57 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. (Hebrews 5:1)

This was true of the high priests of the old covenant and must also be true of Christ if He was to fulfill that office. Thus, Christ became incarnate not only on account of His eternal purpose to live among His people but primarily in order to fulfill the qualifications of the High Priest.

The purpose of a High Priest was:

1. To presents gifts that people brought to God and

2. Offer sacrifices for the people’s sins.

He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. (Hebrews 5:2)

The high priest was supposed to be a man of compassion knowing that he too had the same weaknesses as the people he was representing. This tells us that a leader must never be judgemental about his people.

God made specific commands to help the high priest minister with compassion. In the breastplate of the high priest were set twelve stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, and on the shoulder straps were stones engraved with the names of the tribes. In this, the people of Israel were always on the heart and on the shoulders of the high priest (Exodus 28:4-30). The intention was to stir the compassion in the heart of the high priest.

Because of this, he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. (Hebrews 5:3)

The high had to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs. In other words, he had to deal with his own weaknesses before he could address the weaknesses of others.

And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:4)

The High Priest was taken from the community of God’s people but was not chosen by people. He had to be called by God just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; (Hebrews 5:5-6)

Christ too was called and chosen by God.

A priest forever: This is an important contrast. Jesus’ priesthood (like Melchizedek’s) is unending, but no High Priest descended from Aaron ever had a forever priesthood.

who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, (Hebrews 5:7)

One of the secrets to answered prayer is a deep reverence for God. Christ received supernatural answers to His prayers because of His godly fear.

though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)

Some argue that we might learn through suffering, but such lessons are only God’s second-best and God really intends for us His children to learn only by His word, and it is never His real plan to teach us through trials and suffering.

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

It can be said that all five human senses have their spiritual counterparts.

i. We have a spiritual sense of taste:

If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:3). Taste and see that the LORD is good! (Psalm 34:8)

ii. We have a spiritual sense of hearing:

Hear and your soul shall live (Isaiah 55:3). He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:7).

iii. We have a spiritual sense of sight:

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law (Psalm 119:18). The eyes of your understanding (heart) being enlightened (Ephesians 1:18)

iv. We have a spiritual sense of smell:

He shall be of quick scent in the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:3, RV margin). I am full, having received from… you, a sweet-smelling aroma (Philippians 4:18).

v. We have a spiritual sense of touch or feeling:

Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD (2 Kings 22:19). The hardening of their heart; who being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness (Ephesians 4:18-19)

The good news is that these spiritual senses can be honed through training to recognize the difference between right and wrong, and good and evil.

Chapter 5