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

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

He is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity.

And because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for those of the people.

Besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor [of being high priest], but he is called by God and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did.

So too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have begotten You;(A)

As He says also in another place, You are a Priest [appointed] forever after the order (with [a]the rank) of Melchizedek.(B)

In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted [b]but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, [c] in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered

And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him,(C)

10 Being [d]designated and recognized and saluted by God as High Priest after the order (with [e]the rank) of Melchizedek.(D)

11 Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even [f]slothful in achieving spiritual insight].

12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!

14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:6 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  2. Hebrews 5:7 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
  3. Hebrews 5:7 Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown, A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments.
  4. Hebrews 5:10 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.
  5. Hebrews 5:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  6. Hebrews 5:11 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.

Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.

And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.[a]

And in another passage God said to him,

“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”[b]

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. 10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

A Call to Spiritual Growth

11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.[c] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Footnotes

  1. 5:5 Or Today I reveal you as my Son. Ps 2:7.
  2. 5:6 Ps 110:4.
  3. 5:12 Or about the oracles of God.

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