The Messiah, a High Priest

5 For every high priest taken from men is appointed in service^[a] to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.^{(A) 3} Because of this, he must make a sin offering for himself as well as for the people.^{(B) 4} No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.^{(C) 5} In the same way, the Messiah did not exalt Himself to become a high priest, but the One who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father,^{(D)[b] 6} also said in another passage, You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.^(E)[c]

⁷ During His earthly life,^[d] He offered prayers and appeals^(F) with loud cries and tears^(G) to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. ⁸ Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.^{(H) 9} After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, ¹⁰ and He was declared by God a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

The Problem of Immaturity

¹¹ We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. ¹² Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.^{(I) 13} Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.^(J)