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Hebrews Chapter 5

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September 12, 2025

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🏛️ What is a High Priest?

A high priest is like a special helper chosen from regular people to talk to God for everyone else. Think of him like a bridge between people and God! The high priest would bring gifts and offer sacrifices to God to say “sorry” for everyone’s mistakes and sins. The cool thing about high priests is that they understand how hard it is to be good all the time, because they make mistakes too! That’s why they can be kind and patient with people who mess up or don’t know better. But here’s something interesting – even the high priest had to offer sacrifices for his own sins before he could help others with theirs! And guess what? Nobody could just decide to become a high priest on their own. They had to wait for God to choose them, just like God chose Aaron way back in Moses’ time.

✨ Jesus is the Perfect High Priest

Jesus didn’t make Himself a high priest either. His heavenly Father chose Him! God the Father said to Jesus, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” And in another place, God said, “You are a priest forever, just like Melchizedekᵃ was.” When Jesus lived on earth as a human, He prayed really hard – sometimes even crying tears – asking His Father to help Him. And God heard Jesus’ prayers because Jesus always obeyed and respected His Father, even when things got really tough. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned what it meant to obey by going through hard times. And when Jesus completed everything perfectly, He became the way for everyone who follows Him to be saved forever!

🍼 Growing Up in Faith

The writer of this letter had lots more amazing things to tell about Jesus being our high priest, but there was a problem. The people reading this letter weren’t listening very well anymore – they had become lazy learners! By this time, these people should have been like teachers, helping others learn about God. Instead, they needed someone to teach them the ABC’s of faith all over again! It was like they were still babies who needed milk instead of grown-ups who could eat solid food. You see, people who only drink milk are still babies and don’t understand much about doing what’s right. But people who eat solid food are mature – they’ve practiced so much that they can tell the difference between what’s good and what’s bad.
ᵃ Melchizedek: This was a mysterious king and priest who lived during Abraham’s time. Nobody knew who his parents were or when he was born or died – kind of like he appeared out of nowhere! This made him a perfect picture of Jesus, whose priesthood lasts forever and is way more special than the regular priests who came from Aaron’s family.

🤔 Think About It!

Just like these people in the letter, we need to keep growing in our faith! We start as babies learning simple things about God, but as we get older, we should be learning harder things and helping teach others too. Are you ready to grow from milk to solid food in your relationship with Jesus?
  • 1
    ¹Every high priest is chosen from among ordinary people and appointed to represent them before God, offering gifts and sacrifices for their sins.
  • 2
    ²He can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
  • 3
    ³This is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the people’s sins.
  • 4
    ⁴And no one takes this honor on himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
  • 5
    ⁵In the same way, the Messiah did not glorify Himself to become high priest, but was appointed by the One who said to Him, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”
  • 6
    ⁶And in another place He says, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedekᵃ.”
  • 7
    ⁷In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.
  • 8
    ⁸Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered.
  • 9
    ⁹And, once made perfect, He became the source of everlasting salvation for all who obey Him
  • 10
    ¹⁰and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
  • 11
    ¹¹We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
  • 12
    ¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
  • 13
    ¹³Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
  • 14
    ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes:

  • ⁶ᵃ Melchizedek: A mysterious priest-king from Abraham’s time who had no recorded genealogy, making him a perfect symbol of the Messiah’s eternal priesthood that transcends the limitations of the Levitical system.
  • 1
    (1) For every high priest taken from men is appointed on behalf of men in the things pertaining to יהוה YAHWEH, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for deviations.
  • 2
    (2) Being able to deal gently with the ignorantly deceived astray, since he’s also subject to weakness
  • 3
    (3) and because of it, he’s obligated to offer concerning deviations for himself, just as for the people.
  • 4
    (4) No one takes this honour himself but rather is summoned by יהוה YAHWEH, as Aaron (Light; Mountain) was.
  • 5
    (5) So also The Anointed, didn’t glorify Himself to become a High Priest but rather The One who said to Him, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I’VE BEGOTTEN YOU,”
  • 6
    (6) Just as He says also in another, “YOU ARE A PRIEST INTO THE AGE, ACCORDING TO THE PRIESTLY SUCCESSION OF MELCHIZEDEK (King of Righteousness).”
  • 7
    (7) In the days of His flesh, who having offered up both prayers and pleadings with loud crying and tears to The One able to save Him from death, was heard from His reverence.
  • 8
    (8) Although being The Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered
  • 9
    (9) and having been made perfectly complete, His verdict for all who obey Him became ageless salvation.
  • 10
    (10) Being called by יהוה YAHWEH as a High Priest according to the priestly succession of Melchizedek.
  • 11
    (11) Concerning whom we have much to say and it’s hard to tell you since becoming lazy to hear.
  • 12
    (12) For by this time you should be teachers! You have need again for someone to teach you the elements of the beginning of יהוה YAHWEH’s sayings and have come to need milk and not solid food.
  • 13
    (13) For everyone who shares of milk, isn’t accustomed to The Word of righteousness because he’s an infant.
  • 14
    (14) But solid food is for the mature who through maturity have their faculties in training to discern both good and evil.

Footnotes:

  • ⁶ᵃ Melchizedek: A mysterious priest-king from Abraham’s time who had no recorded genealogy, making him a perfect symbol of the Messiah’s eternal priesthood that transcends the limitations of the Levitical system.
  • 1
    For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
  • 2
    Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
  • 3
    And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
  • 4
    And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.
  • 5
    So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
  • 6
    As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
  • 7
    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
  • 8
    Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
  • 9
    And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
  • 10
    Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
  • 11
    Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
  • 12
    For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
  • 13
    For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
  • 14
    But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
  • 1
    Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
  • 2
    He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.
  • 3
    That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
  • 4
    No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
  • 5
    So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”
  • 6
    And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
  • 7
    During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
  • 8
    Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.
  • 9
    And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
  • 10
    and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
  • 11
    We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
  • 12
    Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
  • 13
    For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.
  • 14
    But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews Chapter 5 Commentary

1What’s Hebrews 5 about?
2The Full Context
3What the Ancient Words Tell Us
4What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?
5But Wait… Why Did They…?
6Wrestling with the Text
7How This Changes Everything
8Key Takeaway
9Further Reading

When Jesus Became Our Great High Priest

What’s Hebrews 5 about?

This chapter reveals how Jesus uniquely qualifies as our eternal high priest – not through ancestry or human appointment, but through divine calling and perfect obedience through suffering. It’s about God establishing a completely new way for humanity to access Him.

The Full Context

The author of Hebrews was writing to Jewish Christians who were facing intense persecution and considering returning to Judaism. They were struggling to understand how Jesus could be their high priest when He wasn’t from the priestly tribe of Levi. Some were likely questioning whether abandoning the familiar Temple system was worth the suffering they now faced. This passage directly addresses their doubts by explaining Christ’s superior priesthood.

Within the broader structure of Hebrews, chapter 5 serves as a crucial bridge between the doctrinal foundation laid in chapters 1-4 and the deeper theological exploration that follows. The author has established Jesus as superior to angels, Moses, and Joshua – now he tackles the most sensitive issue for his Jewish audience: the priesthood itself. This chapter introduces themes that will be fully developed through chapter 10, particularly the concept of Jesus as a priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” – a priesthood that transcends the limitations of the Levitical system.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Greek word archiereus (high priest) appears throughout this chapter, but it’s packed with meaning that goes far beyond our modern understanding of religious leadership. In the ancient world, the high priest was the ultimate mediator between God and humanity – the one person who could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement.

When the author describes Jesus as being “called by God” (kaloumenos), he’s using the same word used for the divine calling of Aaron in the Old Testament. This isn’t about career choice or religious vocation – it’s about divine appointment to a sacred office. The verb tense suggests something that happened at a specific moment in time but continues to have ongoing effects.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “learned obedience” uses the Greek verb emanthen, which comes from the same root as “disciple” (mathetes). Jesus literally “discipled Himself” through suffering – He became the perfect student of obedience through His human experience.

The most striking phrase in this chapter might be “though he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). The word epathen (suffered) is deliberately chosen to echo emanthen (learned) – it’s a play on words that would have been immediately apparent to Greek-speaking readers. Suffering became Jesus’ classroom for obedience.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

For Jewish Christians familiar with Temple worship, this chapter would have been both revolutionary and deeply reassuring. They knew that high priests were chosen from specific families, served for limited terms, and were themselves sinful men who needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins before interceding for others.

When they heard that Jesus “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7), they would have immediately thought of Gethsemane. But they also would have recognized something unprecedented – here was a priest who truly understood human weakness because He had experienced it Himself, yet without sin.

Did You Know?

The phrase “loud cries and tears” uses vocabulary typically associated with desperate, anguished prayer in extreme circumstances. This isn’t quiet, composed prayer – it’s the prayer of someone facing the ultimate test of faith and obedience.

The mention of Melchizedek would have been particularly intriguing. This mysterious figure appears briefly in Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalm 110:4, but Jewish tradition had developed extensive speculation about him. Some saw him as a prefiguration of the Messiah. The original audience would have understood that the author was claiming Jesus belonged to a priesthood that predated and superseded the Levitical system entirely.

But Wait… Why Did They…?

Here’s something that might puzzle modern readers: why does the author suddenly stop his explanation about Melchizedek and scold his readers for being “dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11)? It seems like an abrupt shift from profound theology to pastoral frustration.

The answer reveals something crucial about the original situation. These weren’t new believers struggling with basic concepts – they were mature Christians who should have been teaching others by now. The Greek word nothros (dull) doesn’t mean stupid; it means sluggish or lazy. They had become spiritually apathetic, perhaps due to persecution and discouragement.

Wait, That’s Strange…

The author says they need “milk” instead of “solid food,” but he’s been giving them incredibly sophisticated theology! This suggests their problem wasn’t intellectual capacity but spiritual maturity – they were refusing to engage deeply with difficult truths about their faith.

The imagery of milk versus solid food would have been immediately understood in a culture where weaning was a significant milestone. Just as physical growth requires progressing from liquid to solid nutrition, spiritual maturity requires moving beyond elementary teachings to deeper theological understanding.

Wrestling with the Text

The central tension in this chapter revolves around how Jesus can be both fully divine and genuinely human. The author insists that Jesus “learned obedience through suffering,” which raises profound questions. If Jesus was perfect and sinless, what did He need to learn? How can the eternal Son of God grow in obedience?

The answer lies in understanding the incarnation – the mystery of God becoming human. Jesus didn’t need to learn obedience because He was disobedient; He learned it because He took on human nature. As a human being, He experienced the full weight of temptation, fear, and physical suffering that make obedience costly and difficult.

This isn’t about Jesus becoming better or more righteous – it’s about Him fully experiencing what it means to trust God from within human limitations. When Hebrews 2:10 says He was “made perfect through suffering,” it’s using teleioo, which means “to complete” or “to bring to maturity.” His priesthood was completed through His human experience of suffering.

“Jesus didn’t learn obedience because He was disobedient – He learned it because He became one of us, experiencing the full cost of trusting God from within human flesh.”

How This Changes Everything

Understanding Jesus as our great high priest fundamentally transforms how we approach God. Unlike the Old Testament system where priests were appointed by human succession and served temporary terms, Jesus was appointed directly by God and serves forever. Unlike earthly priests who needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Jesus was sinless and offered Himself once for all.

But perhaps most importantly, Jesus understands our struggles in a way no earthly priest ever could. He “learned obedience through suffering” means that when we face difficult circumstances that test our faith, we have a high priest who has walked that same path. When we’re tempted to give up, doubt, or compromise, we can come boldly to the throne of grace knowing that our advocate truly understands.

The priesthood “according to the order of Melchizedek” represents something entirely new in salvation history. It’s not based on tribal ancestry, ritual purity, or human appointment – it’s based on God’s eternal decree and Jesus’ perfect qualification through His incarnation, death, and resurrection.

This means that access to God is no longer limited by geography (you don’t need to go to Jerusalem), ancestry (you don’t need to be Jewish), or mediation through human priests. Through Jesus, every believer has direct access to the Father – not because we’re worthy, but because our high priest has made us worthy through His perfect sacrifice.

Key Takeaway

Jesus qualifies as our eternal high priest not despite His humanity but because of it – He learned through suffering what it costs to trust God completely, making Him the perfect advocate for everyone who struggles to remain faithful in difficult circumstances.

Further Reading

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Tags

Hebrews 5:7, Hebrews 5:8, Hebrews 5:11, High Priest, Melchizedek, Incarnation, Obedience, Suffering, Priesthood, Sacrifice, Mediation, Access to God, Spiritual Maturity, Jewish Christianity

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