The Perfect High Priest
(Psalm 110:1-7)

1For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed on behalf of men in things relating to God, that he should offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, 2being able to exercise forbearance with those being ignorant and going astray, since he himself also is encompassed by weakness; 3and because of this, he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, so also for himself, just as for the people.

4And no one takes upon himself the honor, but rather being called by God, just as Aaron also. 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become a high priest, but the One having said to Him:

“You are My Son,

today I have begotten You.”a

6Just as He says also in another place:

“You are a priest to the age,

according to the order of Melchizedek.”b

7He in the days of His flesh, having offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One being able to save Him from death, and having been heard because of reverent submission, 8though being a Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered, 9and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all those obeying Him, 10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Warning against Drifting Away

11Concerning this there is much speech from us, and difficult in interpretation to speak, since you have become sluggish in the hearings. 12For even by the time you ought to be teachers, you have need of one to teach you again what is the beginning of the principles of the oracles of God; and you have become those having need of milk, and not of solid food. 13For everyone partaking of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14But solid food is for the mature, the ones by constant use having trained the senses for distinguishing both good and evil.