Hebrews 5:7-9
Chapter 5
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Christ, in the days of his mortal life, offered his sacrifice with tears and cries. He prayed to him who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his humble submission.
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Although he was Son, he learned through suffering what obedience was,
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and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for those who obey him.
Commentaries
Jesus, the Suffering Priest.
The preacher explains what Christ’s priestly mediation involves by comparing his priesthood to the role of high priest in Israel. Against the background of the Jewish priesthood, he illustrates that Christ’s priesthood is not merely a continuation but a complete break—something fundamentally different that redefines and gives new meaning to both the word “priest” and the priestly role. He suggests that, ultimately, the Temple priesthood failed because it lacked the essential qualities: solidarity and compassion toward the “ignorant and lost.” The first key difference of Jesus as a priest was that he was without sin; the second was that he was chosen as high priest without coming from a priestly family, since Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi.