“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).
Usually the word “perfect” calls to mind the idea of moral flawlessness. Because of this, a puzzling question arises from Hebrews 2:10’s declaration: How is it possible for Jesus who was morally flawless to become more morally flawless through suffering?
He cannot, and He did not.
For Jesus to be perfectly (i.e., fully) qualified for His work as the one mediator between God and man and bring many sons to glory, He had to experience every aspect of human existence. This required, therefore, His pascho (passion—Acts 1:3) and pathema (sufferings—Hebrews 2:10).
Just as the Old Testament priests had to undergo certain rites and ceremonies to be duly authorized and consecrated (i.e., perfectly qualified) for their office (Exodus 29:9, 29, 33, 35), Jesus had to experience the suffering of death so He would have the perfect pathos to be our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-15). Because He is perfectly qualified, He alone can perfect forever those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14).
This perfect (completely qualified) High Priest is the capstone of God’s perfect (flawless) plan of redemption.
