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General rationale for the powers of the high priest (1–3). Jesus Christ satisfies the conditions for the authority of high priests both by the calling of God and by the ability to be a true intercessor for others (4-10). A short lesson on what was said (11–14). Hebrews 5:1. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed for men to serve God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, Hebrews 5:2. who is able to bear with the ignorant and erring, because he himself is overcome with weakness, Hebrews 5:3. and therefore he must offer sacrifices for sins both for the people and for himself. “For men it is supplied for the service of God.” Although each person himself is obliged to serve God, the Lord is pleased to choose from among people special servants for Himself, whose service consists especially in offering gifts and sacrifices for the sins of people, from which the high priest himself is not excluded (Lev. 16:11-15, etc.). This is the Divine decree. Regarding those for whom sacrifices must be made, the apostle uses softened expressions, as about “the ignorant and erring” (cf. 1 John 3:9, 2:3, 11, etc.), which, however, also has its own formidable meaning, making it clear that if those who sin out of ignorance and error can enjoy the condescension of the High Priest, then those who resist Him consciously and stubbornly do not have this hope (Numbers 15:22, 31; Lev.4:2, 5:1-15). Hebrews 5:4. And no one accepts this honor of his own accord, but is called by God, like Aaron. The high priestly service is called here “honor,” which implies its special dignity, height and value: the election is made by God Himself for the immediate service to Him and for the salvation of others. Hebrews 5:5. So Christ did not appropriate to Himself the glory of being a high priest, but He who said to Him: You are My Son, today I have begotten You; “Took the glory” – Greek. αδόξασε γενηθήναι ερχιερέα, slav. “You did not glorify yourself to be a high priest.” If for ordinary people the very election to the high priesthood was an honor, then the Son of God, Who already in His essence had all the full rights of the high priesthood, in the highest sense of the word receives His high priestly honor and glory in a special way - by fulfilling the will of God regarding the salvation of man through His suffering (Luke 24:26, 46-47). Hebrews 5:6. as in another place he says: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. “A priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek...” The expression is borrowed from Ps.109:4, which is undoubtedly recognized as messianic. Psalmody prophesies about a king who is called “the Lord” (mine, that is, David’s, cf. Matt. 22:43; Mark 12:36, etc.), sitting at the right hand of God, and all enemies will be under His feet. Such a king - the same name as the Lord, equal in honor and equal to Him, of course, could only be the Son of God - the Messiah - Christ. This spiritual king from the seed of David will also be a Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, that is, he will combine both titles - the kingdom and the priesthood - into one inseparable and mysteriously significant whole, as Melchizedek united them. The comparison with Melchizedek and the clarification of the special spiritual affinity with him of the Son of God, as the King-High Priest, later attracts the attention of the apostle several more times. Hebrews 5:7. He, in the days of His flesh, with a strong cry and with tears offered prayers and supplications to Him who was able to save Him from death; and was heard for His reverence; Hebrews 5:8. Although He is the Son, He learned obedience through suffering, Hebrews 5:9. and, having been perfected, became the author of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, Hebrews 5:10. being named High Priest by God according to the order of Melchizedek. The Apostle gives a reminder of the path of suffering and sorrow by which Christ achieved the fact that he was called by God our High Priest, the author of eternal salvation. The prayers that He brought to His Father “with cries and tears” show, on the one hand, that He was not an unauthorized usurper of the royal-high-priestly service. On the contrary, He was an obedient instrument in the hands of the Heavenly Father, who chose for Him such a difficult path to this ministry, on which He had to learn by hard experience what human weakness is in order to be able to sympathize with our weaknesses and be an example for us of saving obedience. - “In the days of His flesh...” - during earthly life (cf. Heb. 2:14; 1 Pet. 4:2). - “With a strong cry and with tears...” Here, obviously, refers to the prayers of the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. St. explains how this prayer was heard. Ev. Luke, reporting that then an Angel was sent to Christ, who strengthened Him (Luke 22:43) for the coming suffering. - “Having been named by God as High Priest...” This “naming”, or God’s glorification of Christ as High Priest, should have followed simultaneously with the accomplishment of our salvation at the moment of the Savior’s death on the Cross (“accomplished!”). Hebrews 5:11. We should talk a lot about this; but it is difficult to interpret, because you have become unable to listen. Hebrews 5:12. For, judging by the times, you should have been teachers; but you again need to be taught the first principles of the word of God, and you need milk, not solid food. Hebrews 5:13. Everyone who is fed on milk is ignorant of the word of righteousness, because he is a child; Hebrews 5:14. solid food is characteristic of the perfect, whose senses are accustomed to distinguish between good and evil. The Apostle finds it difficult to touch too deeply on the important issue he raised, citing the lack of preparedness of the listeners, who demand “milk and not solid food,” that is, more basic teaching (cf. 1 Cor 3:2; 1 Pet 2:2). However, further (Heb. 6:9) he stipulates that not all of his readers are like that, and therefore exhorts them to strive to be perfect, and especially not to deviate from the perfection already achieved. And those whom he now calls incapable of hearing (v. 11) became such in spite of the more natural expectation of seeing them more perfect (v. 12). Nevertheless, the apostle begins to further lead them to this perfection of knowledge of the teachings of Christ (Heb. 6). You might be interested in: