Qualifications for High Priesthood
1 For every high priest taken from among menis appointed for men in thingspertainingto God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject toweakness.
3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also forhimself, to offersacrificesfor sins.
4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just asAaronwas.
A Priest Forever
5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, butitwasHe who said to Him:
# “You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.”
6 AsHealsosaysin anotherplace:
# “Youarea priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek”;
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He hadoffered up prayers and supplications,with vehement cries and tears to Himwho was able to save Him from death, and was heardbecause of His godly fear,
8 though He was a Son,yetHe learnedobedience by the things which He suffered.
9 Andhaving been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
10 called by God as High Priest“according to the order of Melchizedek,”
11 of whomwe have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have becomedull of hearing.
Spiritual Immaturity
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you needsomeoneto teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to needmilk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakesonlyof milkisunskilled in the word of righteousness, for he isa babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age,thatis,those who by reason of use have their senses exercisedto discern both good and evil.