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For every cohen gadol taken from among men is appointed to act on people’s behalf with regard to things concerning God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and with those who go astray, since he too is subject to weakness. Also, because of this weakness, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as those of the people. And no one takes this honor upon himself, rather, he is called by God, just as Aharon was.

So neither did the Messiah glorify himself to become cohen gadol; rather, it was the One who said to him,

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

Also, as he says in another place,

“You are a cohen forever,
to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.”[b]

During Yeshua’s life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions, crying aloud and shedding tears, to the One who had the power to deliver him from death; and he was heard because of his godliness. Even though he was the Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings. And after he had been brought to the goal, he became the source of eternal deliverance to all who obey him, 10 since he had been proclaimed by God as a cohen gadol to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.

11 We have much to say about this subject, but it is hard to explain, because you have become sluggish in understanding. 12 For although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the very first principles of God’s Word all over again! You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who has to drink milk is still a baby, without experience in applying the Word about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by continuous exercise to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes

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

Every high priest is chosen from among men. He is given the work of going before God for them. He must offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He himself is weak. So he is able to be gentle with those who do not understand and who are doing wrong things. Because he is weak the high priest must offer sacrifices for his own sins. And then he offers sacrifices for the sins of the people.

To be a high priest is an honor. But no one chooses himself for this work. He must be called by God as Aaron[a] was. So also Christ did not choose himself to have the honor of being a high priest. But God chose him. God said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.” Psalm 2:7

And in another Scripture God says,

“You are a priest forever,
    a priest like Melchizedek.”[b] Psalm 110:4

While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked God for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death. And his prayer was heard because he left it all up to God. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, he learned to obey by what he suffered. And he became our perfect high priest. He gives eternal salvation to all who obey him. 10 And God made Jesus high priest, a priest like Melchizedek.

Warning Against Falling Away

11 We have much to say about this. But it is hard to explain because you are so slow to understand. 12 You have had enough time so that by now you should be teachers. But you need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God’s message. You still need the teaching that is like milk. You are not ready for solid food. 13 Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby. He knows nothing about right teaching. 14 But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. 5:4 Aaron Moses’ brother and the first Jewish high priest.
  2. 5:6 Melchizedek A priest and king who lived in the time of Abraham. (Read Genesis 14:17–24.)