John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 2:17

"Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." — Hebrews 2:17 (ASV)

Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren (Hebrews 2:17), or, to be like his brethren. In Christ’s human nature, there are two things to consider: the real flesh and the affections or feelings. The Apostle then teaches us that Christ not only put on the real flesh of man but also all those feelings that belong to man. He also shows the benefit that comes from this. It is the true teaching of faith when we, in our own experience, find the reason why the Son of God took on our infirmities; for all knowledge without feeling the need of this benefit is cold and lifeless. But he teaches us that Christ was made subject to human affections, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest (Hebrews 2:17). I explain these words to mean, “that he might be a merciful, and therefore a faithful, high priest.”

For in a priest, whose office it is to appease God’s wrath, to help the miserable, to raise up the fallen, and to relieve the oppressed, mercy is especially required, and this is what experience produces in us. For it is rare for those who are always happy to sympathize with the sorrows of others. The following saying of Virgil was undoubtedly derived from daily examples found among men:

“Not ignorant of evil, I learn to aid the miserable.”

The Son of God had no need of experience to know the emotions of mercy. But we could not be persuaded that he is merciful and ready to help us if he had not become acquainted with our miseries through experience. This, like other things, has been given to us as a favor. Therefore, whenever any evils afflict us, let it always occur to us that nothing happens to us that the Son of God has not himself experienced, so that he might sympathize with us. Nor let us doubt that he is presently with us, as if he suffered with us.

Faithful means true and upright, for it is the opposite of a hypocrite and of one who does not fulfill his commitments. An acquaintance with our sorrows and miseries so inclines Christ to compassion that he is constant in imploring God’s aid for us. What else? Having purposed to make atonement for sins, he put on our nature so that we might have in our own flesh the price of our redemption; in short, so that by the right of a common nature he might introduce us, together with himself, into the sanctuary of God. By the words in things pertaining to God (Hebrews 2:17), he means such things as are necessary to reconcile men to God; and since the first access to God is by faith, a Mediator is needed to remove all doubting.