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。

[L For] Every high priest is chosen from among ·the people [human beings; C to represent humans, the priest must himself be human] and is ·given the work of going before God for them [L appointed to represent people in things related to God] to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. Since he himself is weak [C subject to human frailty, both physical and moral], he is able to be gentle with those who ·do not understand [are ignorant] and who are ·doing wrong things [easily deceived; wayward; going astray]. Because he is weak, the high priest must offer sacrifices for his own sins and also for the sins of the people [Lev. 16].

To be a high priest is an honor, but no one ·chooses himself for this work [takes this office by his own authority; L takes this honor for himself]. He must be ·called [chosen] by God as Aaron was [C Moses’ brother and Israel’s first high priest; Ex. 28:1]. So also ·Christ [or the Messiah; C either a proper name or a title] did not ·choose himself to have the honor of being [L glorify/exalt himself by becoming] a high priest, but God ·chose [glorified; exalted] him. God said to him,

“You are my Son.
    Today I have ·become your Father [T begotten you; Ps. 2:7].”

And in another Scripture God says,

“You are a priest forever,
    ·a priest like [L in the priestly order/line of] Melchizedek [Ps. 110:4].” [C See 7:1–10; Melchizedek was a priest and king in the time of Abraham; Gen. 14:17–24.]

·While Jesus lived on earth [L In the days of his flesh/earthly life], he ·prayed to God and asked God for help [L offered prayers and petitions]. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and his prayer was heard because ·he trusted God [L of his reverence/devotion; C referring especially to Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane; Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:41, 44]. Even though Jesus was ·the Son of God [or a son; C with all the rights and privileges of an heir], he learned obedience by what he suffered [C through total obedience to God, Jesus achieved the glorified or perfected state God originally intended for human beings; 2:3–9]. And ·because his obedience was perfect [or having achieved perfection], he ·was able to give [L became the source/means of] eternal salvation to all who obey him. 10 In this way God ·made [designated; appointed] Jesus a high priest, ·a priest like [L in the priestly order/line of] Melchizedek [v. 6; Ps. 110:4].

Warning Against Falling Away

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are so ·slow to understand [hard of hearing; C spiritually]. 12 By now you should be teachers, but you need someone to teach you again the ·first lessons [elementary truths; basic principles] of God’s ·message [revelation; oracles]. You still need ·the teaching that is like milk [L milk]. You are not ready for solid food. 13 [L For] Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and ·knows nothing about [or is unskilled/inexperienced with] ·right teaching [or the message about righteousness]. 14 But solid food is for those who are ·grown up [mature]. ·They are mature enough […who through practice/exercise have trained their faculties/senses] to know the difference between good and evil.

Ang bawat punong pari ay pinili mula sa mga tao upang maglingkod sa Dios para sa kanila. Tungkulin niyang maghandog ng mga kaloob at iba pang mga handog para sa kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan. At dahil tao rin siyang tulad natin na may mga kahinaan, mahinahon siyang nakikitungo sa mga taong hindi nakakaalam na naliligaw sila ng landas. At dahil nagkakasala rin siya, kailangan niyang maghandog, hindi lang para sa kasalanan ng mga tao, kundi para rin sa sarili niyang mga kasalanan. Hindi maaaring makamtan ninuman sa sarili niyang kagustuhan ang karangalan ng pagiging punong pari. Sapagkat ang Dios mismo ang humihirang sa kanya na maging punong pari, tulad ng pagkahirang kay Aaron. Ganoon din naman, hindi si Cristo ang nagparangal sa sarili niya na maging punong pari kundi ang Dios. Sapagkat sinabi sa kanya ng Dios,

    “Ikaw ang Anak ko, at ngayon ipapahayag ko na ako ang iyong Ama.”[a]

At sinabi pa ng Dios sa ibang bahagi ng Kasulatan,

    “Ikaw ay pari magpakailanman, tulad ng pagkapari ni Melkizedek.”[b]

Noong namumuhay pa si Jesus sa mundong ito, umiiyak siyang nananalangin at nagmamakaawa sa Dios na makapagliligtas sa kanya sa kamatayan. At dininig naman siya dahil lubos siyang naging masunurin. At kahit Anak siya mismo ng Dios, natutunan niya ang pagiging masunurin sa pamamagitan ng mga pagtitiis na dinanas niya. Naging ganap siya at pinagmulan ng walang hanggang kaligtasan[c] ng lahat ng sumusunod sa kanya. 10 Kaya itinalaga siya ng Dios na maging punong pari tulad ng pagkapari ni Melkizedek.

Babala sa Pagtalikod sa Dios

11 Marami pa sana kaming sasabihin tungkol sa mga bagay na ito, pero mahirap ipaliwanag dahil mahina ang pang-unawa ninyo. 12 Dapat mga tagapagturo na sana kayo dahil matagal na kayo sa pananampalataya, ngunit hanggang ngayon ay kailangan pa kayong turuan ng mga panimulang aralin tungkol sa salita ng Dios. Katulad pa rin kayo ng mga sanggol na nangangailangan ng gatas dahil hindi nʼyo pa kaya ang matigas na pagkain. 13 Ang mga nabubuhay sa gatas ay mga sanggol pa at walang muwang kung ano ang mabuti at masama. 14 Ngunit ang matigas na pagkain ay para sa may mga sapat na gulang na, at alam na kung ano ang mabuti at masama.

Footnotes

  1. 5:5 Salmo 2:7.
  2. 5:6 Salmo 110:4.
  3. 5:9 walang hanggang kaligtasan: Ang ibig sabihin, pinalaya sila magpakailanman sa kaparusahan ng mga kasalanan nila.