I start with the last statement because it
raises a theological question in the light of the first sentence of this
passage: If Jesus was without sin, even though he was fully human as the
incarnate Christ, and if Jesus was fully God, how come He needed to be
“perfected?” How does someone without
sin get “perfected?” Note that Dr. Neil
Lightfoot points out other passages which state Jesus was without sin: Hebrews
4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5, John 8:29, John 8:46, and
John 10:32.
Dr. Lightfoot drives home in his commentary that Hebrews reveals that the context of “perfection” concerns “qualification,” and the qualification concerns Priesthood. (1) Dr. Lightfoot brilliantly pieces together our book, basing his definition on Hebrews 2:10, which ties this perfection to suffering, and brings in Hebrews 5:9, which gives the result of this “perfection.” “By going through the school of suffering, Jesus was perfectly qualified to be Priest. Because of His suffering, He became the source (aitios, literally, “cause”) of men’s salvation.” (2)
I love kids. They are so full of enthusiasm! Just yesterday I was at a church picnic, and it was so cool to see young people of various ages having fun throwing flying discs and playing kickball, soccer, and volleyball. As someone who does youth ministry, how I lament at the suffering that goes on with young people due to broken families, abuse, and all kind of other stuff. Being an extremely sensitive guy, it hurts me when young people suffer even though they are not related physically to me. Suffering is not what anyone I know wants, so why would it be a qualification for Jesus? God the Father allowed Jesus, God the Son, to suffer physical and spiritual death on a cross. Does this exhibit that the Father is cruel and even sick? No, because in fact all three Persons of the Trinity would have suffered since all three are One. God accepted suffering because He loves people. Jesus was willing to suffer more than we can comprehend to save people.
In Chapter one of Hebrews, the title Son is used five times to refer to Jesus, and the name Jesus is not stated until chapter two. I think the author of Hebrews was tactful in his decision to start softly with a Messianic title, before even saying the name that some Hebrews would have found offensive. Yet most importantly the brilliant Dr. Neil Lightfoot recognized an objective of the early chapters of Hebrews was “… to demonstrate Christ as Son because Sonship is the essential predicate of eternal priesthood.” (3) In Hebrews 5:4, the author states, “No one takes this honor [the high priesthood] upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’”(NIV), which is quoting from Psalm 2:7. That is the oath: God the Father chose God the Son and being the eternal high priest was a duty for the Son. Being the eternal high priest would bring suffering, yet the result of that suffering would be eternal goodness.
Jewish priests were required under the Mosaic Law to consistently sacrifice animals. Jesus does not need to sacrifice animals daily. Jesus paid the price of spiritual death for every person on the cross at Calvary. The wages of sins has been paid by the Son of God, and anyone who believes in Jesus receives that atonement. The Sacrifice of Jesus was Himself! The Messiah gave up His life to save you and me. He died. He was resurrected. He is alive.
This passage is incredible. Dr. Lightfoot sums it all up: “Jesus the perfect high priest and Jesus the perfect sacrifice.” (4) If you have never received Jesus, you can do so right now. Believe in Jesus now and you will have eternal life from the One who loves you so much that He died, physically and spiritually died, to offer you salvation!
Hunter Irvine
(1) Neil R. Lightfoot, Jesus Christ Today: A Commentary on the Book of Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976), 149.
(2) Ibid., 110.
(3) Ibid., 105.
(4) Ibid., 149.
Dr. Lightfoot drives home in his commentary that Hebrews reveals that the context of “perfection” concerns “qualification,” and the qualification concerns Priesthood. (1) Dr. Lightfoot brilliantly pieces together our book, basing his definition on Hebrews 2:10, which ties this perfection to suffering, and brings in Hebrews 5:9, which gives the result of this “perfection.” “By going through the school of suffering, Jesus was perfectly qualified to be Priest. Because of His suffering, He became the source (aitios, literally, “cause”) of men’s salvation.” (2)
I love kids. They are so full of enthusiasm! Just yesterday I was at a church picnic, and it was so cool to see young people of various ages having fun throwing flying discs and playing kickball, soccer, and volleyball. As someone who does youth ministry, how I lament at the suffering that goes on with young people due to broken families, abuse, and all kind of other stuff. Being an extremely sensitive guy, it hurts me when young people suffer even though they are not related physically to me. Suffering is not what anyone I know wants, so why would it be a qualification for Jesus? God the Father allowed Jesus, God the Son, to suffer physical and spiritual death on a cross. Does this exhibit that the Father is cruel and even sick? No, because in fact all three Persons of the Trinity would have suffered since all three are One. God accepted suffering because He loves people. Jesus was willing to suffer more than we can comprehend to save people.
In Chapter one of Hebrews, the title Son is used five times to refer to Jesus, and the name Jesus is not stated until chapter two. I think the author of Hebrews was tactful in his decision to start softly with a Messianic title, before even saying the name that some Hebrews would have found offensive. Yet most importantly the brilliant Dr. Neil Lightfoot recognized an objective of the early chapters of Hebrews was “… to demonstrate Christ as Son because Sonship is the essential predicate of eternal priesthood.” (3) In Hebrews 5:4, the author states, “No one takes this honor [the high priesthood] upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’”(NIV), which is quoting from Psalm 2:7. That is the oath: God the Father chose God the Son and being the eternal high priest was a duty for the Son. Being the eternal high priest would bring suffering, yet the result of that suffering would be eternal goodness.
Jewish priests were required under the Mosaic Law to consistently sacrifice animals. Jesus does not need to sacrifice animals daily. Jesus paid the price of spiritual death for every person on the cross at Calvary. The wages of sins has been paid by the Son of God, and anyone who believes in Jesus receives that atonement. The Sacrifice of Jesus was Himself! The Messiah gave up His life to save you and me. He died. He was resurrected. He is alive.
This passage is incredible. Dr. Lightfoot sums it all up: “Jesus the perfect high priest and Jesus the perfect sacrifice.” (4) If you have never received Jesus, you can do so right now. Believe in Jesus now and you will have eternal life from the One who loves you so much that He died, physically and spiritually died, to offer you salvation!
Hunter Irvine
(1) Neil R. Lightfoot, Jesus Christ Today: A Commentary on the Book of Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976), 149.
(2) Ibid., 110.
(3) Ibid., 105.
(4) Ibid., 149.
