Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The sympathetic high priest
14 Well, then, since we have a great high priest who has gone right through the heavens, Jesus, God’s son, let us hold on firmly to our confession of faith. 15 For we don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us at the moment when we need it.
5 Every high priest, you see, is chosen from among human beings, and is placed before God on their behalf, so that he can offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to sympathize with people who don’t know very much, or who wander off in different directions, since he too has his own share of weakness. 3 That’s why he has to offer sacrifices in relation to his own sins as well as those of the people.
The son becomes the priest
4 Nobody takes the office of priesthood on himself; you have to be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, the Messiah didn’t exalt himself so that he might become a high priest. It came about through the one who said to him,
You are my son; today I have become your father.
6 As he says in another passage,
You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
7 During the time of Jesus’ earthly life, he offered up prayers and supplications, with loud shouts and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his devotion. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 When he had been made complete and perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 since he has been designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.