Meaning of Hebrews 5:7

This verse from Hebrews 5:7 powerfully depicts Jesus' humanity and His profound experience of prayer in the face of extreme suffering and the prospect of death. It highlights that Jesus, as fully human, did not approach His redemptive mission with stoic indifference, but rather with deep emotional engagement, offering "fervent cries and tears." This was not a prayer for personal comfort or avoidance of His appointed path, but a prayer to the Father who had the power to save Him, not necessarily from death itself, but from its ultimate dominion and the spiritual consequences of sin. The phrase "heard because of his reverent submission" is crucial, indicating that His prayer was answered not in the sense of averting the crucifixion, but in His faithful obedience to the Father's will, which led to His resurrection and ultimate victory over death.

Context and Background

The author of Hebrews is addressing a community of Jewish Christians who were struggling with their faith, possibly facing persecution and tempted to revert to Judaism. The letter emphasizes the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant system, particularly its priesthood and sacrificial rituals. Chapter 5 begins by describing the qualifications of a high priest, emphasizing that he must be chosen from among men and appointed to represent them before God. This sets the stage for presenting Jesus as the ultimate High Priest, who, unlike earthly priests, offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice. The verse in question elaborates on Jesus' priestly role by illustrating His human experience of prayer and submission, which is essential for His empathetic understanding of human weakness and His ability to intercede for us.

Key Themes and Messages

• Jesus' Full Humanity: The verse underscores that Jesus was not merely a divine apparition but a real human being who experienced the full spectrum of human emotion, including fear, anguish, and the profound weight of His mission. His prayers were not rote recitations but deeply felt pleas born from genuine human struggle.
• The Nature of Prayer in Suffering: It reveals that prayer in times of intense trial is characterized by earnestness, urgency, and emotional outpouring. The "fervent cries and tears" speak to the raw reality of His suffering and His reliance on God.
• Divine Power and Human Submission: Jesus prayed to "the one who could save him from death," acknowledging God's ultimate power. However, His prayer was answered "because of his reverent submission." This signifies that obedience to God's will, even when it involves suffering and death, is the path to salvation and victory.
• Empathy of the High Priest: By experiencing such profound suffering and prayer, Jesus is uniquely qualified to understand and sympathize with the struggles of humanity. This makes Him an effective mediator and intercessor.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers, this verse offers profound comfort and a model for prayer. It assures us that Jesus understands our deepest fears and struggles because He experienced them Himself. We are encouraged to bring our petitions to God with honesty and earnestness, just as Jesus did. Furthermore, it teaches that true faith often involves submitting to God's will, even when it is difficult or painful, trusting that His plan is ultimately for our good and His glory. It highlights that our prayers are heard not solely based on eloquence or perfection, but on the sincerity of our hearts and our willingness to align our desires with God's purposes.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Hebrews 5:7 is deeply integrated into the salvific narrative of Scripture. It directly relates to the prophecies of a suffering servant (Isaiah 53) and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through the suffering and death of His Son. Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46) is the historical context for this verse, where He wrestled with the impending crucifixion, ultimately submitting to the Father's will: "Not my will, but yours be done." This submission is the bedrock of His atoning sacrifice, which, according to the author of Hebrews, purifies us and makes us acceptable to God.

Analogies

One analogy to understand Jesus' prayer is that of a skilled surgeon facing a life-or-death operation. The surgeon, though possessing immense skill and knowledge, would still feel the gravity of the situation, perhaps even experiencing a profound emotional weight and praying for guidance and success. However, their ultimate goal is not to avoid the pain of the procedure but to achieve healing for the patient, even if it involves difficult steps. Similarly, Jesus, fully aware of the agony of the cross, prayed not to escape it, but to fulfill His redemptive purpose for humanity. Another analogy is that of a soldier being sent on a dangerous mission. They might pray for protection and strength, not necessarily to avoid the battle, but to carry out their duty faithfully and emerge victorious.

Relation to Other Verses

• Philippians 2:8: "and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" This verse parallels Hebrews 5:7 by emphasizing Jesus' obedient submission to suffering and death.
• Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." This verse directly connects Jesus' suffering and temptation, as described in 5:7, to His capacity for empathy and His perfect sinlessness as our High Priest.
• Luke 22:42: "“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”" This is the actual prayer uttered by Jesus in Gethsemane, which Hebrews 5:7 summarizes, showing the tension between His human desire and His divine obedience.
• Romans 5:19: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." This verse highlights the redemptive power of Jesus' obedience, a core theme exemplified in His prayer and submission described in Hebrews 5:7.