Heb 5:7-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Heb 5:7-10: 5:7-10 Jesus’ suffering was a foundation for his superior priesthood. The Son’s humiliation and suffering preceded his exaltation (2:9 ; Phil 2:5-11 ). 5:7 The phrase with a loud cry and tears is probably an allusion to Christ’s suffering in the Garden (see Matt 26:36-46 ; Mark 14:32-42 ; Luke 22:40-46 ). 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 ).

Summary for Heb 5:7-10: 5:7-10 ^a Jesus’ suffering was a foundation for his superior priesthood. The Son’s humiliation and suffering preceded his exaltation (2:9 ^b; Phil 2:5-11 ^c). 5:7 ^d The phrase with a loud cry and tears is probably an allusion to Christ’s suffering in the Garden (see Matt 26:36-46 ^e; Mark 14:32-42 ^f; Luke 22:40-46 ^g). 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 ^h).
5:8 ⁱ 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 ^j).
5:9 ^k God qualified him as a perfect High Priest: As used in Hebrews, perfect means “complete” or “mature” (see 2:10 ^l; 5:14 ^m; 7:11 ⁿ; 9:9-11 ^o). 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 ^p), submitting completely to the Father’s will, so those who come to him for salvation must obey him.
5:10 ^q a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek: See 7:1-28 ^r.