Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
These cross references all relate to the idea of discerning between good and evil, which is the main theme of Hebrews 5:14. They emphasize the importance of being able to recognize what is good and what is evil and to make wise decisions based on that discernment. They also emphasize the importance of knowledge and spiritual understanding in order to be able to make those wise decisions. Finally, they emphasize the importance of testing everything and holding fast to what is good.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 7:15: He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. | Both passages emphasize the importance of developing the ability to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14 explains that this is a process that requires constant practice, in order to train the powers of discernment. Isaiah 7:15 provides an example of this, as it speaks of someone, likely the Messiah, who has learned to refuse the evil and choose the good. |
| 1 Corinthians 2:6: Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. | Both passages emphasize the importance of spiritual maturity. In Hebrews 5:14, the author encourages those who are mature to use their powers of discernment to distinguish good from evil. In 1 Corinthians 2:6, the author suggests that the wisdom of the age is fleeting and that the mature should instead seek a deeper, spiritual wisdom. |
| 1 Corinthians 2:14-15: The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. | Both passages discuss the importance of spiritual discernment. Hebrews 5:14 encourages the reader to be mature and to practice discernment in order to distinguish good from evil. 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 explains that the natural person cannot understand spiritual things, but the spiritual person can judge all things. This suggests that spiritual discernment is necessary to understand the things of God. |
| Ephesians 1:18: having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, | Both passages emphasize the importance of spiritual discernment. Hebrews 5:14 states that spiritual maturity comes from having the power of discernment trained through constant practice. Ephesians 1:18 states that having the eyes of your heart enlightened will help you to understand the hope to which God has called you and the riches of his inheritance in the saints. |
| Ephesians 4:13: until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, | Both passages emphasize the importance of spiritual maturity. Hebrews 5:14 encourages believers to practice discernment in order to distinguish between good and evil. Ephesians 4:13 suggests that spiritual maturity is achieved when believers attain unity in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. |
| Philippians 1:9-10: And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, | Both passages discuss the importance of discernment in the life of a believer. Hebrews 5:14 emphasizes the need for believers to practice discernment in order to distinguish between good and evil. Philippians 1:9-10 encourages believers to use discernment to recognize what is excellent, and to strive for purity and blamelessness. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:21: but test everything; hold fast what is good. | Both passages emphasize the importance of developing spiritual discernment in order to recognize good from evil. Hebrews 5:14 encourages believers to train their powers of discernment through practice, while 1 Thessalonians 5:21 calls for believers to test everything and hold fast to what is good. Together, these passages emphasize the importance of developing spiritual discernment in order to recognize and cling to the good in our lives. |
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and for the way it speaks to our hearts. Thank You for the power of discernment that You have given us and for the wisdom that comes from constant practice. Help us to have the eyes of our hearts enlightened, so that we may know the hope to which You have called us and the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints. Give us a spirit of love and knowledge, so that we may approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. May we always test everything and hold fast to what is good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.