Hebrews 5 - Summary

Historical setting

This letter was written to Jewish Christians, probably in the final decades of the first century, though the exact date is uncertain. The readers know the Jewish temple system intimately: they grew up with it, and some may have been priests themselves. They would understand immediately what a high priest was, what he did on the Day of Atonement, and what it meant to speak of "Melchizedek" (a mysterious priest-king from Genesis, revered in Jewish tradition). The writer addresses a community that has been Christian for some time but is beginning to lose momentum, and he wants to show them that Jesus fulfills the highest role in their former religion and surpasses it entirely.

Life and customs

A high priest in the Jewish system was the holiest person alive. Once a year he entered the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies) on behalf of all Israel to offer sacrifices for sin. The role was hereditary within the tribe of Levi, passed down through Aaron's line. No one could claim the priesthood for himself; God had to call him to it. The word "infirmity" here means weakness or human limitation, including the capacity to sin. In Jewish thought, a priest needed to understand human weakness from the inside to represent sinners effectively. Melchizedek, mentioned in Genesis as a priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham, had no recorded genealogy; Jewish teachers saw him as a timeless, superior priestly order, more ancient and mysterious than Aaron's.

What the text says

Verses 1-4 describe the human high priest. He is chosen from among humans (verse 1) to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin. He can sympathize with the ignorant and wayward because he himself is compassed with infirmity (verse 2). This is why he must offer sacrifice not only for the people but also for himself (verse 3). Crucially, no one seizes this honour but one called by God, like Aaron was (verse 4).

Verses 5-6 apply this pattern to Christ. Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest (verse 5). Instead, God said to him, "Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee" (quoted from Psalm 2), and "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (quoted from Psalm 110).

Verses 7-10 show Christ as priest during his earthly life. He offered prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared (verse 7). Though he were a Son, he learned obedience through suffering (verse 8). Made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to those who obey him (verse 9), called of God a high priest after the order of Melchisedec (verse 10).

Verses 11-14 rebuke the readers. The author has much to say about this, but they are dull of hearing (verse 11). They should be teachers by now, but instead need someone to teach them the first principles again, like infants needing milk rather than solid food (verse 12). Those still drinking milk are unskilful in the word of righteousness (verse 13), whereas strong meat belongs to those mature, whose senses are exercised to discern good and evil (verse 14).

Takeaways

• Christ's priesthood is superior because it is eternal and of the Melchizedek order, not dependent on human genealogy or repeated sacrifice.
• Christ learned obedience and compassion through his own suffering, fitting him to represent sinners.
• The readers have spiritual immaturity; they need to advance from elementary principles to deeper understanding.