Hebrews 2:10 states that Jesus was made perfect through sufferings.

Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Heb 2:10  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 [teleioo] through [dia] sufferings.

How is it that Jesus Christ was made perfect through sufferings?  Wasn’t He perfect already?  Let’s take a closer look.

The Bible is very clear that Jesus never sinned.  Here are just a few Scriptures.

2Co 5:20  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Heb 4:15  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1Pe 2:21  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
1Pe 2:22  “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH”;

1Jn 3:5  And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Jesus Christ has never sinned, and so is perfect.  He was perfect before He was manifested in the flesh and He was perfect throughout His life in the flesh, so “perfect” in Hebrews 2:10 cannot refer to being without sin.

The word “through” in the phrase “through sufferings” in Hebrews 2:10 is translated from the Greek word dia which is usually translated “through”, “because”, or “therefore”, but can also mean “after”.  Here is an example where dia is translated after.

Mar 2:1  And again He entered Capernaum after [dia] some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.

If dia in Hebrews 2:10 is translated “after”, then the verse takes a different meaning.

Heb 2:10  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 [teleioo] after [dia] sufferings.

In this reading, Jesus Christ was made perfect after suffering by being resurrected to His former glory as a spirit being.  The Greek word translated “perfect” is teleioo which means to “make perfect”, “accomplish”, “finish”, “complete”.  This reading is possible but given the meaning of teleioo it seems unnatural to make “perfect” refer to the resurrection. 

Is there another more natural explanation?  Yes!  The Bible explains that Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered.

Heb 5:8  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Heb 5:9  And having been perfected [teleioo], He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Although Jesus was perfect (without sin), He nevertheless learned obedience by the things He suffered.  As we read earlier in Hebrews 4:14, He was also tempted in all points, including being tempted by the devil, yet without sin.

Mat 4:1  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

But God cannot be tempted by evil.

Jas 1:13  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

So as a human Jesus experienced temptation (but did not succumb to it), which was something He had never experienced in His former glory.  So Jesus’s life as a human was a learning experience for Him.  This included experiencing temptation and learning obedience by the things He suffered.

Jesus’s human experience completed Him for His role as our High Priest and author and captain of our salvation.  This helps us understand Hebrews 2:10.  The “perfect” of Hebrews 2:10, which is translated from teleioo, has nothing to do with being without sin.  Rather, it refers to how His sufferings completed Him for His role as captain of our salvation.

Heb 2:10  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 [teleioo] (complete) through sufferings.

This is a much more natural explanation of “to make perfect”.  However, we also read in Hebrews 5:9 about Jesus “having been perfected”, where “perfected” is translated from the same Geek word teleioo.  What does this mean?  With Jesus’s sacrificial death, He finished (completed) the purpose for which He came to earth as a human.  The last thing Jesus said was “It is finished”.

Joh 19:30  So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished [teleo]!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Both teleioo and teleo derive from telos meaning “end”.  Hebrews 5:9 is really saying what Jesus said in His last words.  “Having been perfected” refers to the completion of the job to become the author of our salvation.

Heb 5:9  And having been perfected [teleioo] (finished the job), He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Conclusion

The “perfect/perfected” of Hebrews 2:10 and Hebrews 5:9, which are translated from teleioo, have nothing to do with being without sin.

Rather, in Hebrews 2:10 it refers to how His sufferings completed Him for His role as captain of our salvation.

Heb 2:10  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 [teleioo] (complete) through sufferings.

And in Hebrews 5:9 it refers to the completion of the job to become the author of our salvation.

Heb 5:9  And having been perfected [teleioo] (finished the job), He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,