Hebrews 4:14-6:12

New King James Version

Our Compassionate High Priest

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great ^(A)High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, ^(B)let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For ^(C)we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but ^(D)was in all points tempted as we are, ^(E)yet without sin. ^16 (F)Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Qualifications for High Priesthood

5 For every high priest taken from among men ^(G)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 ^(H)weakness. ³ Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for ^(I)himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. ⁴ And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as ^(J)Aaron was.

A Priest Forever

^5 (K)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 ^(N)offered up prayers and supplications, ^(O)with vehement cries and tears to Him ^(P)who was able to save Him from death, and was heard ^(Q)because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned ^(R)obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And ^(S)having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest ^(T)“according to the order of Melchizedek,” ¹¹ of whom ^(U)we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become ^(V)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 ^(W)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ^(X)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 ^(Y)to discern both good and evil.

The Peril of Not Progressing

6 Therefore, ^(Z)leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to ^[e]perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from ^(AA)dead works and of faith toward God, ^2 (AB)of the doctrine of baptisms, ^(AC)of laying on of hands, ^(AD)of resurrection of the dead, ^(AE)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 ^(AF)the heavenly gift, and ^(AG)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, ^(AH)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, ^(AI)receives blessing from God; ^8 (AJ)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 ^(AK)God is not unjust to forget ^(AL)your work and ^[h]labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ^(AM)ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ^(AN)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 ^(AO)inherit the promises.