Hebrews 5-6

New King James Version

Qualifications for High Priesthood

5 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. ² He can ^[a]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to ^(B)weakness. ³ Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for ^(C)himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. ⁴ And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as ^(D)Aaron was.

A Priest Forever

^5 (E)So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

⁶ As He also says in another place:

⁷ 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, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned ^(L)obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ 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.

The Peril of Not Progressing

6 Therefore, ^(T)leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to ^[e]perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from ^(U)dead works and of faith toward God, ^2 (V)of the doctrine of baptisms, ^(W)of laying on of hands, ^(X)of resurrection of the dead, ^(Y)and of eternal judgment. ³ And this ^[f]we will do if God permits.

⁴ For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted ^(Z)the heavenly gift, and ^(AA)have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ^6 [g]if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, ^(AB)since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

⁷ For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, ^(AC)receives blessing from God; ^8 (AD)but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

A Better Estimate

⁹ But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. ¹⁰ For ^(AE)God is not unjust to forget ^(AF)your work and ^[h]labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ^(AG)ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ^(AH)to the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² that you do not become ^[i]sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience ^(AI)inherit the promises.

God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ

¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, ^(AJ)He swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, ^(AK)“Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the ^(AL)promise. ¹⁶ For men indeed swear by the greater, and ^(AM)an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. ¹⁷ Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to ^(AN)the heirs of promise ^(AO)the ^[j]immutability of His counsel, ^[k]confirmed it by an oath, ¹⁸ that by two ^[l]immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to ^(AP)lie, we ^[m]might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope ^(AQ)set before us.

¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, ^(AR)and which enters the Presence behind the veil, ^20 (AS)where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, ^(AT)having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.