Hebrews 5:6
just as He says also in another passage,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
(a) A priest forever; see entry for Hebrews 7:17.
(b) The order of Melchizedek; see entry for Hebrews 7:11.
Hebrews 5:8
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
He learned obedience. Jesus learned to trust God in his trials.
Jesus was not a disobedient son who had to be taught how to obey, but as a flesh and blood human he learned how to rely on the Lord. The original word for obedience (hupakoē) means to heed or hearken.
Hebrews 5:9
And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
(a) Made perfect. The full beauty and purpose of Jesus’ ministry was not realized until the cross.
Before he died, Christ’s ministry was incomplete or imperfect. But on the cross everything that needed to be done to save and sanctify you was accomplished: “Knowing that all was now completed, and so that the scripture would be fulfilled… Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’” (John 19:28, 30).
(b) Those who obey Him. Obedience in the old covenant meant following the rules, but obedience in the new covenant is listening to Jesus and doing what he says. Old covenant obedience was legalistic, while new covenant obedience is relational. We trust and obey what Jesus says because we know how much he loves us.
(c) The source of eternal salvation. The original word for source (aitios) means cause. Because Jesus and his perfect sacrifice, we can receive a salvation that is eternal and everlasting.
(d) Eternal salvation. Jesus doesn’t do partial salvations or temporary salvations or trial salvations. He only authors eternal salvations that are forever and everlasting.
Because Jesus’ blood obtained an eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12), you have an eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15), guaranteed by an eternal covenant (Heb. 13:20), resulting in eternal life (John 3:16) and a welcome into the eternal kingdom (2 Pet. 1:11) by the eternal God (Rom 16:26). This eternal gospel (Rev. 14:6) should give you eternal comfort (2 Thess. 2:16).
See entry for Eternal Security.
Hebrews 5:10
being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The order of Melchizedek; see entry for Heb. 7:11
Hebrews 5:13
For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
The word of righteousness is synonymous with the ministry of righteousness (2 Cor. 3:9) and the way of righteousness (Matt. 21:32, 2 Pet. 2:21). It is another label for the gospel of grace which reveals the righteousness that comes from God and is received by believing in Jesus (see entry for Php. 3:9).
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