Hebrews 5:7-9

[sancte_joseph]

I was looking through an old “missal type booklet” and came across this passage…

In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

I don’t understand that last part… “when he was made perfect” ??? Jesus wasn’t perfect? I know he was fully human and fully divine… but I don’t quite get what St. Paul is trying to say here… can someone help

 

[NotWorthy]

I was looking through an old “missal type booklet” and came across this passage…

In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

I don’t understand that last part… “when he was made perfect” ??? Jesus wasn’t perfect? I know he was fully human and fully divine… but I don’t quite get what St. Paul is trying to say here… can someone help

He was made perfect in submitting to the Will of the Father and saying, “Not my will, but yours”. Yes, Jesus was always perfect in Being, but we are only perfect when we do the Will of the Father. Jesus wasn’t “made perfect” until He had done all He had to do for our Salvation.

On another note: The “learned obedience” can also be easily misconstrued.

St. Ephraim has this to say on that

It is not that through this submission Jesus “learned” obedience but “experienced” obedience.  It is easy to be “obedient” to one’s superior or to one’s parent when what is required is pleasant but it is something else entirely when obedience is submission to something that one does not want to experience.  St. John Chrysostom advised the faithful, *If he, though the Son, gains obedience from his sufferings, how much more shall we?  Do you see how many things Paul says about obedience in order to persuade them to obedience?  “…**Though what he suffered” he continually “learned” to obey God, and he was “made perfect” through sufferings.  This, then, is perfection, and this means we must arrive at perfection.  For not only was he himself saved; be also became an abundant supply of salvation to others. ***The Epistle to the Hebrews 8.3

 

[NHInsider]

He was also “made perfect” in the sense of “complete” when He finished the mission for which He had been sent. When He said “it is finished” on the Cross, He knew that He had perfectly completed the task for which the Father had sent Him.