5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,x to offer gifts and sacrificesy for sins.z 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,a since he himself is subject to weakness.b 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.c 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.d

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glorye of becoming a high priest.f But God saidg to him,

“You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.”a h

6 And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

in the order of Melchizedek.i”b j

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitionsk with fervent cries and tearsl to the one who could save him from death, and he was heardm because of his reverent submission.n 8 Sono though he was, he learned obedience from what he sufferedp 9 and, once made perfect,q he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priestr in the order of Melchizedek.s

Warning Against Falling Away

6:4–6Ref—Heb 10:26–31

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truthst of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!u 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,v is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,w who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.x