(7) Who 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; (8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
In these verses we have a most interesting account of our Lord. It will be our mercy to consider what the Holy Ghost hath here said of Jesus. By the days of his flesh, must he understood, the different state to that of his glory. The expression is strong to this purpose. The days of his flesh; not the flesh that is his human nature itself, for that he hath the same still, but the time of his abode in our world, accomplishing the redemption of his people. During this period of the Son of God's humiliation on earth, he was subject to all the feelings and infirmities of that nature, which he had assumed, and was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, Hebrews 4:15. And it is our mercy that he was so; because it proves the certainty of his having been made like to his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, in things pertaining to God. Hence, under this consciousness, I can, and do, go to Jesus, because he knows what my nature is by his own. He not only knows it, as God, but he feels it as man. He, who in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, will assuredly now, in the day of his power, take part in his High Priestly Office with his people, when in their depth of sorrow they cry to the depth of divine mercy, Psalms 130:1-19
I beg the Reader not to overlook what is said of Christ being heard, in that he feared. It is not said that Christ was fearful, but that he feared. There is a natural fear, which, no doubt, the Lord Jesus, by taking our nature, felt; for, without it, he could not be said to be in all things made like unto his brethren, Hebrews 2:17. And, in confirmation, we read, that in his agony in the garden, he was sore amazed, Mark 14:33. And beside this natural fear, there is a godly fear, which marks the Lord's people, and is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord promiseth this as a covenant blessing: Jeremiah 32:40. This the Lord Jesus himself possessed, when the Spirit of Jehovah rested upon him, Isaiah 11:2. Such views will help us to understand, concerning those cries of Jesus which he offered up, in the days of his flesh, when it is said, he was heard in that he feared.
One word more on this interesting passage. The Son of God it is said, learned obedience by the things which he suffered. By which I presume is meant, that he learned, not as Son of God, but in his human nature, by personal feeling, in human sufferings, and human exercises. He acquired in that school, the full apprehension of suffering obedience, in suffering distresses; and, in a personal sense, of what we feel, he knew, what our exercises are. Sweet thought! In that he himself, hath suffered, being tempted; he knoweth how to succour them that are tempted!