1 For euery hie Priest is taken from among men, and is ordeined for men, in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both giftes and sacrifices for sinnes, 2 Which is able sufficiently to haue compassion on them that are ignorant, and that are out of the way, because that hee also is compassed with infirmitie, 3 And for the sames sake he is bound to offer for sinnes, as well for his own part, as for ye peoples. 4 And no man taketh this honor vnto him selfe, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So likewise Christ tooke not to him selfe this honour, to be made the hie Priest, but hee that sayd vnto him, Thou art my Sonne, this day begate I thee, gaue it him. 6 As he also in another place speaketh, Thou art a Priest for euer, after ye order of Melchi-sedec. 7 Who in the dayes of his flesh did offer vp prayers and supplications, with strong crying and teares vnto him, that was able to saue him from death, and was also heard in that which he feared. 8 And though he were ye Sonne, yet learned he obedience, by the things which he suffered. 9 And being consecrate, was made the authour of eternall saluation vnto all them that obey him: 10 And is called of God an hie Priest after the order of Melchi-sedec. 11 Of whome we haue many things to say, which are hard to be vttered, because ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when as concerning ye time ye ought to be teachers, yet haue ye neede againe that we teach you what are the first principles of the worde of God: and are become such as haue neede of milke, and not of strong meate. 13 For euery one that vseth milke, is inexpert in the worde of righteousnes: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meate belongeth to them that are of age, which through long custome haue their wits exercised, to discerne both good and euill.
1 Every high priest is appointed to help others by offering gifts and sacrifices to God because of their sins. 2 A high priest has weaknesses of his own, and he feels sorry for foolish and sinful people. 3 This is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins and for the sins of others. 4 But no one can have the honor of being a high priest simply by wanting to be one. Only God can choose a priest, and God is the one who chose Aaron.
5 This is how it was with Christ. He became a high priest, but not just because he wanted the honor of being one. It was God who told him,
“You are my Son, because today
I have become your Father!”
6 In another place, God says,
“You are a priest forever
just like Melchizedek.”
7 God had the power to save Jesus from death. And while Jesus was on earth, he begged God with loud crying and tears to save him. He truly worshiped God, and God listened to his prayers. 8 Jesus is God's own Son, but still he had to suffer before he could learn what it really means to obey God. 9 Suffering made Jesus perfect, and now he can save forever all who obey him. 10 This is because God chose him to be a high priest like Melchizedek.
Warning against Turning Away
11 Much more could be said about this subject. But it is hard to explain, and all of you are slow to understand. 12 By now you should have been teachers, but once again you need to be taught the simplest things about what God has said. You need milk instead of solid food. 13 People who live on milk are like babies who don't really know what is right. 14 Solid food is for mature people who have been trained to know right from wrong.