SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 5
MEMORY VERSE:
“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14)
HIGH PRIEST (vs. 1-3)
Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. No one takes this honor upon himself, he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
JESUS (vs. 4-10)
God said to him: “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, 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 reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obeyed him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
WARNING AGAINST FALLING AWAY (vs. 11-14)
You need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
THOUGHTS:
In the Old Testament, God chose Aaron and only Aaron’s descendants could be high priests. In the New Testament, Christ was chosen and called by God as our mediator.
When God commanded Jesus to be the Savior of sinners, He obeyed and submitted to God’s will. He was prepared to suffer humiliation, separation from his Father and death. Sometimes you may also undergo trials when you obey God. Let Jesus’ obedience sustain and encourage you to be able to face anything knowing that Jesus Christ is with you.
In order to become mature Christians, we must know discernment. We must train our conscience, our senses, our mind and our body to distinguish good from evil. We must grow spiritually by putting into practice what is taught in the Bible. Are you able to distinguish people who are teaching false doctrine from the Scripture?