Hebrews Chapter 5

Updated: September 14, 2025

The Perfect High Priest

(Psalm 110:1-7)

1For 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: 2Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5So 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.

6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7Who 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; 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Warning against Drifting Away

11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12For 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. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But 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.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Perfect High Priest
(Psalm 110:1–7)

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.

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.”

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.

Milk and Solid Food
(1 Corinthians 3:1–9)

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 oracles 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.

The Perfect High Priest
(Psalm 110:1–7)

1 Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness. 3 That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him:

“You are My Son;

today I have become Your Father.” a

6 And in another passage God says:

“You are a priest forever

in the order of Melchizedek.” b

7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him 10 and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Milk and Solid Food
(1 Corinthians 3:1–9)

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. c You need milk, not solid food!

13 For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes:

5 a Psalm 2:7; literally today I have begotten You
6 b Psalm 110:4
12 c Or of the oracles of God

The Perfect High Priest

(Psalm 110:1-7)

1For every chief priest -- out of men taken -- in behalf of men is set in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, 2able to be gentle to those ignorant and going astray, since himself also is compassed with infirmity; 3and because of this infirmity he ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins; 4and no one to himself doth take the honour, but he who is called by God, as also Aaron:

5so also the Christ did not glorify himself to become chief priest, but He who spake unto him: 'My Son thou art, I to-day have begotten thee;'

6as also in another place He saith, 'Thou art a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

7who in the days of his flesh both prayers and supplications unto Him who was able to save him from death -- with strong crying and tears -- having offered up, and having been heard in respect to that which he feared, 8through being a Son, did learn by the things which he suffered -- the obedience, 9and having been made perfect, he did become to all those obeying him a cause of salvation age-during, 10having been addressed by God a chief priest, according to the order of Melchisedek,

Warning against Drifting Away

11concerning whom we have much discourse and of hard explanation to say, since ye have become dull of hearing, 12for even owing to be teachers, because of the time, again ye have need that one teach you what are the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and ye have become having need of milk, and not of strong food, 13for every one who is partaking of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness -- for he is an infant, 14and of perfect men is the strong food, who because of the use are having the senses exercised, unto the discernment both of good and of evil.

The Favor of God paraphrase

Jesus as the Perfect High Priest

¹ Every high priest is chosen from among the people to represent them before God. His role is to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray because he himself is subject to weakness. ³ Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor upon himself, but he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ In the same way, Jesus did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but God said to Him, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” ⁶ And in another place, He says, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

⁷ During His earthly life, Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence for God. ⁸ Although He was the Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. ⁹ And once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

A Call to Spiritual Maturity

¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant, not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes:

1.“High priest” (verse 1) refers to the spiritual mediator between God and the people, chosen to perform sacred duties, reflecting the role of Jesus as our ultimate mediator.

2.“Melchizedek” (verse 6) is a mysterious figure from the Old Testament, a priest and king, whose unique priesthood prefigures that of Jesus—eternal and without succession.

3.“Prayers and petitions” (verse 7) refers to Jesus’ intense prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, showcasing His humanity and dependence on God in the face of suffering.

4.“Made perfect” (verse 9) does not imply Jesus was imperfect before, but through His suffering and obedience, He completed His mission and became the perfect Savior.

5.“Milk, not solid food” (verse 12) is a metaphor for basic spiritual teaching (milk) versus deeper, more advanced understanding (solid food), emphasizing the need for growth in faith.

New Bible Challenges and Quizzes being added regularly.

Begin a Bible Quiz

The F.O.G Commentary

When Jesus Became Our Great High Priest

What’s Hebrews 5 about?

This chapter reveals how Jesus uniquely qualifies as our eternal high priest – not through ancestry or human appointment, but through divine calling and perfect obedience through suffering. It’s about God establishing a completely new way for humanity to access Him.

The Full Context

The author of Hebrews was writing to Jewish Christians who were facing intense persecution and considering returning to Judaism. They were struggling to understand how Jesus could be their high priest when He wasn’t from the priestly tribe of Levi. Some were likely questioning whether abandoning the familiar Temple system was worth the suffering they now faced. This passage directly addresses their doubts by explaining Christ’s superior priesthood.

Within the broader structure of Hebrews, chapter 5 serves as a crucial bridge between the doctrinal foundation laid in chapters 1-4 and the deeper theological exploration that follows. The author has established Jesus as superior to angels, Moses, and Joshua – now he tackles the most sensitive issue for his Jewish audience: the priesthood itself. This chapter introduces themes that will be fully developed through chapter 10, particularly the concept of Jesus as a priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” – a priesthood that transcends the limitations of the Levitical system.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Greek word archiereus (high priest) appears throughout this chapter, but it’s packed with meaning that goes far beyond our modern understanding of religious leadership. In the ancient world, the high priest was the ultimate mediator between God and humanity – the one person who could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement.

When the author describes Jesus as being “called by God” (kaloumenos), he’s using the same word used for the divine calling of Aaron in the Old Testament. This isn’t about career choice or religious vocation – it’s about divine appointment to a sacred office. The verb tense suggests something that happened at a specific moment in time but continues to have ongoing effects.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “learned obedience” uses the Greek verb emanthen, which comes from the same root as “disciple” (mathetes). Jesus literally “discipled Himself” through suffering – He became the perfect student of obedience through His human experience.

The most striking phrase in this chapter might be “though he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). The word epathen (suffered) is deliberately chosen to echo emanthen (learned) – it’s a play on words that would have been immediately apparent to Greek-speaking readers. Suffering became Jesus’ classroom for obedience.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

The F.O.G Bible Project

This page has a unique origin story and vision. Find out why your visit today is about more than words.

What is the F.O.G?

For Jewish Christians familiar with Temple worship, this chapter would have been both revolutionary and deeply reassuring. They knew that high priests were chosen from specific families, served for limited terms, and were themselves sinful men who needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins before interceding for others.

When they heard that Jesus “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7), they would have immediately thought of Gethsemane. But they also would have recognized something unprecedented – here was a priest who truly understood human weakness because He had experienced it Himself, yet without sin.

Did You Know?

The phrase “loud cries and tears” uses vocabulary typically associated with desperate, anguished prayer in extreme circumstances. This isn’t quiet, composed prayer – it’s the prayer of someone facing the ultimate test of faith and obedience.

The mention of Melchizedek would have been particularly intriguing. This mysterious figure appears briefly in Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalm 110:4, but Jewish tradition had developed extensive speculation about him. Some saw him as a prefiguration of the Messiah. The original audience would have understood that the author was claiming Jesus belonged to a priesthood that predated and superseded the Levitical system entirely.

But Wait… Why Did They…?

Here’s something that might puzzle modern readers: why does the author suddenly stop his explanation about Melchizedek and scold his readers for being “dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11)? It seems like an abrupt shift from profound theology to pastoral frustration.

The answer reveals something crucial about the original situation. These weren’t new believers struggling with basic concepts – they were mature Christians who should have been teaching others by now. The Greek word nothros (dull) doesn’t mean stupid; it means sluggish or lazy. They had become spiritually apathetic, perhaps due to persecution and discouragement.

Wait, That’s Strange…

The author says they need “milk” instead of “solid food,” but he’s been giving them incredibly sophisticated theology! This suggests their problem wasn’t intellectual capacity but spiritual maturity – they were refusing to engage deeply with difficult truths about their faith.

The imagery of milk versus solid food would have been immediately understood in a culture where weaning was a significant milestone. Just as physical growth requires progressing from liquid to solid nutrition, spiritual maturity requires moving beyond elementary teachings to deeper theological understanding.

Wrestling with the Text

The central tension in this chapter revolves around how Jesus can be both fully divine and genuinely human. The author insists that Jesus “learned obedience through suffering,” which raises profound questions. If Jesus was perfect and sinless, what did He need to learn? How can the eternal Son of God grow in obedience?

The answer lies in understanding the incarnation – the mystery of God becoming human. Jesus didn’t need to learn obedience because He was disobedient; He learned it because He took on human nature. As a human being, He experienced the full weight of temptation, fear, and physical suffering that make obedience costly and difficult.

This isn’t about Jesus becoming better or more righteous – it’s about Him fully experiencing what it means to trust God from within human limitations. When Hebrews 2:10 says He was “made perfect through suffering,” it’s using teleioo, which means “to complete” or “to bring to maturity.” His priesthood was completed through His human experience of suffering.

“Jesus didn’t learn obedience because He was disobedient – He learned it because He became one of us, experiencing the full cost of trusting God from within human flesh.”

How This Changes Everything

Understanding Jesus as our great high priest fundamentally transforms how we approach God. Unlike the Old Testament system where priests were appointed by human succession and served temporary terms, Jesus was appointed directly by God and serves forever. Unlike earthly priests who needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Jesus was sinless and offered Himself once for all.

But perhaps most importantly, Jesus understands our struggles in a way no earthly priest ever could. He “learned obedience through suffering” means that when we face difficult circumstances that test our faith, we have a high priest who has walked that same path. When we’re tempted to give up, doubt, or compromise, we can come boldly to the throne of grace knowing that our advocate truly understands.

The priesthood “according to the order of Melchizedek” represents something entirely new in salvation history. It’s not based on tribal ancestry, ritual purity, or human appointment – it’s based on God’s eternal decree and Jesus’ perfect qualification through His incarnation, death, and resurrection.

This means that access to God is no longer limited by geography (you don’t need to go to Jerusalem), ancestry (you don’t need to be Jewish), or mediation through human priests. Through Jesus, every believer has direct access to the Father – not because we’re worthy, but because our high priest has made us worthy through His perfect sacrifice.

Key Takeaway

Jesus qualifies as our eternal high priest not despite His humanity but because of it – He learned through suffering what it costs to trust God completely, making Him the perfect advocate for everyone who struggles to remain faithful in difficult circumstances.

Hebrews Chapter 5

Add Comment

God's Word is too vast for a single perspective. We all have a story, and as believers we all carry the Holy Spirit who is the Revealer. With this in mind - I would love to read your comments.