5:2 can deal gently. The weakness of the Old Testament high priest in the face of his own temptations compelled him to moderate his indignation over others’ sins and “deal gently” with them. Jesus’ sympathy also is strongly motivated, since He fully identifies with the struggles of His people. Yet Jesus never succumbed to temptation (4:15).

ignorant and wayward. The law (Num. 15:27–31) distinguished between sins committed out of weakness or ignorance, and sins committed in defiance of the Lord’s authority (10:26, 27).