Bible Commentaries
Hebrews 5

Verses 1-14

1 The chief priest in Israel was able to sympathize with the human frailties of the people because he himself had the same, and sinned, like the rest. But Christ's sufferings, unspeakably more trying than any priest's, never led Him into sin. The priest could offer a sacrifice for himself. Christ could not, for He was the Sacrifice, which must be without blemish. Yet, though He had no sin and did no sin, His close contact with sin and its sufferings enables Him to enter into perfect sympathy with those thus placed.

4 The honors of the priesthood have been coveted or usurped only at awful cost. Korah, Dathan and Abiram claimed the priesthood and were swallowed up by the earth (Numbers16). The censers of those with them were made into broad plates to cover the altar as a memorial that no stranger, not of the seed of Aaron, may come near to offer incense before the Lord (Numbers 16:40). King Uzziah also transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. In consequence, the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests, and he was thrust out, and was a leper to the day of his death (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Hence it would appear a most serious matter for anyone outside the line of Aaron to set himself up as a priest. Only one called by God dare aspire to the honor. It is necessary, therefore that Christ Himself, Who was not of the tribe of Levi, much less a son of Aaron, should have a definite call. Not by personal ambition, but by the call of God which involved such suffering as is most repugnant to flesh and blood, did Christ obtain His priesthood. God did save Him out of death, but not from the "cup".

11 The Jews were blind to the failures and disabilities connected with the Aaronic priesthood, hence could not appreciate the necessity of a new order for the Messiah. This made the whole subject a difficult one to unfold to them. The principal lessons are drawn from the inspired omissions in the record, which require a measure of spiritual apprehension which they did not possess.