Hebrews 5:2-3

Hebrews 5:2-3

[2] Who can  have compassion  on the ignorant,  and  on them that are out of the way;  for  himself  also  is compassed  with infirmity.  [3] And  by reason  he ought,  as  for  the people,  so  also  for  to offer  sins. 

What does Hebrews 5:2-3 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

A high priest also had to be a compassionate person. This grew out of his own consciousness of being a sinner himself. In other words, he needed not only to carry out his duties acceptably, but he also needed to do so with the proper attitudes and feelings. "Deal gently with" (Gr. metriopathein) means neither indifferent to moral lapses nor harsh.
"Although nothing is said in the Old Testament about moral qualities [1], the writer has deduced this quality of gentle understanding from the basic fact that the high priest is essentially a man among men." [2]
The evidence of Israel"s high priest"s sinfulness was the fact that he had to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. Since Jesus Christ was sinless he did not need to do this ( Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:27). However, Jesus Christ"s compassion exceeded that of other high priests.