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Qualifications for the Priesthood

For every high priest selected from among men is appointed to officiate on their behalf[a] in matters relating to God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, since he himself is subject to weakness. For that reason he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.

The Messiah’s Qualifications as High Priest

In the same way, the Messiah[b] did not take upon himself the glory of being a high priest. No, it was God who said[c] to him,

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.”[d]

As he also says in another place,

“You are a priest forever
    according to the order of Melchizedek.”[e]

As a mortal man,[f] he offered up prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devotion to God. Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

You Still Need Someone to Teach You

11 We have much to say about this,[g] but it is difficult to explain because you have become too lazy to understand. 12 In fact, though by now you should be teachers, you still need someone to teach you the basic truths of God’s word.[h] You have become people who need milk instead of solid food. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is still a baby and does not yet know the difference between right and wrong.[i] 14 But solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:1 Lit. on behalf of men
  2. Hebrews 5:5 Or Christ
  3. Hebrews 5:5 Lit. He said
  4. Hebrews 5:5 Cf. Ps 2:7
  5. Hebrews 5:6 Cf. Ps 110:4
  6. Hebrews 5:7 Lit. During the days of his flesh
  7. Hebrews 5:11 Or about him
  8. Hebrews 5:12 Or oracles
  9. Hebrews 5:13 Lit. and is inexperienced in the message of righteousness