Jesus Was Made Perfect?

Hola Scholars! You know, I remember seeing the below Scripture many times, but have never taken the time to investigate it. Check it out . . .

Hebrews 5:8-9 NIV - "Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him . . ."

I've looked at quite a few different translations and the idea is consistent . . . that Jesus was somehow changed to a point of perfection. In fact, now that I think of it, and I may be wrong here, but I think within the Davidic Covenant, there is a passage that states that if Jesus sins, he will be punished for His wrongdoing. 2 Sam 07:11-16

Guys . . . What thoughts come to mind?

Biblically, being perfect never means sinless. Perfect means complete, whole, not lacking. God became flesh and experienced human life. He was made perfect through his experiences.

Interesting. And, I'm pretty sure that I'm tracking with you, but still super hazy. What are the changes that make Christ go from "A" to "B" to "C" etc. If something is made perfect, or made whole and complete, there must be elements put together to make that object whole and complete. From what I've written, does it sound like I understand what you're offering?

Thanks!

Jesus entered into a covenant with the Father to save humanity. Like the first Adam, He was under a covenant of works. So in order to fulfill the covenant, He had to be perfectly obedient to be accepted or qualify Himself to be Messiah. Once He fulfilled all the obedience that was required, He was perfected or accepted as Savior.

Oh, that's right! Amazing. 10 points for Mags!

Very interesting. I have cataloged all the Covenants, but this one got past me. Do you have any Scripts for this?

Thank you, Cameron!

Jesus was made perfect because of His experiences? Hmmm....I am unable to see that principle in the Bible anywhere.

It's about Jesus priesthood his humanity how he became a man , faced sufferings and every temptation we do but he never sinned he overcame temptation lived a holy life facing mankind's plight experiencing mankind's Infirmities and even death which man brought upon themselves . There's about two or three chapters talking about that in hebrews

Chapter 2
14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

Chaoter5


14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Which leads to the scripture your wondering about


7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.


We know Jesus is God the creator but we have a hard time with he became a man and made himself subject to God to be our high priest and intercessor we did t have a perfect man to intercede now we do

Thanks to you, I just read the OP passage again and what you're saying is crystal clear. That is amazing how the Lord can allow a person to see something . . . just . . . like . . . that!

The transition that Jesus experienced was going from not knowing what suffering and death was like, to then knowing. He was even obedient unto death. In the process of being tortured, Jesus, God in human flesh, could have stopped the entire process. Yet, it was the Plan and Will of the Father that these things would be done, and Jesus knew His Davidic Purpose, which had to be done.

In this way, Jesus was made Perfect, or as you say, whole and complete. The transition from who Jesus was to who He became was a matter of practice, obedience, and successful completion.

Now that I think about it, ". . . and, once made perfect . . ." is very much associated with, "It is finished."

I do believe that I understand what you have offered. Yes?

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You." As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek"; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"

- Hebrews 5:5-10 (NKJV)

Thank you @2ndTimothyGroup. This is truly an awesome topic to meditate upon. It brings to my mind John 3:16. Is it okay if I put down just a few thoughts for now? It’s very late …

Jesus, even though He was the Son of God, still had to learn to be obedient to His Father. He had a mission, a purpose, a destiny—the Cross.

Jesus wept. ….because of those who would never believe in Him?

He suffered greatly. …learning obedience. …perfected

to become Savior of the world
a forever high priest

—selah

Amen!

Wow. Your Words struck me. I thought of how Jesus willingly became the one-time Sacrifice for all, yet no animal willingly went to its death. All animals fought death, and fear controlled their faces, eyes glaring with terror. Jesus walked straight toward it all. He did it all. Unbelievable.

One of the reasons he became flesh is to suffer temptation, overcome temptation, and now he is able to emphasize with man and help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 2:
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Some of the things God experienced in the flesh:
Hungered
Thirst
Was weary
Mocked
Struck
Betrayed
Died

It's the new covenant in His blood. The book of Hebrews speaks to the superiority of Christ in every regard.

As Jesus the Man He grew in stature, as Christ the Son of God, God, He was always perfect.

How are you using the word "perfect"? Biblically, perfect never means sinless. Jesus was always sinless, but he was being made perfect through his temptations and earthly experiences. Perfect meaning, complete, whole, not lacking.

Has God in heaven ever experience what it's like to be thirsty? Had he ever been in a human body of flesh and experienced hunger? The bible states that God has never been tempted. But when God became flesh and dwelt among us, he was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin.

As the Son of God He was and is always perfect. As the Son of Man He learned through obedience.

I hear what you're saying, but the principle doesn't really make sense to me. What are we to say about those who practice bestiality? Or, any other sin? Must christ experience sin in order to help those who struggle with it?

This requires wisdom.

It's at the very beginning:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..."

This was a covenant with God the Father and God the Son. Although Adam was created, he did not continue on according to the rules of the covenant.

This extended to Abraham:

"For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself..."

This was an agreement among God. Abraham received the promises of the agreement. AS I've said before, this is like a child receiving the benefits of a husband and wife entering into a loving marriage.

Later, we see that the payment for this covenant was made before the earth was made:

"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

The Son paid the price for the covenant before the earth was made. And, because God is just, He obligated Himself to meet the requirements of the covenant. The requirements of the covenant was this:

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom."