從人間選出來的大祭司,都是受委任代表人辦理與上帝有關的事,為人的罪向上帝獻上禮物和贖罪祭。 他能體諒那些無知和迷失的人,因為他自己也有人性的軟弱。 所以,他不但要為眾人的罪獻祭,也要為自己的罪獻祭。 沒有人能自取這大祭司的尊榮,只有像亞倫一樣蒙上帝呼召的人才可以做大祭司。

同樣,基督也沒有自取榮耀做大祭司,是上帝對祂說:

「你是我的兒子,
我今日成為你父親。」

在聖經的另一處,上帝又說:

「你照麥基洗德的模式永遠做祭司。」

基督在世為人的時候,曾經聲淚俱下地祈求能救祂脫離死亡的上帝。祂因為敬虔而蒙了應允。 基督雖然是上帝的兒子,仍然從所受的苦難中學習了順服。 祂既然達到了純全的地步,就成了永恆救恩的源頭,使所有順服祂的人都得到拯救。 10 上帝照著麥基洗德的模式立祂做大祭司。

信徒要長進

11 關於這方面的事,我們還有很多話要說,但因為你們已經聽不進去,很難向你們解釋。 12 按你們學習的時間來算,你們本該做別人的老師了,可惜你們還需要別人向你們傳授上帝話語的基本道理,成了不能吃乾糧、只能吃奶的人。 13 因為只能吃奶的人還是嬰孩,不熟習仁義的道理。 14 乾糧是給成年人吃的,他們的心思歷經鍛煉,能夠分辨善惡。

Qualifications for High Priesthood

For every high priest taken from among men (A)is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can [a]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to (B)weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for (C)himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as (D)Aaron was.

A Priest Forever

(E)So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

(F)“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.”

As He also says in another place:

(G)“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek”;

who, in the days of His flesh, when He had (H)offered up prayers and supplications, (I)with vehement cries and tears to Him (J)who was able to save Him from death, and was heard (K)because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned (L)obedience by the things which He suffered. And (M)having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest (N)“according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom (O)we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become (P)dull of hearing.

Spiritual Immaturity

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the [b]oracles of God; and you have come to need (Q)milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is (R)a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are [c]of full age, that is, those who by reason of [d]use have their senses exercised (S)to discern both good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:2 deal gently with
  2. Hebrews 5:12 sayings, Scriptures
  3. Hebrews 5:14 mature
  4. Hebrews 5:14 practice

Chapter 5

Every high priest is taken from among men to represent them in their dealings with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.[a] He is able to deal patiently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. And as a result of this, he must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. Moreover, one does not assume this position of honor on his own initiative, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Even Christ did not confer upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. Rather, he was appointed by the one who said to him:

“You are my Son;
    this day I have begotten you.”

And he says in another place:

“You are a priest forever,
    according to the order of Melchizedek.”

During the course of his earthly life, Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who had the power to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings, and when he had been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 and he was designated a high priest by God according to the order of Melchizedek.

Christ, the One True Priest[b]

Deepen the Christian Life.[c] We have much to say about this subject, but it is difficult to explain because you have been slow in learning. 12 By this time you should have been teachers, yet you still need to have someone explain to you the basic elements of God’s words.

You need milk, not solid food. 13 Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant and is ignorant of the word of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for adults whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:1 To offer gifts and sacrifices for sins: on the Day of Atonement (which the author is here envisioning), atonement was made for the sins of the Israelites (see Lev 16:34).
  2. Hebrews 5:11 This is the central part of the letter. Its themes center around a single great idea: Christ, “high priest of the good things that have come” (Heb 9:11), or “that are to come.” The vision starts with the past and with a reflection on all the religious situations already experienced, then leaves them and focuses on their fulfillment: the future of humanity with God, in and with Christ. Proofs are piled up to show that this new priesthood transcends all the ancient institutions, brings them to fulfillment, and renders them things of the past.

    11 
    The word “priest” is taken here in the sense used by the Old Testament and by religions of the time: the man of worship, the man who represents his brothers and sisters in ritual actions that will enable them to be purified and have access to the divinity. Jesus Christ appears as the only one who is the presence of the forgiveness of God, the one who gives access to God, the representative of all that humanity expects from God. Every other priesthood and all other sacrifices are only a sketch, sign, shadow, prefiguration, and expectation. They are now surpassed. The ancient words and hopes are evoked to say more than they could have suggested without the faith in Christ.

  3. Hebrews 5:11 The author warns his readers against regressing spiritually and morally. They must become “perfect”—what we would call “adults” or “mature.” That is, they must not be content with the rudiments of faith but must deepen their faith by reflection. Six basic teachings are enumerated and apostasy is condemned. Finally, a note of hope is given. A life marked by love cannot be insignificant; and this love has a concrete expression: the service of the saints (Heb 6:10), i.e., the sustenance of the poor of the Jerusalem community (see Rom 15:25-31; 2 Cor 8:4; 9:1-15).