The Perfect High Priest (Psalm 110:1–7)
1 UST When God appoints a person to be a ruling priest, he selects that person from a group of people in order to serve God for that group. The ruling priest then presents{ to God} what people give or sacrifice to take away sins. BSB BSB: Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 UST { Every ruling priest} is weak. Because of that, he can act patiently toward those who do not know much about God and toward those who believe and do what is wrong. BSB BSB: He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness.
3 UST Further, because{ each ruling priest is weak}, God requires him to present a sacrifice to take away his own sins, just like{ he presents sacrifices} to take away{ the sins of} the rest of the people{ of Israel}. BSB BSB: That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4 UST Now people cannot decide to become honorable ruling priests on their own. Rather, God chooses{ each person who will be a ruling priest}, just like{ he chose} Aaron{, the first ruling priest}. BSB BSB: No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 UST Similarly, the Messiah too did not decide to become a glorious ruling priest on his own. Rather, God the Father{ chose him to be a ruling priest} when he said to him,“On this day, I have declared to everyone that I am your father, and you are my son!” BSB BSB: So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”
6 UST Similarly,{ as you can read} in another Psalm, God the Father said{ to the Messiah}:“You will never stop being a priest in the same way that Melchizedek was a priest.” BSB BSB: And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
7 UST When the Messiah lived with us before he died and came back to life, he often prayed powerfully and sorrowfully to God. He did this because God could rescue him when he died. Because he honored God, God listened to him{ and made him alive again}. BSB BSB: During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
8 UST Although he is God’ s Son, he learned what it means to obey God when bad things happened to him. BSB BSB: Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.
9 UST Then, when God finished making him able to do so, the Son became the one who saves forever every person who does what he requires. BSB BSB: And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
10 UST { He did that} after God appointed him to be a ruling priest in the same way that Melchizedek was a priest. BSB BSB: and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Milk and Solid Food (1 Corinthians 3:1–9)
11 UST We have many things to talk about with regard to Melchizedek. However, since you do not listen{ and understand} well, these things will be difficult to explain{ to you}. BSB BSB: We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
12 UST { You have believed in the Messiah} for long enough that you should be teaching others{ about God}. Instead, though, someone still has to teach you simple things about what God says. You are like babies who have to drink milk rather than being like adults who eat food. BSB BSB: Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
13 UST All people who know very little about what is right{ and what is wrong} are like people who drink only milk. In fact, they are like babies. BSB BSB: For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.
14 UST On the other hand, people who know much about God are{ like adults who eat} food. These people have consistently practiced how to recognize and then distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. BSB BSB: But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.