Christ, a High Priest

5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining 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 clothed with weakness.^{(A) 3} Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins 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, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him,

⁶ also says in another place,

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 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from 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 according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Problem of Immaturity

¹¹ We have a great deal to say about this, and it is 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)