Hebrews 5:1-5: a reflection

1For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. 3Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself. 4Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was. 5So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”

The writer of Hebrews describes the high priest, and notes something important about him: he can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, because he himself is beset with weakness. The high priest, being taken from among people and sharing their weakness, could sympathize with those he served, dealing gently with them rather than harshly. And this points to Christ, our great high priest, who, having shared our humanity and weakness, can deal gently with us in our failings.

Notice why the high priest could deal gently: because he shared the weakness of those he served. He was not above them, untouched by their struggles; he was beset by the same weakness, and so could sympathize with the ignorant and wayward, dealing gently with them. And this is fulfilled, more deeply, in Christ, who shared our humanity, was tempted as we are, knows our weakness from within, and so can deal gently with us in our failings, sympathizing with us as one who understands.

That is a deep comfort: that Christ, our high priest, deals gently with us in our weakness and failings, because he understands them from within. We can imagine Christ as a harsh judge of our failings, impatient with our weakness; but Hebrews shows us a high priest who deals gently with the wayward, and Christ is such a priest, who shared our weakness and sympathizes with us. When you fail, when you are weak and wayward, do not imagine Christ dealing with you harshly; he deals gently with the weak, sympathizing with you as one who understands your weakness from within. Come to Christ, your high priest, in your weakness and failing, knowing that he deals gently with you, not harshly, because he understands. And let his gentleness shape yours: deal gently with others in their weakness and failing, as Christ, who shared our weakness, deals gently with you.

Lord, the writer of Hebrews describes the high priest, who can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, because he himself is beset with weakness; and this points to Christ, my great high priest, who, having shared my humanity and weakness, can deal gently with me in my failings. Show me why the high priest could deal gently: because he shared the weakness of those he served, and so could sympathize with them rather than deal harshly. And this is fulfilled, more deeply, in Christ, who shared my humanity, was tempted as I am, knows my weakness from within, and so can deal gently with me, sympathizing with me as one who understands. Give me the deep comfort of that: that Christ, my high priest, deals gently with me in my weakness and failings, because he understands them from within. I can imagine Christ as a harsh judge of my failings, impatient with my weakness; but you show me a high priest who deals gently with the wayward. When I fail, when I am weak and wayward, keep me from imagining Christ dealing with me harshly; he deals gently with the weak, sympathizing with me as one who understands. Help me come to Christ in my weakness, knowing he deals gently with me. And let his gentleness shape mine, Lord: help me deal gently with others in their weakness, as Christ deals gently with me. Thank you for a high priest who understands.