Day 209 – Monday, October 20, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Hebrews 5

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Qualifications for High Priesthood

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. ³ Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. ⁴ And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 

(Hebrews 5:1–4, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul proceeded to explain the priesthood to the Hebrews in order to compare an earthly high priest to Jesus.
• A human high priest is chosen from among the people and goes to God on behalf of himself and humanity. He identifies with them and has compassion.
• The high priest is called by God, starting with Aaron, Moses’ brother.

A Priest Forever

⁵ So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

“You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.”

⁶ As He also says in another place:

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek”;

⁷ who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” ¹¹ of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 

(Hebrews 5:5–11, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus Christ was chosen by the Godhead to be glorified as the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
• While walking on earth in the flesh, Jesus was in anguish over the death of the cross, but submitted Himself to die for our sins. He was perfected in the process, and became our eternal High Priest. He authored salvation through faith.

Spiritual Immaturity

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

(Hebrews 5:12–14, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul told them in last section that they were unable to understand the deep truths of God. Here he continued by saying that they should be mature by now. They should be teachers, but instead were still in need of basic teaching themselves.
• He used food as an analogy. While they should be eaten steak, they were still drinking milk.
• He called them to exercise their senses (mental abilities) and discern good from evil, knowing the deeper things of God.
• We must all desire solid food of the word, and grow up into the men and women that God has called us to be. That is God’s will for us, to be mature and make more disciples for the Kingdom.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.