5 For every kohen gadol taken from among men is appointed to act on behalf of people in matters relating to God,[a] so that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to empathize with the ignorant and deluded, since he himself also is subject to weakness. 3 For this reason he has to make offerings for sins—just as for the people, so also for himself. [b] 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when he is called by God, as Aaron was.[c]
5 So also Messiah did not glorify Himself to be made Kohen Gadol; rather, it was God who said to Him,
“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.”[d]
6 And He says in a different passage,
“You are a kohen forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”[e]
7 In the days of His life on earth,[f] Yeshua offered up both prayers and pleas, with loud crying and tears, to the One able to save Him from death; and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Though He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. 9 And once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him— 10 called by God Kohen Gadol “according to the order of Melchizedek.”[g]
Moving on to Maturity
11 About this subject there is much for us to say, and it is hard to explain since you have become sluggish in hearing. 12 For although you ought to be teachers by this time, again you need someone to teach you the basics of God’s sayings. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13 For anyone living on milk is inexperienced with the teaching about righteousness—he is an infant. [h] 14 But solid food is for the mature, who through practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:1 cf. Exod. 28:1.
- Hebrews 5:4 cf. Lev. 9:7; 16:6.
- Hebrews 5:4 cf. Num. 16:40; 18:7; 2 Chr. 26:18.
- Hebrews 5:5 Ps. 2:7.
- Hebrews 5:6 Ps. 110:4(109:4 LXX).
- Hebrews 5:7 Lit. in the days of His flesh.
- Hebrews 5:10 Ps. 110:4(109:4 LXX).
- Hebrews 5:14 cf. Isa. 7:15.