Hebrews 5

1 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.

For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins:

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

Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 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.

And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 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].

Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

5 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!

So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

6 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)

As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. (aiōn g165)

7 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].

Who in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offering up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, was heard for his reverence.

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

And whereas indeed he was the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered:

9 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)

And being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation. (aiōnios g166)

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

Called by God a high priest according to the order of Melchisedech.

11 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.

Of whom we have much to say, and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.

12 [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].

For whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God: and you are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 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!

For every one that is a partaker of milk, is unskillful in the word of justice: for he is a little child.

14 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].

But strong meat is for the perfect; for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.