John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 5:2

"who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity;" — Hebrews 5:2 (ASV)

Who can, etc. This fourth point has some affinity to the first, yet it may be distinguished from it. For the Apostle previously taught us that mankind is united to God in the person of one man, as all men partake of the same flesh and nature. But now he refers to another thing: that the priest ought to be kind and gentle to sinners, because he partakes of their infirmities.

The word which the Apostle uses, μετριοπαθεῖν, is differently explained by both Greek and Latin interpreters. I, however, think that it simply means one capable of sympathy. All the things said here of the Levitical priests do not indeed apply to Christ; for Christ, we know, was exempt from every contagion of sin. He therefore differed from others in this respect: that he had no necessity of offering a sacrifice for himself.

But it is enough for us to know that he bore our infirmities, though free from sin and undefiled. Then, as to the ancient and Levitical priests, the Apostle says that they were subject to human infirmity, and that they also made atonement for their own sins, so that they might not only be kind to others who had gone astray, but also condole with or sympathize with them.

This part should be applied to Christ to the extent that it includes the exception he previously mentioned: that is, that he bore our infirmities, while yet being without sin. At the same time, though always free from sin, that previously described experience of infirmities is alone abundantly sufficient to incline him to help us, to make him merciful and ready to pardon, and to render him solicitous for us in our miseries. The sum of what is said is that Christ is a brother to us, not only because of unity in flesh and nature, but also by becoming a partaker of our infirmities, so that he is led, and, as it were, formed, to show forbearance and kindness.

The participle, δυνάμενος, is more forceful than in our common language, qui possit, “who can,” for it expresses aptness or fitness. He has used the terms The ignorant and those out of the way (or erring) instead of “sinners,” according to Hebrew usage. For שגגה (shegage) means every kind of error or offense, as I will explain shortly.