Hebrews – Chapter 5

New Testament14 Verses

1For 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:

2Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

5So 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.

6As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

7Who 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.

8And whereas indeed he was the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

9And being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation:

10Called by God a high priest, according to the order of Melchisedech.

11Of whom we have much to say and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.

12For 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.

13For every one that is a partaker of milk is unskilful in the word of justice: for he is a little child.

14But strong meat is for the perfect: for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Hebrews Chapter 5 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Hebrews Chapter 5. At the moral level, repentance and the mercy of God challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 1988).

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of repentance and the mercy of God bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Deepen your understanding with these related articles