Fathers

Hebrews 5

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Hebrews 5:1

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

The blessed Paul wishes to show in the next place that this covenant is far better than the old. This then he does by first laying down remote considerations. For inasmuch as there was nothing bodily or that made a show, no temple for instance, nor Holy of Holies, nor Priest with so great apparel, no legal observances, but all things higher and more perfect, and there was nothing of bodily things, but all was in things spiritual, and things spiritual did not attract the weak, as things bodily; he thoroughly sifts this whole matter. …

Homily on Hebrews 8 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Now Paul wants to show that the New Testament is far better than the Old. And first of all he begins to compare the priesthood of the Old Testament priests with the priesthood of Christ and shows the great superiority of the latter. Meanwhile, since he encountered an obstacle in the fact that much of what should belong to priests did not belong to Christ — for He did not come from a priestly tribe, was not a priest on earth, was not appointed by men, and, simply put, the form of His priesthood had no bodily expression, such as bells …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Ignatius of Antioch

"Honour widows that are widows indeed." Be the friend of orphans; for God is "the Father of the fatherless, and the Judge of the widows." Do nothing without the bishops; for they are priests, and thou a servant of the priests. They baptize, offer sacrifice, ordain, and lay on hands; but thou ministerest to them, as the holy Stephen did at Jerusalem to James and the presbyters. Do not neglect the sacred meetings [of the saints]; inquire after every one by name. …

Epistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

239. – As we have said at the beginning of this epistle, the Apostle's intention is to show that Christ is more excellent than all those from whom the Law derives authority, namely, the angels, by whose ministry it was given: 'Being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator' (Gal. 3:19), and Moses, who was the law-giver: 'The law was given by Moses' (Jn. 1:17) and the priesthood and high priesthood of Aaron, by whom the Law was administered. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Bonaventure

The clerical order is both active and contemplative, which must both feed and contemplate so that its members be intermediates between God and the people. For "every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in the things pertaining to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins." And among these, there are three orders, the ministerial, the sacerdotal, and the pontifical. …

Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 22 ↗