Hebrews 5
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 5
1 Every high priest is taken from among men to represent them in their dealings with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.[a] 2 He is able to deal patiently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 And as a result of this, he must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 4 Moreover, one does not assume this position of honor on his own initiative, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 Even Christ did not confer upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. Rather, he was appointed by the one who said to him:
“You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.”
6 And he says in another place:
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7 During the course of his earthly life, Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who had the power to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly fear. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings, 9 and when he had been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 and he was designated a high priest by God according to the order of Melchizedek.
Christ, the One True Priest[b]
Deepen the Christian Life.[c] We have much to say about this subject, but it is difficult to explain because you have been slow in learning. 12 By this time you should have been teachers, yet you still need to have someone explain to you the basic elements of God’s words.You need milk, not solid food. 13 Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant and is ignorant of the word of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for adults whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:1 To offer gifts and sacrifices for sins: on the Day of Atonement (which the author is here envisioning), atonement was made for the sins of the Israelites (see Lev 16:34).
- Hebrews 5:11 This is the central part of the letter. Its themes center around a single great idea: Christ, “high priest of the good things that have come” (Heb 9:11), or “that are to come.” The vision starts with the past and with a reflection on all the religious situations already experienced, then leaves them and focuses on their fulfillment: the future of humanity with God, in and with Christ. Proofs are piled up to show that this new priesthood transcends all the ancient institutions, brings them to fulfillment, and renders them things of the past.
11
The word “priest” is taken here in the sense used by the Old Testament and by religions of the time: the man of worship, the man who represents his brothers and sisters in ritual actions that will enable them to be purified and have access to the divinity. Jesus Christ appears as the only one who is the presence of the forgiveness of God, the one who gives access to God, the representative of all that humanity expects from God. Every other priesthood and all other sacrifices are only a sketch, sign, shadow, prefiguration, and expectation. They are now surpassed. The ancient words and hopes are evoked to say more than they could have suggested without the faith in Christ. - Hebrews 5:11 The author warns his readers against regressing spiritually and morally. They must become “perfect”—what we would call “adults” or “mature.” That is, they must not be content with the rudiments of faith but must deepen their faith by reflection. Six basic teachings are enumerated and apostasy is condemned. Finally, a note of hope is given. A life marked by love cannot be insignificant; and this love has a concrete expression: the service of the saints (Heb 6:10), i.e., the sustenance of the poor of the Jerusalem community (see Rom 15:25-31; 2 Cor 8:4; 9:1-15).
Hebrews 5
Revised Geneva Translation
5 For every High Priest is taken from among man (and is ordained for man, in things pertaining to God), so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He is able to have compassion on the ignorant and the wayward, because he also is encompassed by infirmity.
3 And for the same reason he must also offer for his own sins as well as for the people’s.
4 And no man takes this honor for himself, but rather he who is called by God (as was Aaron).
5 So likewise, Christ did not take this honor for Himself (to be made the High Priest), but He Who said to Him, “You are My Son. This day I begat You”.
6 As He also, in another place states, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek”,
7 Who, in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications (with strong crying and tears) to Him Who was able to save him from death. And He was heard because he feared.
8 And though He was the Son, he still learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
9 And being consecrated, He was made the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
10 And He is called by God “A High Priest after the order of Melchizedek”,
11 of Whom we have many things to say which are hard to understand because you are dull of hearing.
12 For though you ought to be teachers by this time, once again you need us to teach you the first principles of the Word of God, still having need of milk, and not solid food.
13 For everyone who uses milk is ignorant of the Word of righteousness. For he is an infant.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of age; who through long practice have their wits exercised to discern both good and evil.
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