Heb 5:14. 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.
Where in the book of Hebrews should this principle be used, or a false interpretation of the scripture may be drawn?
It really should be applied throughout the entire book of Hebrews, and the Bible.
Hebrews 5:14 NKJV
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
A good acronym to apply is S.E.E.D. - Study, Examine, Evaluate, Discern
S - Study: Regularly engage in studying the Word of God. Seek to understand and apply its teachings. Psalm 119:105 NKJV
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
E - Examine: Take the time to carefully examine your beliefs and align them with God's Word. Examine areas where growth and change are needed. 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
E - Evaluate: Evaluate your thoughts, choices, and behavior to ensure they align with God's truth and honor Him. The goal is to live in obedience to His will. Romans 12:2 NKJV
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
D - Discern: Develop the ability to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood, by relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom found in Scripture. We can cultivate spiritual discernment through prayer and seeking God in all things. Hebrews 5:14 NKJV
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Discernment (distinguishing good from evil v14 or identifying what is Godly and what is not) is something a follower of Christ should do everywhere, all the time. This is not just to be used everywhere in the book of Hebrews but in the whole of scripture and in all of life.
The writer of Hebrews is explaining a spiritual truth in 5:1-10 concerning the fact that Jesus is a high priest designated by God v10.
Then the writer stops and says:
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
The point is that the readers have much to learn but have stopped listening - become dull of hearing - and now need to re-learn basic things they should have already learned.
"unskilled" = apeiros, Strongs G552 inexperienced
"word of righteousness" v13
logos dikaiosynē, Strongs G1343
It's not specific to scripture but includes any word of righteousness.
The "constant practice" refers to practicing differentiating what is good from evil not just in Hebrews or in scripture but in all of life.
We know that "only God is good" Mark 10:18 so distinguishing good from evil is knowing what is Godly and what is not.
Constantly seeking what is Godly and what is not would be the constant practice in the passage that makes a follower of Christ skilled or experienced in discernment.
How do we know what is Godly from what is not?
The Holy Spirit
John 16
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Trustworthy sources and Scripture
2 Timothy 3
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The KJV is slightly misleading in Heb 5:14. Here are two modern versions that help:
BLB: But solid food is for the mature, the ones by constant use having trained the senses for distinguishing both good and evil.
ESV: But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
The teaching here is simple - "practice makes perfect". That is, to better distinguish good and evil takes constant practice.
I would also add that regular Bible study and prayer would also be extremely effective in developing such experience. Perhaps I might add one more as taught in the following verses:
As a former organic chemist I have learned to take the result of each experiment seriously. In Biblical terms: take each verse (passage) seriously. (1) Go from the clear text to the unclear text and not vice versa.
(2) Never treat a verse or passage by saying, "That doesn't fit in my theology." Rather, your theology has to fit in the frame of God's Word.
(3) Use commentaries, dictionaries and search on the internet for further clarification.
(4)Read the whole Bible over and over again and, (5) pray for wisdom with a humble heart.
God bless you.
What exercise makes one skilful in the Word of God?
My answer may be one of the many. Itis found in Timothy 2:15.
2 Timothy 2:15 YLT
be diligent to present thyself approved to God -- a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;
If one studies with the goal of having God's approval, one will soon learn to discern truth from lies, deception equivocation.
Pray for wisdom. Buy wisdom and don't sell it.
This seems to be a most unique example in scripture. Ch.5:9-14 differentiates between an immature understanding (milk) verses a mature (strong meat;full age) interpretation. First we bare in mind that there was no chapter and verse designation in the original text. Next we observe the " Therefore" conjunctive connecting chapter 5 to chapter 6. The author of Hebrews now proposes leaving the doctrine of Christ if God will permit. Further, the author proposes that it is impossible to renew a fallen person that taste of heavenly things of the Holy Ghost and then falls away. Finally the author records he is persuaded of better things that accompany salvation. ___________Given this whole account which many use to argue against "once saved always saved" a person has to consider that the author of Hebrews was indeed giving future readers an exercise to discern both good and evil. Consider: Why would an author of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to receive special permission (vs3 if God will permit) if what he was writting was already part of the new covenant great commission. 'A test of discernment!'