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Every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins. Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes. (A)And because he is himself weak, he must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins. (B)No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God's call that a man is made a high priest—just as Aaron was.

(C)In the same way, Christ did not take upon himself the honor of being a high priest. Instead, God said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”
(D)He also said in another place,
“You will be a priest forever,
    in the priestly order of Melchizedek.” [a]

(E)In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him. But even though he was God's Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient. When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him, 10 and God declared him to be high priest, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.[b]

Warning against Abandoning the Faith

11 There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. 12 (F)There has been enough time for you to be teachers—yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. 13 Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. 14 Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:6 in the priestly order of Melchizedek; or like Melchizedek; or in the line of succession to Melchizedek.
  2. Hebrews 5:10 in the priestly order of Melchizedek; or like Melchizedek; or in the line of succession to Melchizedek.

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

“You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you”;

as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    according to the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of his flesh, Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Warning against Falling Away

11 About this[b] we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:7 Gk he
  2. Hebrews 5:11 Or him

The Perfect High Priest

For every high priest (A)taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in (B)things pertaining to God, in order to (C)offer both gifts and sacrifices (D)for sins; [a](E)he can deal gently with the (F)ignorant and (G)misguided, since he himself also is [b](H)clothed in weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices (I)for sins for himself, (J)as well as for the people. And (K)no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just (L)as Aaron also was.

So too Christ (M)did not glorify Himself in becoming a (N)high priest, but it was He who (O)said to Him,

(P)You are My Son,
Today I have fathered You”;

just as He also says in another passage,

(Q)You are a priest forever
According to (R)the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of [c]His humanity, [d](S)He offered up both prayers and pleas with (T)loud crying and tears to the One (U)able to save Him [e]from death, and He [f]was heard because of His (V)devout behavior. Although He was (W)a Son, He learned (X)obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been (Y)perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, 10 being designated by God as (Z)High Priest according to (AA)the order of Melchizedek.

11 Concerning [g]him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become [h]poor listeners. 12 For though [i]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you (AB)the [j](AC)elementary principles of the (AD)actual words of God, and you have come to need (AE)milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an (AF)infant. 14 But solid food is for (AG)the mature, who because of practice have their senses (AH)trained to (AI)distinguish between good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:2 Lit being able to
  2. Hebrews 5:2 I.e., weak by nature
  3. Hebrews 5:7 Lit His flesh
  4. Hebrews 5:7 Lit who having offered up
  5. Hebrews 5:7 Or out of
  6. Hebrews 5:7 Lit having been heard
  7. Hebrews 5:11 Lit whom; or which
  8. Hebrews 5:11 Lit sluggish in hearing
  9. Hebrews 5:12 Lit because of the time
  10. Hebrews 5:12 Lit elements of the beginning

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,(A) to offer gifts and sacrifices(B) for sins.(C) He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,(D) since he himself is subject to weakness.(E) This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.(F) And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.(G)

In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory(H) of becoming a high priest.(I) But God said(J) to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”[a](K)

And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.(L)[b](M)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(N) with fervent cries and tears(O) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(P) because of his reverent submission.(Q) Son(R) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(S) and, once made perfect,(T) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest(U) in the order of Melchizedek.(V)

Warning Against Falling Away(W)

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(X) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(Y) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(Z) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(AA) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(AB)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
  2. Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4