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.
1從人間選出來的大祭司，都是受委任代表人辦理與上帝有關的事，為人的罪向上帝獻上禮物和贖罪祭。 2他能體諒那些無知和迷失的人，因為他自己也有人性的軟弱。 3所以，他不但要為眾人的罪獻祭，也要為自己的罪獻祭。 4沒有人能自取這大祭司的尊榮，只有像亞倫一樣蒙上帝呼召的人才可以做大祭司。
5同樣，基督也沒有自取榮耀做大祭司，是上帝對祂說：
「你是我的兒子，
我今日成為你父親。」
6在聖經的另一處，上帝又說：
「你照麥基洗德的模式永遠做祭司。」
7基督在世為人的時候，曾經聲淚俱下地祈求能救祂脫離死亡的上帝。祂因為敬虔而蒙了應允。 8基督雖然是上帝的兒子，仍然從所受的苦難中學習了順服。 9祂既然達到了純全的地步，就成了永恆救恩的源頭，使所有順服祂的人都得到拯救。 10上帝照著麥基洗德的模式立祂做大祭司。
信徒要長進
11關於這方面的事，我們還有很多話要說，但因為你們已經聽不進去，很難向你們解釋。 12按你們學習的時間來算，你們本該做別人的老師了，可惜你們還需要別人向你們傳授上帝話語的基本道理，成了不能吃乾糧、只能吃奶的人。 13因為只能吃奶的人還是嬰孩，不熟習仁義的道理。 14乾糧是給成年人吃的，他們的心思歷經鍛煉，能夠分辨善惡。
