Hebrews 5:1-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 5:1-9

We have here an account of the nature of the priestly office in general, though with an accommodation to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are told, I. Of what kind of beings the high priest must be. He must be taken from among men; he must be a man, one of ourselves, bone of our bones, flesh of our flesh, and spirit of our spirits, a partaker of our nature, and a standard-bearer among ten thousand. This implies, 1. That man had sinned. 2. That God would not admit sinful man to come to him immediately... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 5:1-10

5:1-10 Every high priest who is chosen from among men is appointed on men's behalf to deal with the things which concern God. His task is to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, in that he himself is able to feel gently to the ignorant and to the wandering because he himself wears the garment of human weakness. By reason of this very weakness it is incumbent upon him, just as he makes sacrifice for the people, so to make sacrifice for sins on his own behalf also. No one takes this honourable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:1

For every high priest taken from among men ,.... Every one that was an high priest under the law was a man, and not an angel; and it was proper he should be so, that he might be a priest for men, have compassion on them, and offer for them; and he was among the number of common men, and was taken out from them, and chosen and separated from the rest of men, as Aaron and his sons were from the children of Israel, Exodus 28:1 . And such an one is ordained for men ; in their room and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:2

Who can have compassion on the ignorant ,.... Who have committed sins of ignorance, and bring their sacrifices for them; these he does not insult and upbraid, nor break out into anger and indignation against; but pities them, and sympathizes with them; has a just measure of compassion suitable to their condition, and bears with them with great moderation and temper: and on them that are out of the way ; of God's commandments; who are like sheep going astray, and turn to their own way;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:3

And by reason hereof ,.... Because of his sinful infirmity: he ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins ; as he offered sacrifice for the sins of the people, so he was obliged to offer for his own sins; in this Christ differed from the high priest, for he had no sin of his own to offer for, Hebrews 7:27 but he had, and therefore offered for them, Leviticus 16:11 and made a confession of them: the form of which, as used on the day of atonement, was this; "he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:4

And no man taketh this honour to himself ,.... That is, the honour of the priesthood: the office of the high priest was a very honourable one; it was a peculiar honour to Aaron, and his sons, to be separated unto it; their instalment into it was very grand and solemn; at that time they were anointed with oil, and clothed with glorious garments, and sacrifices were offered for them; they had an honourable maintenance assigned them, and a large retinue of priests and Levites to attend them;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:1

For every high priest taken from among men - This seems to refer to Leviticus 21:10 , where it is intimated that the high priest shall be taken מאחיו meachaiv , from his brethren; i.e. he shall be of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of Aaron. Is ordained for men - Ὑπερ ανθρωπων καθισταται τα προς τον Θεον· Is appointed to preside over the Divine worship in those things which relate to man's salvation. That he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins - God ever... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:2

Who can have compassion on the ignorant - The word μετριοπαθειν , signifies, not merely to have compassion, but to act with moderation, and to bear with each in proportion to his ignorance, weakness, and untoward circumstances, all taken into consideration with the offenses he has committed: in a word, to pity, feel for, and excuse, as far as possible; and, when the provocation is at the highest, to moderate one's passion towards the culprit, and be ready to pardon; and when punishment... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:3

And by reason hereof - As he is also a transgressor of the commands of God, and unable to observe the law in its spirituality, he must offer sacrifices for sin, not only for the people, but for himself also: this must teach him to have a fellow feeling for others. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:4

This honor - Την τιμην undoubtedly signifies here the office, which is one meaning of the word in the best Greek writers. It is here an honorable office, because the man is the high priest of God, and is appointed by God himself to that office. But he that is called of God, as was Aaron - God himself appointed the tribe and family out of which the high priest was to be taken, and Aaron and his sons were expressly chosen by God to fill the office of the high priesthood. As God alone had... read more

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