Hebrews 4:14-5:9

International Standard Version

Our Compassionate High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us live our lives consistent with^[a] our confession of faith.^{[b] 15} For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned. ¹⁶ So let us keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Qualifications for the Priesthood

5 For every high priest selected from among men is appointed to officiate on their behalf^[c] in matters relating to God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can deal gently with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, since he himself is subject to weakness. ³ For that reason he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. ⁴ No one takes this honor upon himself but he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.

The Messiah’s Qualifications as High Priest

⁵ In the same way, the Messiah^[d] did not take upon himself the glory of being a high priest. No, it was God who said^[e] to him,

⁶ As he also says in another place,

⁷ As a mortal man,^[h] he offered up prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devotion to God. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,