Heb 5:1-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Heb 5:1-10: 5:1-10 This section addresses the appointment of the Son of God as a superior High Priest. The focal text is Ps 110:4 , which reveals God’s oath that the Son would be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. 5:1 Every high priest: This phrase introduces requirements for high priests in general. • a man: The high priest was one of the people, so Jesus had to become human (see 2:17-18 ). • A second requirement for high priests was that they would represent other people by offering sacrifices on their behalf (7:25-28 ). Only the high priest could offer the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement (Exod 29 ; Lev 16:1-25 ).

Summary for Heb 5:1-10: 5:1-10 ^a This section addresses the appointment of the Son of God as a superior High Priest. The focal text is Ps 110:4 ^b, which reveals God’s oath that the Son would be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. 5:1 ^c Every high priest: This phrase introduces requirements for high priests in general.

• a man: The high priest was one of the people, so Jesus had to become human (see 2:17-18 ^d).

• A second requirement for high priests was that they would represent other people by offering sacrifices on their behalf (7:25-28 ^e). Only the high priest could offer the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement (Exod 29 ^f; Lev 16:1-25 ^g).
5:2 ^h A high priest was able to deal gently with those who sin because he himself was subject to the same weaknesses, i.e., he was sinful (5:3 ⁱ; cp. 4:15 ^j).
5:3 ^k On the Day of Atonement the high priest was required to offer sacrifices for himself and his household prior to offering sacrifices for the people (Lev 16:11 ^l).
5:4 ^m The role of high priest is by God’s appointment rather than human enlistment (see Exod 28:1 ⁿ; Lev 8:1-12 ^o; Num 16:1-26 ^p).
Summary for Heb 5:5-6: 5:5-6 ^q The author brings Pss 2:7 ^r and 110:4 ^s together based on shared language—both passages have God speaking to his Son. The exalted Son, who came to earth as a human (Heb 1–2 ^t), is the one God has appointed to a unique high priesthood.
Summary for Heb 5:7-10: 5:7-10 ^u Jesus’ suffering was a foundation for his superior priesthood. The Son’s humiliation and suffering preceded his exaltation (2:9 ^v; Phil 2:5-11 ^w). 5:7 ^x The phrase with a loud cry and tears is probably an allusion to Christ’s suffering in the Garden (see Matt 26:36-46 ^y; Mark 14:32-42 ^z; Luke 22:40-46 ^aa). God heard his prayers in the sense of affirming his righteousness and suitability for his role as high priest. Jesus’ faithful devotion is being presented as an example for the readers (cp. Heb 12:2-3 ^ab).
5:8 ^ac he learned obedience from the things he suffered: Jesus was not disobedient before his suffering, but he walked his path of human experience—all the way to his death on the cross—in complete submission to the Father’s will. We are expected to travel the same path (12:1-11 ^ad).
5:9 ^ae God qualified him as a perfect High Priest: As used in Hebrews, perfect means “complete” or “mature” (see 2:10 ^af; 5:14 ^ag; 7:11 ^ah; 9:9-11 ^ai). Jesus, through his sufferings, was qualified to be the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

• High Priest is not in the Greek text, but it is implied.

• As the Son obeyed the Father (5:8 ^aj), submitting completely to the Father’s will, so those who come to him for salvation must obey him.
5:10 ^ak a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek: See 7:1-28 ^al.