Hebrews 5


Hebrews 5, part of the epistle to the Hebrews, written around AD 60–68, likely before the Jerusalem temple’s destruction, focuses on Christ’s high priesthood, comparing it to the Levitical priesthood while emphasizing His superiority as a priest like Melchizedek. The author addresses the readers’ spiritual immaturity, urging them to grow beyond basic teachings, and highlights Jesus’ obedience and suffering as qualifications for His eternal priesthood.
Key Sections
Qualifications of High Priests (5:1–4): Every high priest, chosen from among men, represents people before God, offering gifts and sacrifices for sins, gently dealing with the ignorant and wayward due to his own weakness. No one takes this honor himself; God appoints, as with Aaron.
Christ’s Priesthood Like Melchizedek (5:5–6): Christ didn’t glorify Himself but was appointed by God, who said, “You are my Son” (Psalm 2:7) and “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4), distinct from Aaron’s order.
Jesus’ Obedience and Suffering (5:7–10): In His earthly life, Jesus offered prayers with loud cries and tears to God, who could save Him from death, and was heard for His reverence. Though a Son, He learned obedience through suffering, and being perfected, became the source of eternal salvation for those who obey Him, designated by God as high priest like Melchizedek.
Rebuke for Immaturity (5:11–14): The author has much to say about Melchizedek but finds it hard, as the readers are dull of hearing, needing milk like infants, not solid food. They should be teachers by now but require basic teachings again, unskilled in righteousness, unlike mature believers who discern good and evil through practice.
Cross-References
  • High Priest’s Role:
    • Leviticus 16:6–17: Atonement duties.
    • Hebrews 2:17: Merciful priest.
    • Exodus 28:1: Aaron’s appointment.
  • Christ’s Appointment:
    • Psalm 2:7: God’s Son.
    • Psalm 110:4: Melchizedek priest.
    • Hebrews 7:17–21: Eternal priesthood.
  • Jesus’ Suffering:
    • Matthew 26:39: Gethsemane prayer.
    • Philippians 2:8: Obedient to death.
    • Luke 22:44: Agony in prayer.
  • Eternal Salvation:
    • Hebrews 9:12: Eternal redemption.
    • John 17:2–3: Eternal life.
    • Romans 5:10: Saved by His life.
  • Spiritual Immaturity:
    • 1 Corinthians 3:1–3: Carnal infants.
    • Ephesians 4:14: Tossed by doctrine.
    • 1 Peter 2:2: Crave milk.
  • Maturity’s Discernment:
    • Philippians 1:9–10: Discern what’s best.
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:21: Test everything.
    • Isaiah 7:15: Know good and evil.
Theological Meaning
  • Priestly Compassion: High priests, sharing human weakness, mediate gently, fulfilled perfectly in Christ (5:2; Hebrews 4:15).
  • Divine Appointment: God’s call, not self-exaltation, establishes priesthood, seen in Jesus (5:5; John 5:30).
  • Melchizedek’s Order: Christ’s eternal priesthood surpasses Aaron’s temporary one (5:6; Hebrews 7:11–12).
  • Obedience Through Suffering: Jesus’ trials perfected His priestly role, enabling salvation (5:8–9; Romans 5:19).
  • Eternal Salvation: Christ’s priesthood offers permanent redemption for the obedient (5:9; Hebrews 9:28).
  • Need for Growth: Spiritual immaturity hinders understanding, requiring progress to maturity (5:12–14; Ephesians 4:13).
Questions and Answers
  1. What qualifies a high priest (5:1–3)?
    Human appointment, offering sacrifices, and compassion from shared weakness (5:1–2; Leviticus 4:3).
  2. How was Jesus appointed (5:5–6)?
    By God, declared Son (Psalm 2:7) and eternal priest like Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4) (5:5; Hebrews 7:21).
  3. What suffering did Jesus endure (5:7)?
    Intense prayers, like in Gethsemane, facing death, yet obedient (5:7; Mark 14:36).
  4. How was Jesus “perfected” (5:9)?
    Through suffering, He completed His role as priest, qualified to save (5:9; Hebrews 2:10).
  5. Why rebuke immaturity (5:11–12)?
    Readers’ dullness blocked deeper truths, needing basics despite long faith (5:12; 1 Corinthians 3:2).
  6. What is “solid food” (5:14)?
    Advanced teachings, like Melchizedek’s priesthood, for those discerning good and evil (5:14; Hebrews 6:1).
  7. How does this apply today?
    Grow in faith, trust Christ’s priesthood, and obey to receive salvation (5:9; 2 Peter 3:18).
Additional Notes for Readers
  • Historical Context: Written to Jewish Christians, possibly in Rome or Jerusalem (Hebrews 13:24), facing persecution and tempted to revert to Judaism (Hebrews 10:32–34). The temple’s operation (5:1–3) suggests a pre-AD 70 date. Melchizedek (5:6) and Aaron (5:4) resonated with their Jewish priestly heritage, urging trust in Christ.
  • Cultural Questions: “High priest” (5:1) evokes Jewish temple roles, central to Hebrews’ audience (Exodus 29:1). “Melchizedek” (5:6) draws on Jewish tradition, mysterious yet revered (Genesis 14:18–20). “Suffering” (5:8) uses Greco-Roman heroic imagery, relatable in persecution (Philippians 2:8). “Milk” (5:12) reflects Greco-Roman education metaphors, vivid in urban centers (1 Peter 2:2). “Discernment” (5:14) counters Jewish legal disputes, relevant in synagogues (Romans 14:1–4). “Son” (5:5) uses Jewish messianic titles, bold in Roman contexts (Psalm 2:2).
  • Application: Hebrews 5 calls believers to trust Christ’s eternal priesthood, grow in spiritual maturity, and obey through trials. It challenges stagnation, reliance on rituals, and fear, urging progress in faith and hope in Jesus’ salvation in a challenging world (Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 2:6–7).
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