Hebrews 5
14 verses
The high priest chosen from among men, appointed to offer sacrifice for sins—not merely the people's but his own—establishes the paradox central to Hebrews: Christ as priest yet transcending the Levitical order, his sacrifice differing fundamentally from Aaronic offerings. Christ did not exalt himself to the priesthood but was appointed by God, a claim grounding his authority in divine calling rather than human aspiration or institutional succession, making his priesthood unique and unrepeatable. He learned obedience through what he suffered—pathemata—and was made perfect (teleioō) establishes that Christ's path to priestly completion involved redemptive suffering, his experiential obedience qualifying him as sympathetic intercessor. Becoming the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him makes Christ the archegos (pioneer, source) of soteria (wholeness, salvation) to those who hear and heed, establishing a reciprocal relationship between Christ's redemptive work and believers' responsive obedience. The beginning of warning 3—the readers have become dull of hearing and require milk not solid food—establishes that theological maturation requires sustained engagement, false teachers' easy promises and speculative wandering insufficient for deep spiritual nourishment. The warning trajectory from chapter 3's unbelief through chapter 4's failure to enter rest to chapter 5's immaturity establishes a progressive deepening of warning, each ratcheting up the stakes of inattention to apostolic teaching.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
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:
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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.
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3
And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
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God is faithful in every circumstance.. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this pass...
4
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
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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.
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6
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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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;
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8
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
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9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
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There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, ...
10
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
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11
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
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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.
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13
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption,...
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.
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