He Learnt Through What?

Hebrews 5:8
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered

Good News Translation
But even though he was God’s Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient.

Amplified Bible
Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered.

New Living Translation
Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

The writer of Hebrews explains why Jesus was the perfect High Priest. He tells us Jesus was the best we could ever have for our salvation and no other. He goes ahead to break down the various aspects of Christ that made Him a perfect High Priest and thereby Savior.

In our text today, the writer tells us that Jesus was obedient. Even though He was the son of God who was sinless yet, it was necessary for Him to learn obedience as the people He came to save learn. He was not exempted from the process of learning obedience.

What catches our attention today is that He learned obedience through suffering. Suffering makes us desperate and when we are desperate, we will either remain faithful to God or seek other competing alternatives. Suffering teaches us to be obedient to God.

The suffering of Jesus as He fasted made Him learn to obey God even when disobeying God would remove the suffering. He learned to be obedient to the mission God gave Him to die for us. As He suffered He knew He had the option to quit, but He remained obedient. He learned obedience through suffering!

Would you obey God or attend school to prepare for a critical national exam? If you obey God you will suffer ridicule and even possibly low grades. Yet we learn obedience through suffering as Jesus did. He learned obedience through suffering!

Would you obey God and have integrity or would you engage in corruption to alleviate suffering? If you are not corrupt you may suffer want. Yet we learn obedience through suffering as Jesus did. He learned obedience through suffering!

Would you obey God and return tithes and offerings? If you return tithes and offerings you may suffer a short-term need. Yet we learn obedience through suffering as Jesus did. He learned obedience through suffering!

Would you obey God and be sexually moral? That may mean you suffer surging desires, ridicule, and short-term rejection. The suffering is real. Yet we learn obedience through suffering as Jesus did. He learned obedience through suffering!

Hebrews 11:24
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
Hebrews 11:25
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Hebrews 11:26
esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Moses chose to suffer than live in a palace where he would lack nothing. Moses suffered for a short time, then he became the leader of Israel. When he died God raised him up and took him to heaven where he is eternally happy. It all began with a choice to suffer for a short time (his short time was forty years in Midian, your short time will obviously be different as God wishes). He learned operant obedience through suffering!

2 Corinthians 12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

1 Peter 3:17
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Whatever suffering God allows to come our way has a purpose. Jesus suffered to learn obedience. Apostle Paul suffered to prevent him from being proud. We shouldn’t suffer for wrongdoing. There is a reason why you or I are suffering. May God forgive us if our suffering is a punishment. May God help us fulfill our reason for suffering. May God set us free from suffering, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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