Hebrews 5:8 - Jesus Learned Obedience from What He Suffered.
Hebrews 5:8 (NLT) Even though Jesus was
Gods Son, he learned obedience from the things he
suffered.
INTRODUCTION
Jesus human life was not a script that he
passively followed. It was a life that he chose freely
(John 10:17-18). It was a continuous process of
making the will of God the Father his own. Jesus
chose to obey, even though obedience led to
suffering and death. Because Jesus obeyed perfectly,
even under great trial, he can help us obey, no
matter how difficult obedience seems to be. [Life
Application SB]
Jesus eternal exalted status did not
include the concept of obedience as we
understand it, but He learned obedience in the
sense that He experienced it when He came into the
world to do Gods will (10:5"10). [Andrews
SB]
Though he was Gods Son (see 1:2"3).
learned obedience. Learned experientially what his
full obedience to Gods will for humankind
entailed for him. from what he suffered. Especially
in the ordeal of his atoning death, by which
he became the source of eternal salvation for
all who obey him (v. 9). [NIV SB 2020]
He learned obedience from the things he
suffered: Jesus was not disobedient before his
suffering, but he walked his path of human
experience"all the way to his death on the cross"in
complete submission to the Fathers will. We are
expected to travel the same path (12:1"11). [NLT SB
2008]
Although he was a son. See 1:1"14 and 5:5.
Jesus, though fully divine, was also fully human.
he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Though always without sin (4:15; 7:26) and thus
always obedient, Jesus nevertheless acquired
knowledge and experience by living as a human being
(cf. Luke 2:40, 52), and he especially came to
know firsthand what it cost to maintain obedience
in the midst of suffering (see notes on Heb.
2:9; 2:10; 2:18; 4:15). As Jesus increased in
wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), successive
temptations were no doubt more difficult to deal with
(cf. Luke 4:12), and as he obeyed his Father in
the face of each temptation, he learned
obedience, so that his human moral ability was
strengthened. [ESV SB 2008]
Learned obedience. Christ did not need to
suffer in order to conquer or correct any
disobedience. In His deity (as the Son of God), He
understood obedience completely. As the incarnate Lord,
He humbled Himself to learn (cf. Lk 2:52). He
learned obedience for the same reasons He bore
temptation: to confirm His humanity and experience its
sufferings to the fullest (see notes on 2:10; cf. Lk
2:52; Php 2:8). Christs obedience was also
necessary so that He could fulfill all righteousness
(Mt 3:15) and thus prove to be the perfect
sacrifice to take the place of sinners (1Pe 3:18). He
was the perfectly righteous One, whose
righteousness would be imputed to sinners (cf. Ro
3:24"26). [MacArthur SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Christ - Our Example
The main reason Jesus died on the cross
was to save us from our sins. But the New
Testament also stresses the importance of His
suffering as an example for us.
The Greek word for example comes from
ancient school life, and refers to something written
down by the teacher, so it could be followed and
copied exactly by a child learning to write. Christ
is our copybook. We look to Him as our teacher,
and by His suffering He gave us an example to
follow, so we can learn how suffering is to be
borne.
How did He bear it? By not giving in to
despair or doubt. By looking beyond it and seeing
the glory that was to come. By knowing the
Father was with Him and would use His suffering for
good. The same can be true for us.
The author of Hebrews writes, "Consider
him who endured such opposition from sinful men,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart"
(Heb. 12:3 NIV). Yes, consider Him.
A woman once said, I pray I remain
faithful when its my turn to suffer for Christ.
Well all have our turn at suffering: Paul said it
has been granted two us not only to believe but
to suffer for Him (Philippians 1:29). Its
all grace. [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
Sometimes the question is raised how it
could be said that Christ, who is perfect and at
every moment has been perfect, needed to learn
obedience. Two observations may help to answer this
query: (1) As far as His earthly life is concerned
Christ developed like other human beings. He
increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with
God and man (see on Luke 2:52). He learned by
observation and experience as do others. (2) Though as
God prior to the incarnation Christ was
omniscient, yet He did not know by experience the
problems confronting men as they seek to render
obedience to God. By becoming man and by facing the
temptations of life as a man, Christ gained this
knowledge. He thus met one of the essential
qualifications for the high priesthood, namely that the
appointee belong to the human family (see on Heb.
5:1"3). [SDA Bible Commentary]
Learning Obedience through Suffering
Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to
suffer so much when He came to earth as a man? One
might expect that the Son of the living God would
live a comfortable life and die a peaceful death.
After all, wouldn't His blood have paid for our
sins whether it was shed painlessly or
torturously?
But Jesus took on human flesh and came to
earth not just to die for our transgressions but
also - with the exception of sin - to identify
with us in every area of our lives. And that
includes suffering (Heb. 2:17-18). How would a Savior
who had no experience with pain help us when we
hurt? Also, when it's difficult for us to obey the
Lord, we need the help of One who learned
obedience from the things He suffered.
Unlike us, Jesus didn't move from being
rebellious to becoming obedient. Rather, He learned by
personal experience the pathway we have to walk when
God calls us to do something difficult or
painful. [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles
Stanley at www.intouch.org]
Learning Obedience
The will of God inevitably leads each one
of us to our own cross, because there are some
things we can learn only through suffering. The
Lord will grow our character and strengthen our
walk with Him if we will obediently trust Him -
as Jesus did - with the process and the
suffering it involves. [Being Still With God Every Day
by Henry Blackaby]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Hebrews 5:8, 9 - Jesus Was Omniscient; Yet
He "Learned" (part 1).
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090202-2339.html
Hebrews 5:8, 9 - Jesus Was Omniscient; Yet
He "Learned" (part 2).
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090204-1139.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
