Hebrews 5:1-14

What is the theme of this chapter?

The Perfect High Priest.

What is the key verse(s) of this chapter?  Verses 9-10

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 

What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?

I should not to be content with milk but pursue strong meat.  However, my focus should be practical, not theoretical.  The purpose of strong meat is not to be satisfied to know what I know, but use what I know.  My theology must become biography. 

Additional observations/questions:

Back to chapter two's question: "Verses 3 and 4 are the hardest verses for me to understand; is the audience unsaved Hebrews or slothful, believing Hebrews?  For now I'm leaning toward unsaved Hebrews, but maybe I'll change my mind as I study more of this book."  Last week's question:  "Have I come any closer to a conclusion on this?  Maybe the audience is neither.  Maybe it was just Hebrews who had believed Jesus Christ is the Messiah but now needed to understand all that the cross had accomplished, partly because Judaism as a religion (sacrifices, etc) was about to come to an end in 70 AD, but mostly because it was the next step in increasing their understanding.  I think McLean was probably right when he said, "...the book of Romans explains the cross to the body of Christ, Hebrews explains the cross to Israel."  This week's observation:  Williams rather confirmed this interpretation this week.  Are he and McLean right?

New question this week:  McLean brought up the point that the readers of Hebrews were to obey (v 9), giving more credence to the view that these Jews were still under Kingdom law.  Does he have a point?  Or does it merely mean the readers were to obey whatever God said was necessary for salvation?  Or are these one in the same?