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。

每一名大祭司都是从人类中挑选出来的,他受到委任,在上帝面前为人类服务,奉献礼物和赎罪的祭物。 每一名大祭司都能和善地对待那些无知和犯错误的人。 (因为他自己也有弱点,这就是为什么他不但为人类的罪,而且还得为自己的罪祭献的原因。)

但是,任何人都不能自己取得大祭司的荣誉,他必像亚伦一样,受到上帝的召唤。 同样,基督也没有凭自己获得成为大祭司的荣誉,而是上帝曾对他说:

“你是我的儿子,
今天我成为你的父亲。” (A)

在《经》的另一处,他还说:

“你就像麦基洗德一样,永远是祭司。” (B)

耶稣在人间时,他曾向能把他从死亡中救出的上帝高声祈祷与请求。由于他对上帝的虔诚的敬拜,上帝听到了他的声音。 虽然他是上帝之子,但是他在苦难中学会了顺从。 当他变得完美后,他对于那些服从他的人们来说便成为了永恒拯救的源泉。 10 就像麦基洗德一样,是上帝指定他当大祭司的。

警戒

11 关于此事,我们有很多话要说,但是难以向你们解释,因为你们的理解力变得非常迟钝。 12 尽管你们此时早就应该成为教师了,但事实上,还需要有人重新向你们教导上帝教导的基本课程。你们需要的是奶,而不是固体食物。 13 只靠吃奶生活的人,根本不懂得什么是正确的教导,因为他还是个婴儿。 14 而固体食物是给成熟人们的,他们的心经受了阅历的磨练,能够分辨善恶。

High Priests Are Called By God From Among Men To Offer Sacrifices For Sins

For every high priest being taken from-among men is appointed for people in the things pertaining to God, in order that he might offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins— being able to deal-gently with the ones being ignorant and going-astray since he himself is also surrounded with weakness. And because of it[a], he is obligated to be offering sacrifices for sins— just as for the people, so also for himself. And one does not take the honor to himself, but receives it being called by God, just as also Aaron.

So Also Jesus Was Made High Priest By God

So also, Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but the One having said to Him [in Ps 2:7] “You are My Son. Today I have fathered You” did, just as also in another place He says “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” [Ps 110:4],

Although Being a Son, He Learned Obedience From His Sufferings

... Who, in the days of His flesh[b] having offered both petitions and supplications[c] with a strong outcry and tears to the One being able to save Him from[d] death[e], and having been heard because of His reverence[f], although being a Son[g], learned obedience from the things which He suffered[h].

And Jesus Became The Cause of Salvation, As High Priest In The Order of Melchizedek

And having been perfected[i], He became the cause[j] of eternal salvation to all the ones obeying Him, 10 having been designated[k] by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek—

This Is Hard To Explain To You

11 ... concerning whom[l] our message-to-speak is great[m] and hard-to-interpret[n] so as to speak, since you have become sluggish[o] in the hearing.

For You Are Still Immature In The Word

12 For indeed, [although] being obligated to be teachers because of the time, you again have a need that someone be teaching you the elements[p] of [q] the beginning[r] concerning the oracles[s] of God. And you have become ones having a need of milk and not of solid[t] food. 13 For everyone partaking of milk is inexperienced in the word of [u] righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But the solid food is for the mature— the ones because of habit[v] having their faculties[w] trained for discernment of both good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:3 That is, his weakness.
  2. Hebrews 5:7 Or, in His days of the flesh.
  3. Hebrews 5:7 Or, pleadings.
  4. Hebrews 5:7 Or, out of.
  5. Hebrews 5:7 That is, peril of death; or, dying; or, physical death (through resurrection).
  6. Hebrews 5:7 Or, piety, devotion, godly fear.
  7. Hebrews 5:8 That is, One whose essential quality is that He is God’s own Son.
  8. Hebrews 5:8 Jesus learned obedience to God’s will from undeserved suffering, rather than from the consequences of personal sin.
  9. Hebrews 5:9 That is, as a human, by the sufferings.
  10. Hebrews 5:9 Or, source, grounds.
  11. Hebrews 5:10 Or, addressed, named.
  12. Hebrews 5:11 That is, Melchizedek. Or, which; that is, Christ as High Priest.
  13. Hebrews 5:11 That is, great in length (long); or, great in quality (deep, profound).
  14. Hebrews 5:11 That is, difficult to put in words you will understand.
  15. Hebrews 5:11 Or, lazy, dull.
  16. Hebrews 5:12 Or, fundamentals, basics.
  17. Hebrews 5:12 That is, belonging to.
  18. Hebrews 5:12 Or, first thing.
  19. Hebrews 5:12 Or, sayings.
  20. Hebrews 5:12 In this context, solid food refers to teaching about Christ as High Priest.
  21. Hebrews 5:13 That is, about, leading to.
  22. Hebrews 5:14 Or, practice, constant use.
  23. Hebrews 5:14 That is, moral senses.