Hebrews · Chapter 5
Hebrews 5 KJV Explained Verse by Verse
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About Hebrews 5
You could be a Christian for twenty years and still be a beginner. Nobody plans it that way. You just keep hearing the same simple truths without ever putting them to work, and the years go by. Chapter 5 shows us what kind of high priest Jesus is. He didn’t take the honor for Himself. He was called by God, as Aaron was.
Verse 6: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
That line comes from Psalm 110, and it’s the first time Melchisedec is named in this letter. Aaron’s priests served until they died. This Priest serves forever. Then verse 8 tells us something you would never expect: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;” He never once disobeyed. What He learned was what obedience costs.
Then the tone changes. These readers should have been teachers by now, and they still needed milk. So how does a believer move from milk to solid food?
Teaching Notes
Taken from among men (verses 1–3)
Every high priest was taken from among the people and appointed to stand before God for them, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (verse 1). Because he was weak himself, he could deal gently with people who didn’t know better and with people who had wandered off (verse 2). Verse 3 says he had to offer sacrifices for his own sins, the same as for the people’s. On the Day of Atonement, known here in Israel as Yom Kippur, Leviticus 16 says Aaron had to offer a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household before he could make atonement for anyone else. The goat for the people’s sin came after it. A high priest who forgot his own weakness would make a hard and harsh priest.
Called of God (verses 4–6)
Nobody took the honor of being high priest for himself. God had to call him, the way He called Aaron (verse 4). In Exodus 28 God told Moses to bring Aaron and his sons near so they could serve Him as priests. In the same way, Christ didn’t appoint Himself (verse 5). The One who said to Him in Psalm 2, “Thou art my Son,” also said in another psalm, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (verse 6). That second line comes from Psalm 110, and it’s the first time Melchisedec is named in this letter. Aaron’s priests served until they died. This Priest serves forever.
He learned obedience (verses 7–10)
In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence for God (verse 7). Many see Gethsemane here, where Matthew tells us Jesus prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” He was not spared the cross, but God did not leave Him in death either, and many believe the answer came not by taking Him around the cross but by raising Him up on the other side of it. Then verse 8: though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered. Jesus never had to learn to stop disobeying. He never disobeyed once. What He learned was what obedience costs. Being made perfect, fully fitted for the work of saving us, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (verse 9). That doesn’t mean we earn salvation by obeying. Obeying Him begins with trusting Him, and a life of following Him shows the trust was real.
Milk and strong meat (verses 11–14)
There was much more to say about Him, but it was hard to explain, because these readers had grown “dull of hearing” (verse 11). The subject was hard, but the bigger problem was the listeners. By this time they ought to have been teachers (verse 12). Instead they needed someone to teach them again the first principles of the oracles of God, and they had gone back to milk. Milk is right for a newborn, but this is someone who has been in the family for years and still can’t handle anything more (verse 13). Strong meat belongs to those of full age, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (verse 14). Growth happens by use. And if you feel behind, don’t lose heart. In the very next chapter these readers are told that better things are expected of them.
Hebrews 5 (KJV)
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.