Hebrews 5:3
“Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.”
What does Hebrews 5:3 mean?
This verse describes something striking about the Old Testament priesthood: even the high priest who stood between God and the people had to offer sacrifices for his own sins before he could help others. He wasn't above the human condition or exempt from needing forgiveness. The system required him to acknowledge his own brokenness and need for God's mercy, which created a kind of honesty built into religious practice. The author is using this detail to set up a contrast with Jesus, who is coming in the next section of Hebrews, since Jesus wouldn't need to make any sacrifice for himself because he was sinless. For us today, there's something oddly comforting here: even the spiritual leaders in Scripture were flawed and struggling, which means you're not alone in your own need for grace.