“And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.”
This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people — the Levitical priest's own sinfulness requires him to offer sacrifices for himself before interceding for others. This point clarifies the limitation of the old covenant priesthood: priests were themselves in need of cleansing, unable to provide perfect mediation.
Church Fathers on Hebrews 5:3
The blessed Paul wishes to show in the next place that this covenant is far better than the old. This then he does by first laying down remote considerations. For inasmuch as there was nothing bodily or that made a show, no temple for instance, nor Holy of Holies, nor Priest with so great apparel, no legal observances, but all things higher and more perfect, and there was nothing of bodily things, but all was in things spiritual, and things spiritual did not attract the weak,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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