Hebrews 5

The Son Appointed High Priest and the Danger of Spiritual Immaturity

The chapter explains that Christ is the God-appointed, suffering, obedient, and perfected high priest, then confronts hearers who should be mature but have become dull and need training in righteousness.

World English Bible, Public Domain

The high priest is taken from among the people, appointed by God, and offers sacrifices while dealing gently with sinners.

Hebrews 5:1-10

Christ was appointed by God, learned obedience through suffering, and became the eternal High Priest who secures salvation for those who respond in obedient faith.

1 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2 The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.

3 Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.

4 Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

Jesus did not seize priestly honor but was appointed by God as Son and priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

5 So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”

6 As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

In his incarnate suffering, Christ offered reverent prayers, learned obedience, was made perfect, and became the source of eternal salvation.

7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

9 Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,

10 named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The author rebukes the hearers for becoming slow to learn and needing milk when they should be mature teachers trained in discernment.

Hebrews 5:11-14

Believers who remain spiritually passive become dull and undiscerning, but maturity requires active engagement with God's Word and practiced obedience.

11 About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.

12 For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.

13 For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

14 But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Key Terms

ἀρχιερεύς archiereus G749
καθίστημι kathistēmi G2525
δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας dōra te kai thysias G1435
μετριοπαθέω metriopatheō G3356
ἀγνοέω agnoeō G50
πλανάω planaō G4105
καλέω kaleō G2564
δοξάζω doxazō G1392
τάξις taxis G5010
Μελχισεδέκ Melchisedek G3198
δέησις deēsis G1162
εὐλάβεια eulabeia G2124

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details