1Every high priest is chosen from among the people. He is appointed to act for the people. He acts for them in whatever has to do with God. He offers gifts and sacrifices for their sins. 2Some people have gone astray without knowing it. He is able to deal gently with them. He can do that because he himself is weak. 3That’s why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins. He must also do it for the sins of the people. 4And no one can take this honor for himself. Instead, he receives it when he is appointed by God. That is just how it was for Aaron.
5It was the same for Christ. He did not take for himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.” (Psalm 2:7)
6In another place God said,
“You are a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)
7Jesus prayed while he lived on earth. He made his appeal with sincere cries and tears. He prayed to the God who could save him from death. God answered Jesus because he truly honored God. 8Jesus was God’s Son. But by suffering he learned what it means to obey. 9In this way he was made perfect. Eternal salvation comes from him. He saves all those who obey him. 10God appointed him to be the high priest, just like Melchizedek.
A Warning Against Falling Away
11We have a lot to say about this. But it is hard to make it clear to you. That’s because you are no longer trying to understand. 12By this time you should be teachers. But in fact, you need someone to teach you all over again. You need even the simple truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. 13Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby. That person does not want to learn about living a godly life. 14Solid food is for those who are grown up. They have trained themselves to tell the difference between good and evil. That shows they have grown up.
1De jødiske ypperstepræster var mennesker som alle andre, men de blev udvalgt til at tjene Gud på deres medmenneskers vegne. De skulle bringe ofre og gaver til Gud, for at menneskers synder kunne blive tilgivet. 2De kunne vise barmhjertighed og forståelse for tankeløse og vildførte menneskers synd og svigten, fordi de selv var mennesker, som begik fejl. 3Derfor måtte de bringe syndofre både for folkets synder og deres egne synder.
4Ingen har ret til selv at påtage sig den ære at være ypperstepræst. Han skal kaldes og indsættes af Gud, ligesom Aron blev det. 5Heller ikke Kristus påtog sig selv den ære at være ypperstepræst. Nej, han blev indsat af Gud, som sagde til ham:
„Du er min Søn,
i dag er jeg blevet din Far.”
6Og et andet sted taler Skriften således om ham: „Du skal være præst efter Melkizedeks forbillede for evigt.”5,6 Sl. 110,4.
7Engang, mens Jesus levede her på jorden som menneske, bad han inderligt til Gud med tårer og smerte, for han vidste, at Gud var den eneste, der kunne redde ham fra en frygtelig død. Og Gud hørte hans bøn på grund af hans gudsfrygt.5,7 Kan måske også oversættes: „Gud hørte hans bøn og tog hans frygt væk.” 8Selvom Jesus var Guds Søn, måtte han gennem sine lidelser lære, hvad fuld lydighed indebærer. 9Da hans gerning var fuldført, havde han dermed skabt grundlaget for, at alle, som adlyder ham, opnår en evig frelse. 10Gud havde jo kaldt ham ypperstepræst for evigt efter Melkizedeks forbillede.
Åndelig modenhed
11Det kunne der siges meget mere om, men det er vanskeligt at forklare, for I har svært ved at forstå det. 12I har nu været kristne i lang tid, og I burde derfor kunne undervise andre, men i stedet trænger I til igen at blive undervist om de grundlæggende sandheder i Guds ord. Ja, I er som små børn, der endnu kun tåler mælk og ikke fast føde. 13De, der lever af mælk, har svært ved at forstå Guds vilje. De er endnu på begynderstadiet. 14Men den faste føde er for de modne kristne, som gennem øvelse har lært at skelne mellem det rigtige og det forkerte.
