These are my study notes for Hebrews Chapter 5. I don't know if they will make much sense to anyone else, but if they are helpful to anyone feel free to use them. The scripture references and discussion notes should have aligned with the appropriate scriptures, but I lost that somehow when I loaded the table into my blog. On the left is, obviously, the Bible text, the center column contains the scriptures I referenced or wanted to reference, and the right-hand column has discussion topics.
Hebrews 5 (NASB)
1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;
3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.
4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU";
6 just as He says also in another passage, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."
7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.
8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Scripture Refs.: 5:5 - Psalm 2.
5:6 - Psalm 110; Gen. 14.
Discussion Notes: 5:1 - “both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” Are "Gifts" above and beyond sacrifices for sin or are there "gifts and sacrifices for sin."
5:3 - “he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins” vs. Jesus who was sacrificial.
5:4 - “No one takes the honor to himself,” is applicable across the board, not just priests. God honors the humble.
5:8 -Obedience learned through suffering - relate to message that suffering serves to mature Christians into image of God. What is this "suffering"? It's not the suffering we bring on ourselves because Jesus brought no such suffering on himself.
5:9 - “having been made perfect,” born perfect or through suffering.
5:11-“Today”-promise is available today, right now for us to enter into His rest.
5:12 - “you need milk not solid food” true still to this day. Most of the church is still partaking of only milk.