The Perfect High Priest
(Psalm 110:1-7)
1For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Warning against Drifting Away
11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Perfect High Priest
(Psalm 110:1–7)
1 Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness. 3 That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him:
“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.” a
6 And in another passage God says:
“You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.” b
7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him 10 and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Milk and Solid Food
(1 Corinthians 3:1–9)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. c You need milk, not solid food!
13 For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
Footnotes:
5 a Psalm 2:7; literally today I have begotten You
6 b Psalm 110:4
12 c Or of the oracles of God
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.
The Favor of God paraphrase
Jesus as the Perfect High Priest
¹ Every high priest is chosen from among the people to represent them before God. His role is to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray because he himself is subject to weakness. ³ Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor upon himself, but he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
⁵ In the same way, Jesus did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but God said to Him, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” ⁶ And in another place, He says, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
⁷ During His earthly life, Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence for God. ⁸ Although He was the Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. ⁹ And once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
A Call to Spiritual Maturity
¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant, not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Footnotes:
1.“High priest” (verse 1) refers to the spiritual mediator between God and the people, chosen to perform sacred duties, reflecting the role of Jesus as our ultimate mediator.
2.“Melchizedek” (verse 6) is a mysterious figure from the Old Testament, a priest and king, whose unique priesthood prefigures that of Jesus—eternal and without succession.
3.“Prayers and petitions” (verse 7) refers to Jesus’ intense prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, showcasing His humanity and dependence on God in the face of suffering.
4.“Made perfect” (verse 9) does not imply Jesus was imperfect before, but through His suffering and obedience, He completed His mission and became the perfect Savior.
5.“Milk, not solid food” (verse 12) is a metaphor for basic spiritual teaching (milk) versus deeper, more advanced understanding (solid food), emphasizing the need for growth in faith.
