HEBREËRS 5

1 Elke hoëpriester is 'n mens wat uit die mense geneem en aangestel word om vir hulle by God in te tree deur gawes en offers vir die sondes te bring. 2 Hy kan meegevoel hê met die onwetendes en dwalendes, omdat hy self aan swakheid onderhewig is. 3 Om hierdie rede moet hy ook vir homself, net soos vir die volk, offers bring vir die sondes.

4 Niemand eien hom die eer van hoëpriester toe nie, hy word deur God daartoe geroep, net soos Aäron. 5 So het Christus Hom ook nie die waardigheid van Hoëpriester toegeëien nie, God het dit vir Hom gegee toe Hy gesê het: “Jy is my Seun, van vandag af is Ek jou Vader.”t

6 En op 'n ander plek sê Hy: “Jy is priester vir ewig volgens die priesterorde van Melgisedek.”t

7 Gedurende sy aardse lewe het Hy aan God, wat Hom uit die dood kon red, gebede en smekinge geoffer met harde geroep en met trane. En sy gebede is verhoor vanweë sy eerbiedige onderworpenheid aan God. 8 Hoewel Hy die Seun was, het Hy deur alles wat Hy gely het, geleer wat gehoorsaamheid is. 9 En toe Hy volmaaktheid bereik het, het Hy vir almal wat aan Hom gehoorsaam is, die bron van ewige saligheid geword 10 en is Hy deur God verklaar tot Hoëpriester volgens die priesterorde van Melgisedek.

Waarskuwing teen afvalligheid

Hebrews 5

1  FOR EVERY high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.2  He is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity.3  And because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for those of the people.4  Besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor [of being high priest], but he is called by God and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did.5  So too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have begotten You; 6  As He says also in another place, You are a Priest [appointed] forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. 7  In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].8  Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered9  And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him, 10  Being designated and recognized and saluted by God as High Priest after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. 11  Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight].12  For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.13  For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!14  But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.