Read or listen The Epistle to the Hebrews chapter 5 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

The Great High Priest – Hebrews 5:1-10

Verses 1-4 present a list of qualifications for the Old Testament high priests, and verses 5-10 show how Jesus met those requirements.

According to the Old Testament, high priests had to:

1. be chosen from among the people (verse 1)
2. offer sacrifices on behalf of the people (verse 1)
3. treat gently the ignorant and erring (verse 2)
4. also offer sacrifices on behalf of themselves (verse 3, compare Leviticus 9:7, 16:6)
5. be called by God: God called Aaron and through him all the priests (verse 4).

The fulfillment of these requirements in Jesus is presented in the reverse order:

1. God called Jesus to be high priest (verses 5-6)
2. Jesus offered prayers also for himself (verse 7, Judaism considered prayer to be a sacrifice as well), but he did not need to offer a sin offering for himself (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus did not need a sacrifice for himself, but he offered himself. Jesus' prayer was heard, even though he had to die. God released him from death in the resurrection.
3. Jesus accepted the part of man in order to understand sinners (verse 8)
4. Jesus became the source of eternal salvation (verse 9)
5. Jesus was not a priest of the Levitical priesthood, but of the mysterious order of Melchizedek (Genesis 14) (verse 10).

Again the author quotes from the Old Testament, once again from the Psalms: in verse 5 Psalm 2:7:

"I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you."

and in verse 6 Psalm 110:4:

"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”

The episode comforted the first readers: Jesus has also experienced what it is like to be alone (verse 7, a reference to the prayer struggle in Gethsemane), so he can understand those who are discriminated against because of their faith.

Grow in the knowledge of God! – Hebrews 5:11-14

Both the writer of Hebrews and John (1 John 2:12-14, compare also 1 Corinthians 3:1) divide Christian growth into three periods:

1. Childhood (verse 13)
2. Youth/adulthood (verse 14)
3. Old age/teacher of others (verse 12)

Christian faith either grows or withers. Staying still is impossible. This section is the first rebuke of the letter. The spiritual life of the recipients has not developed as it should have.

Apparently, the author thought that the discussion of the Melchizedek priesthood was so difficult that readers had to be inspired to study it even with such drastic words of awakening. The author speaks of the basics of doctrine in chapter 6 and returns to the discussion of "solid food," the Melchizedek priesthood, in chapters 7-10.

Even in religious life, one must first learn the basics, only then can one move on to other things. A common mistake is to focus on sanctification, even though justification is not yet properly understood (compare the structure of the Epistle to the Romans: sin - justification - sanctification).

There is a saying in England about sports: "No pain, no gain." This is also true of growing as a Christian. It does not happen by itself, but we have to work for it. As the third article of faith of the Catechism teaches, it is still entirely the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Luther said: "Work as if your prayer would help nothing, and pray as if your work would help nothing!"