For every high priest chosen from among men jis appointed to act on behalf of men kin relation to God, lto offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 mHe can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself nis beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins ojust as he does for those of the people. 4 And pno one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, qjust as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ rdid not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

s“You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”;

6 as he says also in another place,

t“You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 In the days of his flesh, uJesus1 offered up prayers and supplications, vwith loud cries and tears, to him wwho was able to save him from death, and xhe was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although yhe was a son, zhe learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And abeing made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest bafter the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Apostasy

11 About this we have much to say, and it is chard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again dthe basic principles of the oracles of God. You need emilk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is fa child. 14 But solid food is for gthe mature, for those who have their powers hof discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.