John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 5:8

"though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;" — Hebrews 5:8 (ASV)

Yet learned he obedience, etc. The immediate purpose of Christ’s sufferings was to accustom himself to obedience. This was not because he was driven to it by force, or because he needed to be exercised in this way, as is the case with oxen or horses when their wildness is to be tamed; for he was abundantly willing to give his Father the obedience he owed. Rather, this was done for our benefit, so that he might present to us an instance and an example of submission, even to death itself.

It may also be truly said that Christ, through his death, fully learned what it was to obey God, since he was then led in a special way to deny himself. For, renouncing his own will, he so completely gave himself up to his Father that, of his own accord and willingly, he underwent the death he greatly dreaded. The meaning, then, is that Christ was taught by his sufferings how far God should be submitted to and obeyed.

It is then only right that we also, by his example, should be taught and prepared by various sorrows, and finally by death itself, to give obedience to God. Indeed, this is much more necessary in our case, for we have a stubbornly rebellious and ungovernable disposition until the Lord subdues us by such exercises to bear his yoke.

This benefit, which comes from the cross, should soothe its bitterness in our hearts; for what can be more desirable than to be made obedient to God? But this can only be brought about by the cross, for in prosperity we exult as if with loose reins. Indeed, in most cases, when the yoke is shaken off, the unruliness of the flesh breaks out into excesses.

But when restraint is placed on our will, when we seek to please God, only in this act does our obedience show itself. Indeed, it is an illustrious proof of perfect obedience when we choose the death to which God may call us, though we dread it, rather than the life we naturally desire.