Charles Spurgeon Commentary Hebrews 5:3

"and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins." — Hebrews 5:3 (ASV)

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

We know that, being beset by infirmity and imperfection, the high priests first offered sacrifices for themselves, and then afterwards offered them for the people.

Christ, being pure and holy, needed no sacrifice for himself; but he did offer a complete, and acceptable, and sufficient sacrifice for us.

And by reason hereof he ought, —

That is, the ordinary high priest, chosen from among men, ought —

As for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

But our Lord had no sins of his own. Do not, therefore, think that he is less sympathetic with us because he had no sins; far from it.

Fellowship in sin does not create true sympathy, for sin is a hardening thing. If there are two men, who are guilty partners in sin, they never really help each other, they have no true heart of kindness, either of them; but when the time of difficulty comes, each man looks to his own interest.

The fact that Christ is free from sin, is a circumstance which does not diminish the tenderness of his sympathy with us, but rather increases it.