The Perfect High Priest

(Psalm 110:1-7)

1For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

5So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.

6As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

7Who in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offering up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, was heard for his reverence. 8And whereas indeed he was the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. 9And being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation: 10Called by God a high priest, according to the order of Melchisedech.

Warning against Drifting Away

11Of whom we have much to say and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear. 12For whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God: and you are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. 13For every one that is a partaker of milk is unskilful in the word of justice: for he is a little child. 14But strong meat is for the perfect: for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.