Hebrews 5

1 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:2 who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity;3 and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.4 And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron.5 So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee:

6 as he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;10 named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.12 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.14 But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5

Chapter 5

1 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.

3 That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.
4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.

5 That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.t”

6 And in another passage God said to him,
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”t7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.9 In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

A Call to Spiritual Growth

11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.t You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.

14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.