Hebrews 5:9

260. – Then when he says, and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, he mentions the fruit of His Passion, namely, in Christ and in His members. In Christ the fruit was glorification; hence, he says, …

And being perfected - By sufferings, chap. ii, 10; brought through all to glory. He became the author - The procuring and efficient cause. Of eternal salvation to all that obey him - By doing and suffering his whole will.

And being made perfect,....

Of this salvation he has given notice in the gospel; he has made a tender of it in the new covenant, and has sent the Spirit to enable men to accept this salvation. [4.] This salvation is actually bestowed on none but those who obey Christ.

And being made perfect - That is, being made a “complete” Saviour - a Saviour suited in all respects to redeem people. Sufferings were necessary to the “completeness” or the “finish” of his character as a Saviour, not to his moral perfection, for he was always without sin; see this explained in the notes on Heb 2:10. He became the author - That is, he was the procuring cause (αἴτιος aitios) of salvation.

THE Holy Spirit, in this chapter, reminds us that two things were necessary in a High Priest. First, he must be suitable for the men for whom he stood and next, he must be acceptable with God. "Every High Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God." He must be fit from both points of view, both man-ward and God-ward. Our Lord Jesus Christ was ordained of God from of old and did not, of Himself, assume the position of High Priest.

THE great folly of awakened sinners lies in looking to themselves when they are convinced that they are lost. When the Law condemns them—when they have the sentence of death ringing with its dolorous knell through their consciences—they nevertheless turn to themselves for help. As well might they search for life within the ribs of death, or dig for light in the dreary vaults of outer darkness! First, they try what outward reformation can do and they are amazed when they discover their own impotence. Then they turn their eyes towards their feelings and either they labor after tears and mental tortures till they grow conceitedly miserable, or else they yield to hopelessness, because they find their heart to be as an adamant stone. They frequently fly to ceremonies and go far in formalism but find no peace. And often they turn to the belief of orthodox doctrines and seek salvation in mere head knowledge of the Word of God, forgetting that Jesus once said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; but you will not come unto Me that you might have eternal life." In some shape or other, all natural men seek refuge in self and fly there, again and again and again, though often driven from it. Their so doing is useless and foolish, dishonoring to God and defiling to themselves. If men would but believe the Truth of God they would know that they can no more save themselves than they can turn evil into good, or Hell into Heaven! It would be a grand thing if they could be made to understand that they have abundant power to destroy themselves, but that all their help for salvation lies wholly in Jesus Christ! When they are convinced of this, they will cast themselves upon the Redeemer, and peace and joy will fill their spirits. This is the stern labor which utterly baffles the preacher—it is a work which only the Holy Spirit can accomplish.

THE Holy Spirit, in this chapter, reminds us that two things were necessary in a High Priest. First, he must be suitable for the men for whom he stood and next, he must be acceptable with God. "Every High Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God." He must be fit from both points of view, both man-ward and God-ward. Our Lord Jesus Christ was ordained of God from of old and did not, of Himself, assume the position of High Priest. The Prophets spoke of Him as the Messiah of God and Jehovah, Himself, declared, "You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec." When He came into the world, the Holy Spirit bore witness to His being the Son of the Highest. At His Baptism there came a Voice from Heaven saying, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," and that same Voice was thrice heard declaring the same fact. The Father has given further testimony to the mission of Christ, "in that He has raised Him from the dead," and has caused Him to enter into the heavenly places on our behalf. Moreover, He has given Him a pledge that as Melchisedec, being both King and Priest, He shall sit at His right hand until He has made His enemies His footstool. Our Lord Jesus has been chosen, ordained and glorified as our "Great High Priest, that has passed into the heavens." This is the groundwork of our comfort in our Lord Jesus, for we know that He is One with the Father and that all things are done by Him as the Messenger of the Covenant, the authorized Representative of Jehovah our God. That is not the point to which I call your attention this morning—I would have you follow the text and consider the pre-eminent suitability of our Lord Jesus to be a High Priest for us, viewed from the human side.

THE great folly of awakened sinners lies in looking to themselves when they are convinced that they are lost. When the Law condemns them—when they have the sentence of death ringing with its dolorous knell through their consciences—they nevertheless turn to themselves for help. As well might they search for life within the ribs of death, or dig for light in the dreary vaults of outer darkness! First, they try what outward reformation can do and they are amazed when they discover their own impotence.

And being made perfect - Και τελειωθεις· And having finished all - having died and risen again. Τελειωθηναι signifies to have obtained the goal; to have ended one’s labor, and enjoyed the fruits of it. Heb 12:23: The spirits of just men made perfect, πνευμασι δικαιων τετελειωμενων, means the souls of those who have gained the goal, and obtained the prize. So, when Christ had finished his course of tremendous sufferings, and consummated the whole by his death and resurrection, he became αιτιος σωτηριας αιωνιου, the cause of eternal salvation unto all them who obey him. He was consecrated both highs priest and sacrifice by his offering upon the cross. “In this verse,” says Dr. Macknight, “three things are clearly stated: 1. That obedience to Christ is equally necessary to salvation with believing on him. 2. That he was made perfect as a high priest by offering himself a sacrifice for sin, Heb 8:3. 3. That, by the merit of that sacrifice, he hath obtained pardon and eternal life for them who obey him.” He tasted death for every man; but he is the author and cause of eternal salvation only to them who obey him. It is not merely believers, but obedient believers, that shall be finally saved. Therefore this text is an absolute, unimpeachable evidence, that it is not the imputed obedience of Christ that saves any man. Christ has bought men by his blood; and by the infinite merit of his death he has purchased for them an endless glory; but, in order to be prepared for it, the sinner must, through that grace which God withholds from no man, repent, turn from sin, believe on Jesus as being a sufficient ransom and sacrifice for his soul, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, be a worker together with him, walk in conformity to the Divine will through this Divine aid, and continue faithful unto death, through him, out of whose fullness he may receive grace upon grace.