Hebrews 5:2

have compassion on Rather, "deal gently with" The word metriopatheinmeans properly "to shew moderate emotions." All men are liable to emotions and passions (pathç). The Stoics held that these should be absolutely crushed and that "apathy" (ἀπάθεια) was the only fit condition for a Philosopher. The Peripatetics on the other hand the school of Aristotle held that the philosopher should not aim at apathy, because no man can be absolutely passionless without doing extreme violence to nature; but that he should acquire metriopathythat is a spirit of "moderated emotion" and self-control. The word is found both in Philo and Josephus. In common usage it meant "moderate compassion;" since the Stoics held "pity" to be not only a weakness but a vice. The Stoic apatheiawould have utterly disqualified any one for true Priesthood. Our Lord yielded to human emotions such as pity, sorrow, and just anger; and that He did so and could do so, "yet without sin," is expressly recorded for our instruction.

on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way Highhanded sinners, willingsinners, those who, in the Hebrew phrase, sin "with upraised hand" (Numbers 15:30; Deuteronomy 17:12), cannot always be treated with compassionate tenderness (Hebrews 10:26); but the ignorant and the erring (1 Timothy 1:13) those who sin "inadvertently," "involuntarily" (Leviticus 4:2; Leviticus 4:13, &c.) and even those who under sudden stress of passion and temptation sin wilfully need pity (Leviticus 5:1; Leviticus 19:20-22), and Christ's prayer on the cross was for those "who know not what they do." No untempted Angel, no Being removed from the possibility of such falls, could have had the personal sympathy which is an indispensable requisite for perfect Priesthood.

is compassed with infirmity Moral weakness is part of the very nature which, he wears, and which makes him bear reasonably with those who are like himself. The same Greek phrase (perikeimaiwith an accusative) occurs in Acts 28:20 ("I am bound with this chain"), "Under the gorgeous robes of office there were still the galling chains of flesh." Kay.