Hebrews 5:3

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 5:3

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:1-3

The character and office of the Aaronic high priest foreshadows the higher glory of Jesus Christ. As there had been given some counsels to pray for Divine help because our Lord is the Divine High Priest, the thought advances to show the true idea of a high priest under the Mosaic Law, that over against him may appear in his glory the character of him who was one after the order of Melchizedek. The ancient priest was taken from among men to minister in spiritual things, as others are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:1-6

Christ's Divine appointment to the high priesthood the fulfillment of one essential qualification for that position. This begins the third great section of the Epistle. Section 1. ( Hebrews 1:1-14 . and 2) sets forth the Deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus; Christ's superiority to the angels through whose ministration the old dispensation was said to be established. Section it. ( Hebrews 3:1-19 . and 4) sets forth the surpassing greatness of our Lord as compared with Moses, the great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:1-6

The qualifications and functions of the true priest. I. HE IS TAKES FROM AMONG MEN . It is not an angelic ministry. The true humanity of Jesus must ever be emphasized. A perfect man is needed to be the true priest, but he must be a man. And the reason of this is found in the kind of work he has to do. Especially in that part of it which concerns the sin offering. He has to act for those who, begirt with infirmity, are continually showing their ignorance, and continually... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:1-10

Style high priesthood of Christ. In these verses the author proceeds with his discussion of the priestly character and work of the Lord Jesus, as typified by the Aaronical priesthood. I. WHAT A HIGH PRIEST IS . The office is a most honorable one; it is referred to in Hebrews 5:4 as "the honor." This will appear from a consideration of the high priest's functions and qualifications. 1. His functions. The most important of these are indicated in Hebrews 5:1 . 2. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:3

And by reason hereof he ought (or, is bound, ὀφείλει ), as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. This obligation is evident in the ease of the high priests of the Law. Consequently, their sin offering for themselves, in the first place, was a prominent part of the ceremonial of the Day of Atonement, which the writer may be supposed to have especially in view ( Leviticus 16:1-34 ). But can we suppose any corresponding necessity in the case of Christ? The argument... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 5:3

And by reason hereof - Because he is a sinner; an imperfect man. “As for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.” To make an expiation for sins. He needs the same atonement; he offers the sacrifice for himself which he does for others; Leviticus 9:7. The same thing is true of the ministers of religion now. They come before God feeling that they have need of the benefit of the same atonement which they preach to others; they plead the merits of the same blood for their own salvation... read more

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