KJV Hebrews 5
1 For 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:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So 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.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who 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;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For 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.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But 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.
Explanation
Like many difficult passages, this one seems almost opaque at first, but soon resolves into the high place of Jesus Christ the high priest but also the sacrificial lamb.
The typical priest of the old order sacrificed for the sins of the people but also for himself, because earthly priests are also sinful.
Jesus is the great high priest, after the supreme order of Melchisedec, but different in being appointed by God the Father.
5 So 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.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
The priests of today, whether they are Roman, Byzantine, or quasi-Lutheran, are samples of the Old Testament, glorying in their robes and incense, silver and gold vessels, Almy-approved improvements.
The entire Bible emphasizes the Savior as the ultimate priest and sacrificial lamb, whether in Abraham's obedience as a father and his only son (Genesis 22) or the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53.
Verses 12 and 13 remind the reader to know the Oracles of God, the absolute truths of the Scriptures. They must begin in small steps - milk - and build up to the Word of Righteousness, which the Objective Faithless Justification mob cannot handle after all these years.
