Explore The New TestamentSample

SAY WHAT? (What is the passage saying?)

• In the Jewish religion there was a leadership role called the "high priest." This person represented the people in matters related to God and offered sacrifices to God for the people’s sins. We learn here that God has made Jesus the ultimate high priest.
• Verses 6 and 10 say Jesus was a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a king and a priest in the time of Abraham (you can read more about him in chapter 14 of Genesis).
• Jesus is the "source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Jesus is the only one who can save us from our sins and give us eternity in Heaven.
• The last section makes it clear that Christians are supposed to grow, just as a baby grows up and moves from feeding on milk to eating solid food.

SO WHAT? (What are the underlying principles?)

• Verse 8 says that Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered. Suffering should teach us to obey God.
• Christians should always be growing in their knowledge of and in their obedience to God. Staying in the same place (like a person who grows up but continues to live as a baby and only drinks milk) should be a non-option and considered bizarre and wrong.

NOW WHAT? (How will you personally apply this passage?)

• What result does suffering produce in your life? How can suffering make you more obedient to God? In what area are you currently suffering, and how could it produce more obedience?
• Are you growing in your knowledge of and obedience to God? Where are you compared to six months ago? A year ago? Two years? If you're not growing, why? And what will you do about it?