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Hebrews 5

1For every high priest, taken from among people, is appointed on behalf of people in matters relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wandering, since he too is clothed in weakness. 3Because of that weakness, he must offer sacrifices for his own sins just as for those of the people. 4And no one takes this honor for himself, but receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5So also Christ did not glorify himself by becoming high priest, but the one who said to him, “You are my Son; today I have fathered you,” did. 6Just as he also says in another place, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 7In the days of his flesh, he offered prayers and pleas with loud cries and tears to the one able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And having been brought to completion, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10designated by God as high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

11We have much to say about this, and it is hard to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you again need someone to teach you the first elements of God's oracles. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, since he is an infant. 14But solid food is for the mature, whose senses have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Translation notes 3

5:1–4 — A priest's weakness. “Clothed in weakness” preserves the image of weakness surrounding the priest. His gentleness is measured treatment of those who go wrong. “Sacrifices” is supplied in verse 3 from verse 1. The author's general priestly description is not an assertion that Jesus sinned.

5:5–10 — Sonship and suffering. Psalms 2:7 and 110:4 are joined. “Order” describes a manner or kind of priesthood, not necessarily an organized succession founded by Melchizedek. “The days of his flesh” means his mortal life. Being heard does not mean that he avoided dying: salvation “from death” can include rescue out of death. Reverence may also be rendered reverent submission. Learning obedience through suffering does not require prior disobedience. Completion continues 2:10's account of his fitness for the saving task.

5:11–14 — Sluggish hearing and maturity. “About this” can also be “about him,” referring to Melchizedek. “Sluggish” recurs at 6:12. God's “oracles” are his utterances. “The word of righteousness” may mean teaching about righteousness or teaching that forms righteous conduct; the expression is not expanded to settle that question. Mature and completion belong to the same Greek word family. Milk, solid food, infancy, and trained senses carry the appeal into chapter 6.