Hebrews 5:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?

May 8th, 2026
by Zachary Matus

Obey.

9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
-Hebrews 5:9

14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
-John 15:14

It has come to my attention throughout my years of pastoring that many Christians view obedience as optional. The one thing we needed to do was put our trust in Jesus. Now we are set for heaven and obedience has nothing to do with it. Scripture very clearly teaches the importance of obedience and that it isn't optional. No we are not saved by our works, but we also will not be saved without obedience. Even the command to believe is founded in obedience. Consider what James says.

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
-James 2:14-26

Can we really make claims of faith without faithfulness? Can we really say that Jesus is our High Priest without coming to Him in those priestly duties? Can we say we follow His same example of obedience and not look like Him? See what John has to say about that!

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
-1 John 1:7

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
-1 John 2:6

3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
-1 John 3:3

19 We love Him because He first loved us.
-1 John 4:19

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
-1 John 5:3

Obedience is not an option. We look unto Jesus. We see His example of obedience and we follow suit. He is our direction. He is our measuring rod. To this, we are not just looking to perform miracles as He performed miracles. We also are not looking to simply echo His teachings. We are to be conformed to His character. Salvation is promised to the obedient. To those who are not, I fear they will be those who hear in that day, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity." Once again, I will stress that salvation does not come by works. It comes by faith. Genuine faith obeys. So the action behind my lesson is one that focuses on obedience. I want to see what Scripture says and walk in what it lays out for me.

What application are you implementing today?

Posted in Hebrews