Hebrews says every high priest is appointed to act on behalf of people in relation to God, offering gifts and sacrifices for sins. A high priest can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, and he is appointed by God, not self-appointed (Hebrews 5:1–4). These points frame how Hebrews later speaks about Christ’s priesthood.
Hebrews 5:1–4 explains what a high priest is meant to do and why the role matters. A high priest is chosen from among people and appointed to represent people before God by bringing offerings and sacrifices connected with sins. This paragraph sits inside Hebrews’ longer argument that Jesus functions as a high priest for his people. Just before this, the writer has urged the audience to hold firmly because they have a great high priest who can sympathize with human weakness (Hebrews 4:14–16).
Hebrews 5:1–4 defines what a “high priest” is for, before applying the idea to Jesus in the next section (Hebrews 5:5–10). The basic picture is representative: a high priest is chosen from among human beings and appointed to act for other human beings “in things pertaining to God.” The passage also ties priestly work to sin.
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with Hebrews 5:1-4, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
1For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.
3Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.
4No man takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.