SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT. Hebrews 5:1 “Strong meat” is solid food for the soul that makes us aware of the effectiveness of our Great High Priest, enabling us to overcome sin. “Victory in Jesus” is possible when a believer has learned to discern good from evil. This requires the consistent practice of righteousness and committing ourselves and all we do to the Great High Priest. As we grow in our Christian life through faith, we should be able to exercise sound judgment and spiritual discernment to distinguish good from evil.
As our knowledge of God increases, our ability to practice what we know becomes understandable within the appropriate context. Our senses are not only natural, but our spiritual senses also develop. We have tasted the graciousness and goodness of the Lord. We have heard His word and understand what He says to us through it. Our eyes have been opened to see “wondrous things” from the word of God. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to know when something has a “sweet- smelling fragrance, or is unclean. A sensitive heart toward the things of God allows us to “be touched” with feeling and “infirmity” of others in the way the Lord is with ours.
To those who consume solid food, a discernment of good and evil develops, spiritual wisdom that comes with time and experience. “The word of righteousness” is not complicated. We know the point of the law is to bring us to Christ, not to perfect us. We know we are not under the dominion of the law, but are free to be led by the Holy Spirit. Inborn in our new nature is a desire to grow so that Christ can be formed in us, even though there are adversaries who want to stop our spiritual growth.
Those who have sensitive senses regarding sin and righteousness will be committed to obey our Lord. We will have an innate desire for fellowship with Him. Our consciences will be exercised to discern not only what is right but also what is best. Solid food helps us understand the difference between the priesthoods of Melchizedek and Aaron; the purpose of the law and the power of faith; the knowledge of the Word and the power of God's Word.
Spiritual maturity, or “perfecting,” comes through faith—trusting in God; holiness by being set apart for Him; love, which is the binding force of completeness; understanding God's will and the commitment to obey it. We are responsible for continuing to move forward, and growth will persist “until the day of Jesus Christ.”
It is vital for us to progress beyond mere spiritual survival toward spiritual growth. As we practice what we learn, our divine instructor reveals to us deeper truths about God, helping us better understand who God is and what He is doing. The more we comprehend, the more capable we are of engaging in the ongoing work of God's kingdom. This allows us to support others who have recently come to faith in Christ, guiding and helping them mature until they, too, can teach others. The principle of multiplication explains how God's work expands. Using God-given gifts and understanding divine truth enables us to distinguish right from wrong. The ongoing priestly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ makes all of this possible for those committed to "trust and obey."