Hebrews 5

Introduction to a deeper teaching

1 Every high priest is taken from the people and put in charge of things that relate to God for their sake, in order to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2 The high priest is able to deal gently with the ignorant and those who are misled since he himself is prone to weakness.3 Because of his weakness, he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for the people.

4 No one takes this honor for themselves but takes it only when they are called by God, just like Aaron.

5 In the same way Christ also didn’t promote himself to become high priest. Instead, it was the one who said to him,
You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father ,

6 as he also says in another place,
You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek. t
7 During his days on earth, Christ offered prayers and requests with loud cries and tears as his sacrifices to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his godly devotion.8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.9 After he had been made perfect, he became the source of salvation for everyone who obeys him.

10 He was appointed by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
11 We have a lot to say about this topic, and it’s difficult to explain, because you have been lazy and you have’t been listening.12 Although you should have been teachers by now, you need someone to teach you an introduction to the basics about God’s message. You have come to the place where you need milk instead of solid food.13 Everyone who lives on milk is not used to the word of righteousness, because they are babies.

14 But solid food is for the mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil.

Hebrews 5

1 For every high priest is taken from among the peoplet and appointedt to represent them before God,t to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.2 He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness,3 and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.4 And no one assumes this honors on his own initiative,t but only when called to it by God,t as in fact Aaron was.5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God,t who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,”ts6 as also in another place Godt says, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”s7 During his earthly lifet Christt offeredt both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion.8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.s9 And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

10 and he was designatedt by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.s

The Need to Move on to Maturity

11 On this topic we have much to sayt and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggisht in hearing.12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time,t you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances.t You have gone back to needingt milk, nots solid food.13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.

14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.