“Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Introduction
This brief passage from Hebrews (5:10, 14) highlights two central truths about Jesus and about the life of Christian maturity. First, Jesus is presented as "called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec," affirming the divine appointment and the unique, lasting character of his priesthood. Second, the author contrasts spiritual immaturity with maturity: mature believers receive "strong meat" (solid food) because, by disciplined practice, their spiritual senses are trained to discern good and evil. Together these verses invite us to trust Christ’s superior priesthood and to pursue steady growth in spiritual discernment.
Historical-Cultural Context and Authorship
Hebrews is an anonymous New Testament letter written to a community of Jewish Christians who knew the Hebrew Scriptures and the system of the temple and priesthood. The writer draws on Genesis and Psalm 110 to interpret Melchizedek (a mysterious figure in Genesis 14) as a type pointing to Christ. In the first-century Mediterranean world, priesthood was normally inherited (Aaronic priesthood), so the claim that Christ is a priest "after the order of Melchisedec" is striking: it means a priesthood grounded not in descent but in divine appointment and in a different, superior order.
Scholars date Hebrews to the later first century (commonly between the 60s and 90s AD). The letter’s polished Greek, use of Old Testament typology, and concern to show Christ’s supremacy over the angels, Moses, and the Levitical system suggest a pastoral aim: to steady believers who might be tempted to return to familiar temple rituals or to shrink from full Christian commitment under pressure. The author emphasizes both theology (Christ’s high priesthood) and practical formation (growing to discernment), connecting doctrine with discipleship.
Characters and Places
Melchisedec (Melchizedek): A brief but significant figure in Genesis 14, described there as "king of Salem" and "priest of the Most High God." In Hebrews he becomes a key typological figure whose priesthood foreshadows and elevates the priesthood of Christ.
Jesus Christ: Referred to here as the one whom God has "called" to be high priest. The emphasis is on God’s appointment and on Jesus’ role as mediator between God and humanity.
God: The one who calls and appoints Jesus; divine calling underscores that this priesthood is authoritative and secure.
Salem/Jerusalem (implicit): Melchisedec’s association with Salem (peace) links the imagery to the city that will later be identified with Jerusalem, giving theological resonance to the king-priest motif.
Explanation and Meaning of the Text
Verse 5:10 affirms that Christ’s priesthood is not accidental or merely human but a divine calling. By invoking Melchizedek, the author says Jesus’ priestly role transcends the Levitical order. Melchizedek is both king and priest, and his priesthood is presented as timeless and not based on genealogy; similarly, Jesus’ priesthood is effective and eternal because it rests on God’s appointment and on his finished work. The phrase "after the order of Melchisedec" signals a different kind of priesthood—one that brings blessing, peace, and direct access to God.
Verse 5:14 shifts from Christ’s status to the responsibility of believers. The contrast of "strong meat" with "milk" (implicit in the surrounding context of Hebrews) describes stages of spiritual nourishment. "Full age" (teleios) means maturity; the mature Christian needs deeper teaching. The key phrase "by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" points to a moral and spiritual formation that happens through repeated practice. Discernment is not merely intellectual: it is trained by habit—by prayer, Scripture reading, obedience, suffering, and communal correction—so that believers can perceive and choose what is truly good and avoid what harms souls.
Practically, the text insists on two inseparable truths: Christ’s priestly identity secures our access to God, and our response is to grow into maturity. Divine provision (Christ’s priesthood) and human participation (spiritual training) work together. The author of Hebrews wants readers to rest in Christ’s superior priesthood while being discipled into spiritual maturity that recognizes and follows what is good.
Devotional
Take comfort today in the truth that Jesus is the priest "called of God"—not by human vote or hereditary claim but by the Father’s own appointing love. This means your salvation and ongoing access to God rest in a priest who both represents you before God and sympathizes with your weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). Sit quietly before him, trusting that his priestly work is sufficient, and let that assurance free you from fear as you step forward in obedience.
At the same time, invite the Holy Spirit to train your spiritual senses. Discernment is cultivated: read Scripture with humility, practice prayer, receive correction with a teachable heart, and serve faithfully in community. Small daily practices, repeated over time, sharpen your ability to distinguish what truly honors God from what only distracts. Pray for perseverance—maturity is a gracious process, and God meets our earnest practice with his transforming grace.