The Messiah, a High Priest

1For every high priest taken from men is appointed in servicea to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.b 3Because of this, he must make a sin offering for himself as well as for the people.c 4No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.d 5In the same way, the •Messiah did not exalt Himself to become a high priest, but the One who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father,e, f 6also said in another passage, You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.g, h

7During His earthly life,i He offered prayers and appealsj with loud cries and tearsk to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.l 9After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, 10and He was declared by God a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

The Problem of Immaturity

11We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. 12Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.m 13Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14But solid food is for the mature — for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.n