Hebrews 5: Jesus the Great High Priest

Hebrews 5 explains what a high priest does. A high priest is chosen from among people, deals gently with those who go astray, and is called by God, as Aaron was. Christ did not glorify himself; God called him a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Though he was a Son, he learned obedience through suffering. The chapter ends by urging readers to grow from milk to solid food.

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Read Hebrews 5

World English Bible · 14 verses

¹ For 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Hebrews 5 · Preschool

Growing Up Strong

Name Date

Color the cup of milk and the bread. God helps us grow!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.”

Hebrews 5:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Explain that babies drink milk, and as they grow they eat solid food. God wants us to keep growing in knowing him. Talk about something new you learned about God this week.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Hebrews 5 · Grade 4

A Priest Forever

Name Date

Read and Think

A high priest stands between people and God. He offers gifts and sacrifices for sins. Because he is weak himself, he can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray. And nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

Christ fits this pattern perfectly. He did not glorify himself. God declared, You are my Son. Today I have become your father. God also said, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. In the days of his earthly life, Jesus prayed with strong crying and tears, and he was heard because of his godly fear. Though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

Then the letter pauses. There is more to say about Melchizedek, but the readers have become dull of hearing. They should be teachers by now, but they still need milk. But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Show What You Know

What does a high priest do?
Why can a high priest deal gently with others?
Whose order is Jesus a priest after?
How do people become full grown according to verse 14?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

priestfoodGodmilk

A high stands between people and God.
And nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by , just like Aaron was.
They should be teachers by now, but they still need .
But solid is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Think About It

Why is it comforting that Jesus prayed with tears and was heard?
What helps someone grow from milk to solid food in their faith?

Memory Verse

“Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.”

Hebrews 5:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why does Hebrews compare Jesus to an Old Testament priest?
What does dull of hearing mean?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Hebrews 5 · Grade 5

Learned Obedience

Name Date

Read and Think

Hebrews 5:1-4 gives the job description of a high priest. He is taken from among men, he represents people before God, and he offers gifts and sacrifices for sins. His own weakness makes him gentle with those who go astray. He must offer sacrifices for himself as well as for the people. Most of all, he cannot appoint himself. He is called by God, just like Aaron was.

Verses 5 to 10 show how Christ meets and surpasses these qualifications. God appointed him, using Psalm 2 and Psalm 110: You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. Verse 7 shows his real humanity. He offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to the one who could save him from death. Verse 8 then makes a striking claim: though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Verses 11 to 14 begin a warning. The readers have become dull of hearing. By this time they should be teachers, but they need milk, the first principles, again. The letter does not shame them so much as call them forward. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. But solid food is for those who are full grown, whose senses are trained by practice to tell good from evil.

Show What You Know

List the qualifications of a high priest in verses 1 to 4.
Which psalm says, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek?
What does verse 8 say Jesus learned?
According to verse 14, how are a mature person’s senses trained?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

milkpriestgentleobeyGod

Hebrews 5:1-4 gives the job description of a high .
He is taken from among men, he represents people before , and he offers gifts and sacrifices for sins.
His own weakness makes him with those who go astray.
Having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who him.
By this time they should be teachers, but they need , the first principles, again.

Think About It

Jesus learned obedience through suffering. How might hard things help a person grow in trusting God?
What is one first principle you know well, and what is one deeper truth you want to understand?

Memory Verse

“But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.”

Hebrews 5:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What good habit could you practice this week?
What would it look like to become a teacher of others?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Hebrews chapters · All books

Hebrews 5: Jesus the Great High Priest

Read Hebrews 5

Worksheets

Growing Up Strong

Prayer

Take It Home

Grow Up

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Kind Priest

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Prayer

Take It Home

Milk and Solid Food

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Called by God

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Story Order

Prayer

Take It Home

A Priest Forever

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Learned Obedience

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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