Hebrews 5

1 ordained. Rather, as R.V., “appointed.” See Exod. xxviii. 12, 21. Being appointed to act “on behalf of men,” he must be taken from men; he must have (2) the reasonableness and patience of one who knows his own “weakness.”

2 the ignorant. Sin offerings were largely for errors of ignorance and inadvertence: see Lev. iv. 2; v. 17.

5 but He that said unto Him. These words refer to our Lord’s resurrection (see Rom. i. 4, and note on Psa. ii. 7); which showed that He was accepted by God as Priest in His offering of Himself. They thus connect His kingly and priestly offices; as is done also in the next quotation from Psa. ex.: cp. Zech. vi. 9-13, and notes.

7 and was heard in that He feared. He “was heard on account of His godly fear.”

10 called of God, etc. That is, “having been addressed by God as high priest,” etc. (see ver. 6). Chadwick translates “saluted, proclaimed, hailed”; Moffatt has “designated.”

11 hard to be uttered, etc. Rather, “hard of interpretation, since ye have become dull of hearing.”

12 for the time. “By this time.”

13 unskilful. Or, “inexperienced” in the use of the deeper truths of the gospel. Such persons are liable to pervert the “solid food.” The “word of righteousness” is the word which instructs in righteousness.

14 their senses exercised, etc. Trained to discriminate.

the foundation of repentance, etc. The six (or seven) following particulars define “the principles” or “the foundation.”

repentance from dead works. That “change of mind” which repudiates these works as a ground of acceptance with God. These works are described as “dead,” being done in a state of spiritual death.