5 Every leader of God's priests comes from among the people. That special priest's work is to serve God on behalf of God's people. He offers gifts and sacrifices to God, so that God will forgive the people's sins. 2 That priest himself may often do wrong things, because he is weak and human. As a result, he understands other people who make mistakes. He can be kind to people who do wrong things. 3 But, because he himself does wrong things, he must offer sacrifices to God on behalf of himself, as well as on behalf of the people.
4 Nobody decides for himself to become a leader of the priests. God himself must choose him. That is how Aaron became a priest. [ a ]
5 It is the same with Christ. He did not choose himself to be God's special priest. He did not choose to make himself important like that. God chose him. God showed that Christ was very important. God said to him:
‘You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.’ [ b ]
6 And in another place in the Bible God says this:
‘You will be a priest for ever,
in the same way that Melchizedek was a priest long ago.’ [ c ]
7 When Jesus Christ lived on earth as a man, he often prayed to God. He asked God to help him. He prayed strongly and he cried loudly with many tears. He knew that God could save him from death. And God listened to Jesus when he prayed, because Jesus served God. [ d ]
8 Jesus is God's Son. But he still had trouble and pain. In that way, he learned to obey God completely. 9 As a result, Jesus became the person who can save everyone who obeys him. Because of Jesus, God forgives their sins for ever. 10 God has chosen Jesus to be his special priest in the same way that Melchizedek was.
11 We have a lot more to say to you about these things. But you are slow to understand things. As a result, it is difficult to explain any more to you now. 12 After all this time as believers in Jesus, you ought to be teachers. Instead of that, you still need someone to teach you the first lessons about God's message. You have become like babies, who need milk instead of proper food. 13 Anyone who still thinks like a baby does not yet understand God's message about what is right. It is as if they are still drinking only milk. 14 People who have grown up eat proper food. In the same way, people who have been believers for a long time should understand more about God's message. They should have learned about what is good and about what is bad. They should know the difference between those.
5 Every Jewish high priest is chosen from among men. That priest is given the work of helping people with the things they must do for God. He must offer to God gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 The high priest has his own weaknesses. So he is able to be gentle with those who do wrong out of ignorance. 3 He offers sacrifices for their sins, but he must also offer sacrifices for his own sins.
4 To be a high priest is an honor. But no one chooses himself for this work. That person must be chosen by God just as Aaron was. 5 It is the same with Christ. He did not choose himself to have the honor of becoming a high priest. But God chose him. God said to him,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.” ( A )
6 And in another part of the Scriptures God says,
“You are a priest forever—
the kind of priest Melchizedek was.” ( B )
7 While Jesus lived on earth he prayed to God, asking for help from the one who could save him from death. He prayed to God with loud cries and tears. And his prayers were answered because of his great respect for God. 8 Jesus was the Son of God, but he still suffered, and through his sufferings he learned to obey whatever God says. 9 This made him the perfect high priest, who provides the way for everyone who obeys him to be saved forever. 10 God made him high priest, just like Melchizedek.
11 We have many things to tell you about this. But it is hard to explain because you have stopped trying to understand. 12 You have had enough time that by now you should be teachers. But you need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God’s teaching. 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 and is not able to understand much about living right. 14 But solid food is for people who have grown up. From their experience they have learned to see the difference between good and evil.
5 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
5 For every high priest ( A ) taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in ( B ) things pertaining to God, in order to ( C ) offer both gifts and sacrifices ( D ) for sins; 2 [ a ] ( E ) he can deal gently with the ( F ) ignorant and ( G ) misguided, since he himself also is [ b ] ( H ) clothed in weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices ( I ) for sins for himself, ( J ) as well as for the people. 4 And ( K ) no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just ( L ) as Aaron also was.
5 So too Christ ( M ) did not glorify Himself in becoming a ( N ) high priest, but it was He who ( O ) said to Him,
“ ( P ) You are My Son ,
Today I have fathered You ”;
6 just as He also says in another passage ,
7 In the days of [ c ] His humanity, [ d ] ( S ) He offered up both prayers and pleas with ( T ) loud crying and tears to the One ( U ) able to save Him [ e ] from death, and He [ f ] was heard because of His ( V ) devout behavior. 8 Although He was ( W ) a Son, He learned ( X ) obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been ( Y ) perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, 10 being designated by God as ( Z ) High Priest according to ( AA ) the order of Melchizedek.
11 Concerning [ g ] him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become [ h ] poor listeners. 12 For though [ i ] by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ( AB ) the [ j ] ( AC ) elementary principles of the ( AD ) actual words of God, and you have come to need ( AE ) milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an ( AF ) infant. 14 But solid food is for ( AG ) the mature, who because of practice have their senses ( AH ) trained to ( AI ) distinguish between good and evil.
5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, ( A ) to offer gifts and sacrifices ( B ) for sins. ( C ) 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, ( D ) since he himself is subject to weakness. ( E ) 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ( F ) 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. ( G )
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory ( H ) of becoming a high priest. ( I ) But God said ( J ) to him,
6 And he says in another place,
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions ( N ) with fervent cries and tears ( O ) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard ( P ) because of his reverent submission. ( Q ) 8 Son ( R ) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ( S ) 9 and, once made perfect, ( T ) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest ( U ) in the order of Melchizedek. ( V )
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths ( X ) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ( Y ) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, ( Z ) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, ( AA ) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. ( AB )
