Hebrews 5

1 For every high priest taken from men is appointed for men in things toward God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Every [Jewish] Supreme Priest was chosen by [God] {[God] chose every [Jewish] Supreme Priest} from among [ordinary] men. They were appointed {[He] appointed them} in order that they would come before him on behalf of the people. [Specifically, God appointed them] in order that they would bring gifts [to him on behalf of the people], and in order to sacrifice [animals to him] for people who sinned.

2 Who can be gentle to those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself is also encompassed with weakness.

The Supreme Priests could deal gently with those who ignorantly sinned, since the Supreme Priests themselves tended to sin easily.

3 And because of this he is obligated, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

As a result, they had to offer something to God for their own sins, just like [they had to offer something to God] for [other] people who sinned.

4 And not any man takes the honor to himself, but being called by God, just as also Aaron.

Furthermore, [it is an honor to be a Supreme Priest] so no one honors himself [by appointing himself to become a Supreme Priest]. Instead, God chose each man [to become a Supreme Priest], as he chose Aaron [to be the first Supreme Priest].

5 So also Christ did not glorify himself to become a high priest, but it was he who said to him, Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee.

Similarly, Christ also did not honor himself by appointing himself to become a Supreme Priest. Instead, God [appointed him by] saying to [him what he never said to any other priest, what the] Psalmist wrote in the Scriptures, You [(sg)] are my Son! Today I have declared that I am your Father!

6 (And just as he says in another, Thou are a priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.) (aiōn g165)

And he also said [to Christ what the Psalmist wrote] in another Scripture passage, You are a priest eternally just like Melchizedek was a priest. (aiōn g165)

7 Who, in the days of his flesh, having offered up both prayers and supplications with strong shouting and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and who was heard because of his reverence,

When Christ lived on the earth [MTY], he prayed [DOU] to God and tearfully cried out loudly to him. [Specifically], he asked [God], who was able to help him, that he would not [fear the sufferings just before] he died. As a result, God listened to him, because Christ reverently submitted [to what God wanted him to do].

8 although being a Son, he learned obedience from the things that he suffered.

Although Christ is [God’s own Son], he learned to obey [God] by suffering [before he died].

9 And having been fully perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, (aiōnios g166)

By becoming (all [that] God intended him to be/perfect), [he has now] become fully qualified [to be our Supreme Priest. As a result, he is the one who saves] eternally all who obey him. (aiōnios g166)

10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Furthermore, God has designated him to be [our] Supreme Priest in the way that Melchizedek was a Supreme Priest.

11 About whom, much subject matter from us is also difficult to explain, since ye have become sluggish in hearing.

Although there is much to say [to you(pl)] about [how Christ resembles Melchizedek], this is hard [for me] to explain [to you] because you now understand things so slowly.

12 For also men who ought to be teachers because of the time, ye have need again for some man to teach you the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God, and have become men who have need of milk, and not of solid food.

[You became Christians long ago. So] by now you should be teaching [spiritual truths to others]. But you still need someone to teach you again the truths that God has revealed. [I am talking about] the truths that we teach people [when they] first [believe in Christ]. You need [those elementary truths] like babies need milk [MET]. You are not [ready for advanced teaching, which is like] the solid food [which mature people need] [MET].

13 For every man partaking of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is childlike.

Remember that those [who are still learning these elementary truths] [MET] have not become familiar with [what God] says concerning becoming/being righteous. They are [just like] [MET] babies [who need] milk!

14 But solid food is for mature men, those having their sensibilities trained through practice for the discernment of both good and evil.

But [the more advanced spiritual truth] is for people who are [spiritually] mature, just like [MET] solid food is for [people who are physically] mature. They can tell the difference between what is good and what is evil, because they have trained themselves [to keep doing that].