The role of a high priest
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father. And he says in another place, You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
And he says in another place, You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
A warning against falling away
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.