For every high priest is taken from among the people and is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins on behalf of the people in things pertaining to God.
He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and erring, because he himself is also subject to weakness,
and this is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins for himself as well as for the people.
And no one takes this honor upon himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just as Aaron was.
So too, Christ did not exalt himself in becoming high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, You are my Son; today I have given birth to you,
as he says also in another place, you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
In the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and appeals with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard because of his reverent submission,
(although he was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things that he suffered),
and having been brought to maturity, he became the source of salvation in the age to come to all those who obey him,
being designated by God as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Apostasy
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to expound in saying it, seeing you have become dull of hearing.
For indeed, being morally obligated to be teachers due to the length of time you have been taught, instead, you need someone to teach you again the rudiments of the beginning of the words of God. Indeed, you have become ones who need milk, not solid food.
For everyone who partakes of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a child.
But solid food is for the mature, even those who through repeated use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.