And by reason here of he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Hebrews 5:3 describes the earthly human high priest, who is compassed with infirmity and burdened by weakness and who is himself subject to temptation just like the ignorant and erring people he serves. By reason of that shared infirmity he ought to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people. The requirement to offer for himself as for the people rests on the fact that he shares their human weakness.
In contrast stands Christ the great High Priest, who was taken from among men and took fully human nature, bone of bone and flesh of flesh, in order to understand human temptation. Yet He knew no sin and no guile was found in Him, so He had no need to offer for Himself, but His offering was of such infinite value that He redeemed the race. He did not take priesthood upon Himself but was appointed by God who called Him as Aaron was called, and having learned obedience by suffering He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
The priest's being compassed with infirmity is what enables him to have compassion toward those who are ignorant and erring. His likeness to them in temptation and weakness is the ground of compassionate dealing rather than distant judgment.
That pattern gives the lesson for all educators of children and youth to work with patience and gentleness. Teachers are to remember their own infirmities, weaknesses, failings, sins, and need for forgiveness, knowing they themselves must seek pardon like those they guide. That remembrance should lead them to meet wrongdoing with compassion, patience, gentleness, sympathy, love, kindness, self-control, and considerateness, teaching by word and example rather than responding with harshness or with oppressive discouragement.
Hebrews 5:3 describes the earthly human high priest, who is compassed with infirmity and burdened by weakness and who is himself subject to temptation just like the ignorant and erring people he serves. By reason of that shared infirmity he ought to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people. The requirement to offer for himself as for the people rests on the fact that he shares their human weakness.
In contrast stands Christ the great High Priest, who was taken from among men and took fully human nature, bone of bone and flesh of flesh, in order to understand human temptation. Yet He knew no sin and no guile was found in Him, so He had no need to offer for Himself, but His offering was of such infinite value that He redeemed the race. He did not take priesthood upon Himself but was appointed by God who called Him as Aaron was called, and having learned obedience by suffering He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
The priest's being compassed with infirmity is what enables him to have compassion toward those who are ignorant and erring. His likeness to them in temptation and weakness is the ground of compassionate dealing rather than distant judgment.
That pattern gives the lesson for all educators of children and youth to work with patience and gentleness. Teachers are to remember their own infirmities, weaknesses, failings, sins, and need for forgiveness, knowing they themselves must seek pardon like those they guide. That remembrance should lead them to meet wrongdoing with compassion, patience, gentleness, sympathy, love, kindness, self-control, and considerateness, teaching by word and example rather than responding with harshness or with oppressive discouragement.