The Perfect High Priest

(Psalm 110:1-7)

1For every chief priest — out of men taken — in behalf of men is set in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, 2able to be gentle to those ignorant and going astray, since himself also is compassed with infirmity; 3and because of this infirmity he ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins; 4and no one to himself doth take the honour, but he who is called by God, as also Aaron:

5so also the Christ did not glorify himself to become chief priest, but He who spake unto him: ‘My Son thou art, I to-day have begotten thee;’

6as also in another [place] He saith, ‘Thou [art] a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;’

7who in the days of his flesh both prayers and supplications unto Him who was able to save him from death — with strong crying and tears — having offered up, and having been heard in respect to that which he feared, 8through being a Son, did learn by the things which he suffered — the obedience, 9and having been made perfect, he did become to all those obeying him a cause of salvation age-during, 10having been addressed by God a chief priest, according to the order of Melchisedek,

Warning against Drifting Away

11concerning whom we have much discourse and of hard explanation to say, since ye have become dull of hearing, 12for even owing to be teachers, because of the time, again ye have need that one teach you what [are] the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and ye have become having need of milk, and not of strong food, 13for every one who is partaking of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness — for he is an infant, 14and of perfect men is the strong food, who because of the use are having the senses exercised, unto the discernment both of good and of evil.