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Matthew Henry

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 5:4

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 5:4

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:4

Verse 4 4.And no man, etc. There is to be noticed in this verse partly a likeness and partly a difference. What makes an office lawful is the call of God; so that no one can rightly and orderly perform it without being made fit for it by God. Christ and Aaron had this in common, that God called them both; but they differed in this, that Christ succeeded by a new and different way and was made a perpetual priest. It is hence evident that Aaron’s priesthood was temporary, for it was to cease. We... 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 5:4

And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but being called of God (the ὁ of Textus Receptus before καλούμενος — "he that is called," as in A.V.—has very slight authority), even as was Aaron. This verse expresses the second essential of a high priest, Divine appointment, for assurance of the efficacy of his mediation. Of course Aaron's successors derived their Divine commission from his original one (cf. Numbers 21:26 ; Numbers 26:10-14 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:4-6

These verses show us the honor of the priesthood. Aaron was divinely called ( Exodus 28:1 ), and was endowed with gifts and qualifications for the office. It was an honor to approach unto God in the sacred uses of his ministry; "for blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee." He transacted the most important affairs for the people, and made reconciliation for them on the Day of Atonement. He revealed and interpreted the Divine will by Urim and Thummim, and his... read more

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