Does “learned obedience” imply that Jesus was disobedient?

Question

In Hebrews 5:8 it says that the Son "learned obedience" through what he suffered. Does this imply that he was disobedient at some point, or is there another way to understand it?

Answer 1

Hebrews 5:8 does not imply that Jesus was disobedient. Philippians 2:8 (ESV) reads,

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Both of these verses teach us that it was God the Son who had no need of obedience before becoming a man. Once he did become a man there were things that for lack of a better way for our minds to understand it, he "learned" or was "becoming". He was always the perfect obedient Son, but in fulfilling all prophecies, including suffering on the cross, Hebrews 5:9 continues to say that he was "made perfect". Which in keeping with the thoughts of this question does not mean that there was a time when he was "imperfect".

Answer 2

The steps for determining a solution are these:

1. Assume that Scripture does not contradict scripture.
2. Now consider what alternate solutions to the problem exist within scripture

The Scriptures do not Self-Contradict

Disobedience of parents would be sin.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. —Exodus 20:12

Disobedience of legitimate authority would be sin:

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him. —Mark 12:17

Since Jesus is without sin, he was never disobedient.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. —Hebrews 4:15

This shows that what was lacking, which he needed to learn was not disobedience.

Alternative Solutions from Within Scripture

He lacked experience being obedient when his will was different than that of the Father since normally they were in complete agreement:

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. —John 5:30

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. —Luke 22:42

Answer 3

The Logos who was God became flesh, that is, he became visible in flesh (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus experienced obedience in actuality because as God he neither experienced obeying as man nor experienced suffering, for he only knew these things, but to do them in actuality is indeed a learning, i.e. experience.