Qualifications for the Priesthood

1For every high priest selected from among men is appointed to officiate on their behalfa in matters relating to God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3For that reason he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4No one takes this honor upon himself but he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.

The Messiah’s Qualifications as High Priest

5In the same way, the Messiahb did not take upon himself the glory of being a high priest. No, it was God who saidc to him,

“You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.”d

6As he also says in another place,

“You are a priest forever

according to the order of Melchizedek.”e

7As a mortal man,f he offered up prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devotion to God. 8Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10having been designated by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

You Still Need Someone to Teach You

11We have much to say about this,g but it is difficult to explain because you have become too lazy to understand. 12In fact, though by now you should be teachers, you still need someone to teach you the basic truths of God’s word.h You have become people who need milk instead of solid food. 13For everyone who lives on milk is still a baby and does not yet know the difference between right and wrong.i 14But solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.