For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act
on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices
for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since
he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated
to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of
the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when
called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest,
but was appointed by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and
supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to
save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he
suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal
salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high
priest after the order of Melchizedek.
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since
you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought
to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic
principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the
mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by
constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
