The Bible — World English Bible

Hebrews 5

In brief

Hebrews 5 presents Jesus as the high priest. The author recalls what a priest is: chosen from among men, he offers sacrifices and can sympathize with the weak. He did not take this office for himself but received it from God. Christ too is called by God, in the order of Melchizedek. In the days of his flesh, he prayed with tears and learned obedience through suffering, becoming the source of eternal salvation. The chapter ends with a rebuke: the readers are slow to understand and need milk rather than solid food.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-4What a high priest is
  2. v. 5-10Christ, priest in the order of Melchizedek
  3. v. 11-14From milk to solid food: the call to maturity

1For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.

3Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.

4Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

5So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”

6As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

7He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

8though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

9Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,

10named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

11About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.

12For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.

13For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

14But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Key verses

Verse 7
He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

Jesus prayed with loud cries and tears in the days of his flesh. The verse shows Christ's real humanity and his submission to the Father.

Verse 8-9
though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,

Although he is the Son, he learns obedience through what he suffers. He becomes, for those who obey him, the source of eternal salvation.

Verse 10
named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

God declares him high priest in the order of Melchizedek. This theme announces the development in the following chapters.

Verse 11-14
About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing. For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

The author reproaches his readers for staying on milk. The text contrasts beginners with those whose judgment is trained to tell good from evil.

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What the sermons say

What Is Spiritual Maturity?This article reads verses 12 to 14 as the central lesson on maturity: the problem is not starting with milk, but staying on it when you should have grown.Read the summary →Ecclesiastes 10-11: Four Follies to Leave Behind for a Wise LifeThe preacher pauses on verse 8: Jesus had to learn obedience, by listening to human parents and facing temptations in an unjust world.Read the summary →Marriage: A Living Picture of the GospelAnswering the question of salvation, the message cites verse 9: obeying Christ means accepting the salvation he gives and letting his word guide our life.Read the summary →25 Bible Verses on PrayerVerse 7 appears among the verses on prayer: the tears and cries of Jesus, heard because of his submission to the Father, give us the right to pray with the same honesty.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Hebrews 5

What does in the order of Melchizedek mean in Hebrews 5?

Melchizedek is a priest-king who appears in Genesis and Psalm 110. The author says that Jesus is a priest in the same way: not by genealogy, like the descendants of Aaron, but by God's call, forever. Chapter 7 develops this theme.

What does Hebrews 5:8 mean when Jesus learns obedience through suffering?

The text does not say that Jesus disobeyed. It says he lived out obedience in real suffering, at great cost. Christian traditions see in this proof that he understands our weaknesses, and that he was able to carry out the work of salvation to the end.

What is the difference between milk and solid food in Hebrews 5?

Milk refers to the first teachings of the faith, necessary at the start. Solid food is a deeper understanding, which trains judgment to tell good from evil. The author does not blame anyone for starting with milk, but for staying on it.

Articles quoting Hebrews 5

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World English Bible translation — public domain.