‏ Hebrews 5

* The office and duty of a high priest abundantly answered in

Christ. (1-10) The Christian Hebrews reproved for their little

progress in the knowledge of the gospel. (11-14)

1-10 The High Priest must be a man, a partaker of our nature.

This shows that man had sinned. For God would not suffer sinful

man to come to him alone. But every one is welcome to God, that

comes to him by this High Priest; and as we value acceptance

with God, and pardon, we must apply by faith to this our great

High Priest Christ Jesus, who can intercede for those that are

out of the way of truth, duty, and happiness; one who has

tenderness to lead them back from the by-paths of error, sin,

and misery. Those only can expect assistance from God, and

acceptance with him, and his presence and blessing on them and

their services, that are called of God. This is applied to

Christ. In the days of his flesh, Christ made himself subject to

death: he hungered: he was a tempted, suffering, dying Jesus.

Christ set an example, not only to pray, but to be fervent in

prayer. How many dry prayers, how few wetted with tears, do we

offer up to God! He was strengthened to support the immense

weight of suffering laid upon him. There is no real deliverance

from death but to be carried through it. He was raised and

exalted, and to him was given the power of saving all sinners to

the uttermost, who come unto God through him. Christ has left us

an example that we should learn humble obedience to the will of

God, by all our afflictions. We need affliction, to teach us

submission. His obedience in our nature encourages our attempts

to obey, and for us to expect support and comfort under all the

temptations and sufferings to which we are exposed. Being made

perfect for this great work, he is become the Author of eternal

salvation to all that obey him. But are we of that number? 11-14 Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult,

and even those who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow

to believe. Much is looked for from those to whom much is given.

To be unskilful, denotes want of experience in the things of the

gospel. Christian experience is a spiritual sense, taste, or

relish of the goodness, sweetness, and excellence of the truths

of the gospel. And no tongue can express the satisfaction which

the soul receives, from a sense of Divine goodness, grace, and

love to it in Christ.