Hebrews 5:1-6:8

English Standard Version

5 For every high priest chosen from among men ^(A)is appointed to act on behalf of men ^(B)in relation to God, ^(C)to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ^2 (D)He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself ^(E)is beset with weakness. ³ Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins ^(F)just as he does for those of the people. ⁴ And ^(G)no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, ^(H)just as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ ^(I)did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

⁶ as he says also in another place,

⁷ In the days of his flesh, ^(L)Jesus^[a] offered up prayers and supplications, ^(M)with loud cries and tears, to him ^(N)who was able to save him from death, and ^(O)he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although ^(P)he was a son, ^(Q)he learned obedience through what he suffered. ⁹ And ^(R)being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, ¹⁰ being designated by God a high priest ^(S)after the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Apostasy

¹¹ About this we have much to say, and it is ^(T)hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again ^(U)the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need ^(V)milk, not solid food, ¹³ for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is ^(W)a child. ¹⁴ But solid food is for ^(X)the mature, for those who have their powers ^(Y)of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

6 Therefore ^(Z)let us leave ^(AA)the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance ^(AB)from dead works and of faith toward God, ² and of ^(AC)instruction about washings,^{[b] (AD)}the laying on of hands, ^(AE)the resurrection of the dead, and ^(AF)eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do ^(AG)if God permits. ⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those ^(AH)who have once been enlightened, who have tasted ^(AI)the heavenly gift, and ^(AJ)have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^(AK)have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and ^(AL)then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since ^(AM)they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. ⁷ For ^(AN)land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ⁸ But ^(AO)if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, ^(AP)and its end is to be burned.