CHAP. 5. The high-priesthood of Christ is now formally introduced for fuller discussion. It has been mentioned in every chapter of the Epistle (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 4:5), and clearly occupies a chief place in the writer's mind, as it does in other books of Scripture. The n... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:1. FOR resumes the subject of discussion (see Hebrews 4:15), and gives a reason why Christ should possess the qualities here described (Hebrews 5:5). EVERY PRIEST. The reasoning is suggested by the case of the Aaronic priesthood, and refers in detail to that; but the words are applicable... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:2. WHO; rather, BEING ONE ABLE TO HAVE COMPASSION; literally, to be reasonably compassionate towards a word found in the New Testament only here. The Stoic prided himself on being apathetic in relation to sin and misery, as he held the gods were. A sympathetic or emotional nature rejoices... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:3. AND BY REASON HEREOF (the true reading, though requiring no change in the English Version), _i.e_ the infirmity with which he is himself compassed. HE OUGHT (under a double obligation, ethical and legal, with special reference in this instance to the first). AS FOR THE PEOPLE EVEN, S... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:4. A priest, moreover, who is God's agent as well as man's, has his appointment not from himself nor from man, but from God. AND NONE TAKETH THIS HONOUR (_the office,_ as the word frequently means) TO HIMSELF (upon himself, as we now say), _i.e_ legally, acceptably to the chief party in t... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:5. These requisites of the high priests are all found in Christ, and found in Him in such a degree as proves Him to be superior to all others. THUS CHRIST ALSO (as well as others) GLORIFIED NOT HIMSELF, took not the honour upon Himself (see John 8:54) TO BE MADE HIGH PRIEST, BUT HE (the F... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:6. Then follows a correction (according to the second of the above interpretations), or an assertion in plainer terms (according to the first) of this appointment. EVEN AS ALSO HE SAITH IN ANOTHER (literally, ‘a different') PLACE; a psalm written with a different purpose; a quotation fro... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:7. IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH (‘of His humanity,' Arabic), _i.e_ during His earthly life, especially in the closing part of it, as contrasted with the glorified state on which He entered when His high-priesthood began. WHEN HE HAD OFFERED up, etc.; rather, ‘in that He offered up.... was he... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:7-10. Having shown how Christ has one qualification for the Priesthood, the authority of a Divine appointment, based in part upon His relation to the Father, the writer now reverts to the other qualifications, His fitness to bear with our infirmities, and to sympathize with us in suffering... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:8. THOUGH HE WERE A SON; more accurately, ‘ THOUGH HE WAS SON ' (there is no conditional thought expressed, but a strong assertion); literally, though being [in His own nature] Son, YET LEARNED HE HIS OBEDIENCE (not obedience simply, but the obedience He practised, or the obedience which w... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:9. BEING MADE PERFECT, not only brought to the end, the completion of His learning and suffering, but having acquired all the necessary merit, power, and sympathy needed in His office after His obedience unto death. HE BECAME THE AUTHOR (literally, the cause, the personal principle) OF E... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:10. BEING CALLED OF GOD; rather, BEING ADDRESSED (not the same word as in Hebrews 5:4) BY GOD AS HIGH PRIEST: the title of honour wherewith the Son made perfect through suffering was saluted by the Father openly and solemnly when He made Him sit at His own right hand. Christ was Priest on... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:11. OF WHOM; that is, of Melchisedec, in his superiority to Aaron, and as the type of Christ. The other interpretations, ‘ OF CHRIST,' and ‘ OF WHICH THING,' are hardly defensible grammatically; the explanation just given is grammatically preferable, and is the same in sense. WE, not the... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAP. Hebrews 5:11 to Hebrews 6:20. The writer, knowing how unprepared his readers were to admit that the Aaronic priesthood was inferior to that of Melchisedec and to that of Christ (who was the antitype of both), interrupts his argument by remonstrating with them on their spiritual ignorance (Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 5:13-14 give the reason why the further teaching is hard to explain. FOR EVERY ONE WHO USETH MILK (takes it as his ordinary food, and can digest nothing else) IS UNSKILLED (literally, inexperienced) IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; not in the Gospel as the true and righteous word (Grotius, Bro... [ Continue Reading ]