Hebrews 5:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"And having been perfected, He became the cause of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." If He, being Son, gained benefit from sufferings by learning obedience, how much more may we gain it? Do you see how much the Apostle says about obedience, so that they might be submissive? It seems to me that they were often disobedient and did not follow what was said to them. He alludes to this by the words, "dull of hearing." By sufferings, he says, He continually learned obedience to God. "And having been perfected," that is, through sufferings. This is what perfection consists in. This is how one must attain perfection. And not only was He Himself saved, but this also served abundantly for the salvation of others.

"And having been perfected." Thus perfection is attained through sufferings. Why, then, are you indignant at afflictions, which perfect you? "He became the cause of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." That is, He not only was Himself saved, but also bestowed salvation on others. It was not temporary salvation, as in wars, but eternal. For whom? For those who obey Him. How, then, are you disobedient and in danger of being deprived of salvation? Do you see that the Apostle gave this whole discourse such a form because of his hearers' faintheartedness? Moreover, observe the loftiness here also. He says that He became the cause of salvation, which belongs to God. For there is no other cause of such salvation except God.

Thus, he says, having been perfected, that is, having accomplished all this through obedience, He became for us the cause of eternal salvation. He did so in place of Adam, who by his disobedience became for us the cause of death. Yet life does not reign over the unjustified in the way death from Adam reigned even over those who had not sinned (Rom 5:13-14). For although He is the Giver of life, He gives it only to those who obey Him, not to those who turn away from Him.

By perfection the Apostle meant the resurrection and immortality, for this is the goal of the divine economy.

Having attained perfection in obedience through sufferings, He became, for those who obey Him, the cause of eternal salvation. This salvation is not only from death, but also from punishment and every sorrow.

"And having been perfected, He became the cause of eternal salvation." For His sufferings Jesus Christ was exalted (Phil 2:9) and reached the highest perfection. In other words, He was deemed worthy of the honor of being High Priest for men, of being their Mediator, and of accomplishing their salvation (Heb 2:10).

Here again appears the priestly feature of Christ's high priesthood: His all-powerful mediation and saving intercession for men before God the Father.

This was prefigured by the prayers of the high priests for the people during the bloody sacrifices.

Having been made perfect, that is, having reached the most perfect glory in heaven through His earthly sufferings, He became the cause of salvation for those who obey Him.

For, having drawn near in human nature to the very throne of the Heavenly Father, He naturally became an all-powerful Intercessor for men.

Thus Christ Jesus united in His own person the three characteristic features of high priesthood: priestly mediation for men before God, compassion for them through sharing their nature, and divine calling.

Then the Apostle shows how Christ became High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Having become what He had to become, τελειώνεις, that is, having voluntarily offered His soul as redemption for the sins of the world, Jesus Christ began to provide salvation for all who obey Him. His soul was graciously accepted by God as a sacrifice fully satisfying His justice. God solemnly acknowledged Him, προσαγορευτείς, as High Priest and king according to the pattern of Melchizedek.