greatest Arminians, by Episcopius in particular; and because I look upon it as a point clearly and absolutely determining the controversy between Calvinists and Arminians, concerning the necessity of such a freedom of will as is insisted on by the latter, in order to moral agency, virtue, command or prohibition, promise or threatening, reward or punishment, praise or dispraise, merit or demerit. I now therefore proceed,

II. To consider whether Christ, in his holy behavior on earth, was not thus a moral agent, subject to commands, promises, etc.:

Dr. Whitby very often speaks of what he calls a freedom ad utrum libet, without necessity, as requisite to law and commands; and speaks of necessity as entirely inconsistent with injunctions and prohibitions. But yet we read of Christ's being the subject of the commands of his Father (John 10:18; John 15:10). And Christ tells us, that every thing he said, or did, was in compliance with commandments he had received of the Father (John 12:49; John 12:50; John 14:31). And we often read of Christ's obedience to his Father's commands (Romans 5:19; Php_2:8, Hebrews 5:8).

It is not as surprising in the sermons on Justification by Faith.

So Christ's laying down his life might be part of that obedience by which we are justified, though it was a positive precept not given to Adam. It was doubtless Christ's main act of obedience, because it was obedience to a command that was attended with immensely the greatest difficulty, and so to a command that was the greatest trial of his obedience. His respect shown to God in it, and his honor to God's authority was proportionably great: it is spoken of in Scripture as Christ's principal act of obedience. Php_2:7; Php_2:8, "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Hebrews 5:8. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things that he suffered." It was mainly by this act of obedience that Christ purchased so glorious a reward for himself; as in that place in Php_2:8; Php_2:9, "He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." And it therefore follows from what has been already said, that it is mainly by this act of obedience that believers in Christ also have the reward of glory, or come to partake with Christ in his glory. We are as much saved by the death of Christ, as his yielding himself to die was an act of obedience, as we are, as it was a propitiation for our sins: for as it was not the only act of obedience that merited, he having performed meritorious acts of obedience through the whole course of his life; so neither was it the only suffering that was propitiatory; all his sufferings through the whole course of his life being propitiatory, as well as every act of obedience meritorious: indeed this was his principal suffering; and it was as much his principal act of obedience.

Heb. 5:9