Fathers

Hebrews 5

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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.

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What the Fathers say

Hebrews 5:7

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, to Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared." Seest thou that he sets forth nothing else than His care and the exceeding greatness of His love? For what means the expression "with strong crying"? The Gospel nowhere says this, nor that He wept when He prayed, nor yet that He uttered a cry. Seest thou that it was a condescension? …

Homily on Hebrews 8 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"By the days of His flesh" he designates the time of His life in the flesh; this does not mean that He has now laid aside the flesh; by no means: for He has it, but flesh that is incorruptible and standing above its fleshly and blameless passions — hunger, thirst, weariness, and the like. The apostle borrowed this passage from David, who in the one hundred and fourteenth psalm says: "I will call upon Him as long as I live" (Ps. 114:2). The apostle applies this entire psalm to Christ. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

"prayers and supplications." Not only prayers and supplications, but also he offered them with cries and tears. However, Paul said that he was lowering himself to save them. "and he was heard." So much was he heard that he even rose again: this he said because of the weakness of the listeners, who had not yet conceived a glorious opinion of Christ. "because of his reverent submission." He said that he was heard not only out of the grace of the Father but also because of his own reverence. …

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

253. – Then (v. 7) he shows that what pertains to the priestly office belongs to Christ: first, he shows his condition; secondly, His act (v. 7b); thirdly, His efficacy (v. 7c). 254. – His condition was that He was taken from men, because, as has been stated, a high priest is taken from among men. Therefore, he says, who in the days of his flesh. Here flesh is taken for the entire human nature: 'The Word was made flesh' (Jn. 1:14). But are the days of His flesh no longer here? …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗