And having been made perfectThis phrase refers to the completion of Jesus' earthly mission. The term "perfect" in this context does not imply that Jesus was imperfect before, but rather that He fulfilled His purpose through His suffering and obedience (
Hebrews 2:10). The Greek word "teleioō" suggests reaching a goal or completing a task. Jesus' perfection is tied to His role as the High Priest, who fully understands human suffering and temptation (
Hebrews 4:15). This completion is also a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as
Isaiah 53, which speaks of the suffering servant.
He became the source of eternal salvation
Jesus is identified as the source, or "author," of eternal salvation, emphasizing His unique role in God's redemptive plan. This salvation is not temporary or limited but eternal, highlighting the permanence of His sacrifice. The concept of Jesus as the source connects toJohn 14:6, where He declares Himself the way, the truth, and the life. The idea of eternal salvation is rooted in the promises of the New Covenant, as seen inJeremiah 31:31-34, where God promises a lasting relationship with His people.
to all who obey Him
Obedience is a key theme in the New Testament, reflecting a response to faith. This phrase underscores that salvation is available to those who follow Jesus' teachings and commands (John 14:15). Obedience is not merely about following rules but involves a transformative relationship with Christ, as seen inRomans 1:5, which speaks of the "obedience of faith." This obedience is a mark of true discipleship and aligns with the call to live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this verse, Jesus is described as having been "made perfect" and becoming the "source of eternal salvation." This refers to His role as the High Priest and Savior.
2.
The Author of HebrewsWhile the exact identity is unknown, the author is writing to Jewish Christians, emphasizing the superiority of Christ's priesthood.
3.
Jewish ChristiansThe original audience of the letter, who were familiar with the Old Testament and the concept of priesthood.
4.
Eternal SalvationThe salvation that Jesus provides, which is everlasting and available to all who obey Him.
5.
ObedienceA key theme in this verse, highlighting the response required from believers to receive the salvation offered by Christ.
Teaching Points
The Perfection of ChristJesus' perfection was achieved through His obedience and suffering, qualifying Him as the perfect High Priest and Savior.
Source of Eternal SalvationJesus is the exclusive source of eternal salvation, emphasizing the necessity of faith in Him for eternal life.
The Role of ObedienceObedience is a crucial response to the salvation offered by Christ. It is not merely a passive belief but an active following of His teachings.
The Call to PersevereJust as Jesus persevered through suffering, believers are called to persevere in their faith and obedience, trusting in the eternal salvation He provides.
Understanding SalvationSalvation is not just a one-time event but a continuous journey of faith and obedience, leading to eternal life with Christ.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Hebrews 5:9?
2.How does Hebrews 5:9 define Jesus as the "source of eternal salvation"?
3.What does "eternal salvation" imply about the nature of Jesus' sacrifice?
4.How can we "obey Him" as instructed in Hebrews 5:9?
5.Connect Hebrews 5:9 with John 14:6 regarding Jesus as the way to salvation.
6.How does understanding Jesus' role in salvation impact your daily Christian walk?
7.How does Hebrews 5:9 define the concept of eternal salvation in Christian theology?
8.What does Hebrews 5:9 imply about the necessity of obedience for salvation?
9.How does Hebrews 5:9 relate to the role of Jesus as the source of salvation?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 5?
11.In Hebrews 5:9, how does Jesus “become” the source of eternal salvation if he was supposedly always the sinless savior?
12.How does one achieve spiritual purification according to scripture?
13.What similarities exist between Moses and Jesus?
14.What was Jesus' purpose on Earth?What Does Hebrews 5:9 Mean
And having been made perfect- The phrase points to the completion of Jesus’ earthly mission. Though sinless from eternity, He was “made perfect” in the sense that His suffering and obedience brought His redemptive work to full completion (Hebrews 2:10;Philippians 2:8).
- At the cross He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), signaling that nothing remained undone for our salvation.
- By experiencing human weakness without sin (Hebrews 4:15), He became the fully qualified High Priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses.”
He became the source- Salvation flows from a single, exclusive fountain—Jesus Himself. Scripture is emphatic: “There is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12) and “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
- Because He lives forever, His priesthood never ends (Hebrews 7:24–25). That permanence guarantees a never-failing supply of grace.
- Practical takeaway: every attempt to find salvation outside of Christ is a dry well; in Him alone the living water never runs out (John 7:37-38).
of eternal salvation- The rescue Jesus provides is not temporary or probationary; it is everlasting. He “entered the Most Holy Place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).
- Eternal means:
• No expiration date (John 10:28).
• No further sacrifice needed (Hebrews 10:14).
• Confidence that what begins in grace will be completed in glory (Philippians 1:6).
to all who obey Him- Obedience here is inseparable from genuine faith—the “obedience of faith” Paul speaks of (Romans 1:5). Trusting Christ and submitting to Him are two sides of the same coin (John 3:36).
- Marks of this obedient faith include:
• Turning from self-rule to Christ’s lordship (Luke 6:46).
• Ongoing repentance and conformity to His word (James 1:22).
• Persevering allegiance, even under pressure (Hebrews 10:36).
- This clause guards against easy-believism: those truly saved demonstrate it by a life that listens to and follows the Savior (James 2:17).
summaryHebrews 5:9 assures us that Jesus, through the perfection of His obedient suffering, stands as the one and only fountain of never-ending salvation. That salvation is secured forever, yet it is received only by those whose believing hearts respond with willing obedience to Him.
(9)
And being . . .--Rather,
and having been made perfect. This was the mode in which He who "glorified Him to be made High Priest" (
Hebrews 5:5) led Him into the possession of this office. The thought of this verse and the last is closely analogous to
Hebrews 2:9-10 (see Notes), and to
Philippians 2:6-13. The transition from the obedience manifested by our Lord to that which must be rendered by all who seek from Him salvation, strikingly recalls
Hebrews 5:8;
Hebrews 5:12 of the last-named chapter. He presents to all the model of the obedience to be rendered to Him, and through Him to the Father. "Eternal" salvation,--for He is a priest
"for ever" (
Hebrews 5:6). On the connection of "salvation" with His priesthood, see the Note on
Hebrews 7:25. . . .
Verses 9, 10. -
And being made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the Author of eternal salvation; called (or rather
so addressed) of God a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Here
τελειωθεὶς (translated "being made perfect")
refers to the time of his resurrection, when the sufferings were over and the atonement complete (cf.
Luke 13:32,
τῇ τρίτῃ τελειοῦμαι). The word may be used in its general sense of
perfected, i.e. "being made perfectly that which he was intended to become" (Delitzsch). In such sense St. Paul uses the word of himself,
Οὐκ ὅτι ἤδη τετελείωμαι (
Philippians 3:12). Or the specific sense of priestly consecration may be here, as well as in
Hebrews 2:10 and Hebrews 7:28, intended. In
Hebrews 7:28 the A.V. renders
εἰς τὸν αἰῶνατετελειωμένον by "consecrated for evermore." And this view is supported by passages in the LXX., where the word
τελείωσις is used with special reference to the consecration of the high priest. Cf.
ἔστι γὰρ τελείωσις αὔτη (
Exodus 29:22);
τοῦ κριοῦ τῆς τελειώσεως,
ὅ ἐστιν Ἀαρών, (vers. 26, 27, 31);
τελειῶσαιτὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν (vers. 29, 33, 35);
τῆς θυσίας τῆς τελειώσεως (ver. 34)
τὸν δεύτερον κριὸν τῆς τελειώσεωσ (
Leviticus 8:22, 29);
ἀπὸ τοῦκανοῦ τῆς τελειώσεως (ver. 26);
τὸ ὁλοκαύτωματῆς τελειώσεως (ver. 28);
ἕως ἡμέρα πληρωθῆ,
ἡμέρα τελειώσεως ὑμῶν (ver. 33); also
Leviticus 21:10, where the high priest -
ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁμέγας ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ ( ισ described as
τοῦ ἐπικεχυμένου ἐπὶ τῆν κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἐλαίου σοῦ Ξριστοῦ καὶ τετελειωμένουἐνδύσασθαι τὰ ἱμάτια. See also Gesenius on the Hebrew word
מלֻּאים. Hence, and in view of the drift of the passage before us, Jackson very decidedly regards
τελειωθεὶς in ver. 9 as a
verbum solenne, denoting specifically Christ's
consecration to his eternal office of High Priest. So also Hammond and Whitby. Being thus perfected, or consecrated, he became, for ever afterwards, the Author, not of mere ceremonial cleansing or temporary remission of guilt, but of eternal salvation;
potentially to all mankind (cf.
ὑπὲρ παντὸς,
Hebrews 2:9), and
effectively to "
all them that obey him;" being addressed, in tiffs his consummated position (the reference being to
Psalm 110.) as "High Priest for ever," etc. Here again we perceive that it is not till after the Resurrection that the prophetic ideal of the SON at God's right hand, and of the eternal High Priest, are regarded as fully realized. If it be objected that his high priesthood must have begun
before the Resurrection for his death upon the cross to be a true atonement, it may be replied that his one oblation of himself upon the cross at once consummated his consecration and effected the atonement. Doubtless, as a true High Priest on earth, he thus "offered one sacrifice for sins for ever" (
Hebrews 10:12); all that is meant above is that it was not till after the Resurrection that he entered on his eternal office of mediation in virtue of that one accomplished sacrifice.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.having been made perfect,τελειωθεὶς(teleiōtheis)Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5048:From teleios; to complete, i.e. accomplish, or consummate.He becameἐγένετο(egeneto)Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096:A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.[the] sourceαἴτιος(aitios)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 159:The cause, author; the culprit, the accused; the crime. From the same as aiteo; causative, i.e. a causer.of eternalαἰωνίου(aiōniou)Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 166:From aion; perpetual.salvationσωτηρίας(sōtērias)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4991:Feminine of a derivative of soter as noun; rescue or safety.to allπᾶσιν(pasin)Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.whoτοῖς(tois)Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.obeyὑπακούουσιν(hypakouousin)Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5219:From hupo and akouo; to hear under, i.e. To listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority.Himαὐτῷ(autō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
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NT Letters: Hebrews 5:9 Having been made perfect he became (Heb. He. Hb) 
