Hebrews 5
International Standard Version
Qualifications for the Priesthood
5 For every high priest selected from among men is appointed to officiate on their behalf[a] in matters relating to God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 For that reason he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 No one takes this honor upon himself but he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.
The Messiah’s Qualifications as High Priest
5 In the same way, the Messiah[b] did not take upon himself the glory of being a high priest. No, it was God who said[c] to him,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.”[d]
6 As he also says in another place,
“You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.”[e]
7 As a mortal man,[f] he offered up prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devotion to God. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
You Still Need Someone to Teach You
11 We have much to say about this,[g] but it is difficult to explain because you have become too lazy to understand. 12 In fact, though by now you should be teachers, you still need someone to teach you the basic truths of God’s word.[h] You have become people who need milk instead of solid food. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is still a baby and does not yet know the difference between right and wrong.[i] 14 But solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:1 Lit. on behalf of men
- Hebrews 5:5 Or Christ
- Hebrews 5:5 Lit. He said
- Hebrews 5:5 Cf. Ps 2:7
- Hebrews 5:6 Cf. Ps 110:4
- Hebrews 5:7 Lit. During the days of his flesh
- Hebrews 5:11 Or about him
- Hebrews 5:12 Or oracles
- Hebrews 5:13 Lit. and is inexperienced in the message of righteousness
Hebrews 5
Worldwide English (New Testament)
5 Every high priest is chosen from among men. His work is to stand before God for people. He brings gifts and makes sacrifices to God for the wrong things people have done.
2 Such a high priest can be kind to people who do not know what is right and who do wrong. He knows how to share in the suffering of others because he himself is weak.
3 Because he is weak himself, he must make sacrifices to God for the wrong things he has done, just as he does for the people.
4 No one chooses himself to be high priest. But God calls him, just as he called Aaron.
5 So Christ did not choose himself to be a high priest. But he was chosen by the One who said to him, `You are my Son, and I am your Father today.'
6 In another place in the holy writings God said, `You are a priest for ever like Melchizedek.'
7 When Jesus was a man, he talked to God who was able to save him from death. He called loudly to him with tears. God heard him because he honoured and respected God.
8 Even though Jesus was his Son, he learned to obey God in the troubles he had.
9 When he became perfect, he saved for ever all who obeyed him.
10 God called him a high priest like Melchizedek was a priest.
11 We have many things to say about him. But they are hard to explain to you. You are so slow to understand what we tell you.
12 By this time you should be able to teach others. But you need someone to teach you God's word again from the very beginning. Like children, you need milk, not meat.
13 Anyone who takes milk does not understand the message about which things are right.
14 But meat is for people who are grown up. It is for people who have trained their minds to know the difference between what is good and what is bad.
Hebrews 5
New King James Version
Qualifications for High Priesthood
5 For every high priest taken from among men (A)is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can [a]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to (B)weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for (C)himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as (D)Aaron was.
A Priest Forever
5 (E)So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:
(F)“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.”
6 As He also says in another place:
(G)“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek”;
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had (H)offered up prayers and supplications, (I)with vehement cries and tears to Him (J)who was able to save Him from death, and was heard (K)because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned (L)obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And (M)having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest (N)“according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom (O)we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become (P)dull of hearing.
Spiritual Immaturity
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the [b]oracles of God; and you have come to need (Q)milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is (R)a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are [c]of full age, that is, those who by reason of [d]use have their senses exercised (S)to discern both good and evil.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:2 deal gently with
- Hebrews 5:12 sayings, Scriptures
- Hebrews 5:14 mature
- Hebrews 5:14 practice
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
