Hebrews 5:2,Hebrews 5:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:2

An essential qualification for successful ministry. "Who can have compassion on the ignorant," etc. According to our reading of the New Testament, the Christian ministry is not a priesthood except in the sense that, being Christians, ministers belong to that "holy priesthood," that "royal priesthood," of which every true Christian is g member. Yet there were certain qualifications of the Aaronic priesthood which are indispensable to the usefulness of the Christian ministry. One of these is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Who can have compassion - Margin, “Reasonably bear with.” The idea is that of “sympathizing with.” The high priest is taken from among men, in order that he may have a fellow-feeling for those on whose behalf he officiates. Sensible of his own ignorance, he is able to sympathize with those who are ignorant; and compassed about with infirmity, he is able to succour those who have like infirmities.And on them that are out of the way - The erring, and the guilty. If he were taken from an order of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 5:2-3

Hebrews 5:2-3. Who can have compassion The word μετριοπαθειν , here used, signifies to feel compassion in proportion to the misery of others. The apostle’s words imply that a high-priest, who is not touched with a feeling of the weaknesses and miseries of others, is unfit to officiate for them, because he will be apt to neglect them in his ministrations, or be thought by the people in danger of so doing. On the ignorant Who, not being properly instructed in divine things, are involved... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:1-10

A high priest for the faithful (4:14-5:10)Because people were in danger of denying their Christian faith and going back to Judaism, they are reminded that Christ’s priesthood is incomparably superior to Aaron’s. Christ needs no tabernacle or temple, for he has passed through the heavens and into the presence of God. Through him, believers also may enter this presence, and ask God’s help during their temptations. They can depend upon Christ, because being man he can sympathize with them, and... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 5:2

Who can = Being able (to). have compassion on . Greek. metriopatheo. Only here. ignorant . Greek. agnoeo. Sinners through ignorance. Leviticus 4:2 , Leviticus 4:22 , Leviticus 4:27 . Numbers 15:28 . them, &c . = erring (Leviticus 5:1 - Hebrews 6:7 ). Compare App-128 . compassed with . Greek. perikeimai. Here, Hebrews 12:1 .Mark 9:42 .Luke 17:2 .Acts 28:20 . infirmity . See Hebrews 4:15 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is encompassed with infirmity.The need of compassion on the part of a high priest is stressed here, a qualification sadly lacking in many who held that position. Alexander Jannaeus, one particularly heartless priest, was singled out by Bruce, who said of him, "No man in Israel was less disposed to `bear gently with the ignorant and erring' - or anyone else." He further said that from the "fall of the house of Zadok to... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Hebrews 5:2. Who can have compassion— The word Μετριοπαθειν signifies "to treat with moderation and gentleness." See the margin. "Who is able to proportion his compassion to those that are ignorant, and wandering from the exact paths of God's commandments, because he himself also is incident to infirmity." The ignorant and erroneous are here put, by a usual figure, for those who wander, or sin, through ignorance; the case, in which priests, appointed by men, were to offer sacrifices for them. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 5:2

2. Who can—Greek, "being able"; not pleasing himself ( :-). have compassion—Greek, "estimate mildly," "feel leniently," or "moderately towards"; "to make allowance for"; not showing stern rigor save to the obstinate ( :-). ignorant—sins not committed in resistance of light and knowledge, but as Paul's past sin (1 Timothy 1:13). No sacrifice was appointed for wilful sin committed with a high hand; for such were to be punished with death; all other sins, namely, ignorances and errors, were... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 5:1-10

II. THE HIGH PRIESTLY CHARACTER OF THE SON 3:1-5:10The writer proceeded to take up the terms "merciful" and "faithful" from Hebrews 2:17 and to expound them in reverse order. He spoke of the faithfulness of Jesus (Hebrews 3:1-6, exposition) and the need for his hearers to remain faithful as well (Hebrews 3:7 to Hebrews 4:14, exhortation). He then encouraged his audience with a reminder of Jesus’ compassion as a merciful high priest in the service of God (Hebrews 4:15 to Hebrews 5:10,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 5:2-3

A high priest also had to be a compassionate person. This grew out of his own consciousness of being a sinner himself. In other words, he needed not only to carry out his duties acceptably, but he also needed to do so with the proper attitudes and feelings. "Deal gently with" (Gr. metriopathein) means neither indifferent to moral lapses nor harsh."Although nothing is said in the Old Testament about moral qualities [such as compassion], the writer has deduced this quality of gentle understanding... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 5:2-3

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:1-10

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 5:2

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 5:1-10

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 5:2-3

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