Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 5:5

"So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee:" — Hebrews 5:5 (ASV)

Christ has the qualification of being called by God. There is perhaps a hint at his obedience in the use of the term “the Christ” rather than the human name “Jesus.” He who was God’s own Christ did not take the glory on himself (cf. Jn 8:54). The writer cites two passages, the first being Ps 2:7 (cf. Hebrews 1:5). He will later argue that Jesus ministers in the heavenly sanctuary. Accordingly, it is important that Jesus be seen to be the Son, one who has rights in heaven. The second citation is from Ps 110:4. The first verse of this psalm is often applied to Jesus (e.g., Hebrews 1:13), but this is the first time the Melchizedek passage is used in this way. The psalm says, “You are a priest forever,” which is the first use of the term “priest” (GK 2636) in this letter (used fourteen times). The author uses it of priests generally (7:14; 8:4), of the Levitical priests (7:20, etc.), of Melchizedek (7:1, 3), and of Christ (5:6; 7:11, 15, 17, 21; 10:21). When it is used of Christ, it seems to differ little from “high priest.” It is a powerful way of bringing out certain aspects of Christ’s saving work for the human race. All that a priest does in offering sacrifice for people Christ does. But whereas priests do it only symbolically, he really effects atonement. “Forever” is another contrast. Other priests have their day and pass away. Not Christ! His priesthood abides. He has no successor (a fact that will be brought out later). He is a priest “of the same kind as Melchizedek” (a better translation than “of the order of Melchizedek,” for there was no succession of priests from Melchizedek). Jesus was a priest of this kind—not like Aaron and his successors.