For
although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14
Hebrews 5 [11.] About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing. For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 6 [1.] Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Meaning:
- The Expectation of Growth:
Ought to Be Teachers: The opening phrase communicates an expectation of maturity and spiritual progress. The recipients of the letter are reminded that, by this point in their journey, they should have reached a level of understanding and knowledge that enables them to teach others.
Need for Continuous Learning: The acknowledgment that they "again need to have someone teach" underscores the ongoing nature of the learning process. Spiritual growth is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of deepening understanding and revelation.
- Milk vs. Solid Food:
Milk as a Symbol: The metaphor of milk and solid food is used to illustrate the level of spiritual nourishment. Milk represents foundational and basic teachings, suitable for spiritual infants. Solid food, on the other hand, signifies deeper, more profound truths that require a mature understanding.
Spiritual Immaturity: The mention of needing milk and not solid food portrays a state of spiritual infancy. It suggests that the recipients are not progressing as expected and are in need of elementary teachings, highlighting a potential stagnation in their spiritual development.
- Discernment through Maturity:
Experienced in the Word of Righteousness: The passage implies that maturity is directly linked to being experienced in the Word of God. A mature believer is one who has delved deeply into the teachings of righteousness, applying them to life and growing in wisdom and discernment.
Exercised Senses: The reference to "senses exercised to discern good and evil" emphasizes the practical application of spiritual knowledge. Maturity is not just about accumulating information but about developing the ability to discern between right and wrong through the lens of God's Word.
Practical Application:
Intentional Pursuit of Maturity: Hebrews 5:12-14 encourages believers to actively pursue spiritual maturity. It challenges them to move beyond the foundational teachings and engage with the deeper truths of God's Word, applying them to their lives.
Application of Spiritual Discernment: The call to have senses exercised for discerning good and evil prompts believers to apply their spiritual knowledge in practical ways. Maturity involves not just knowing the Word but discerning its implications in daily choices and actions.
Cross-References:
1 Corinthians 3:1-2: "And I, brothers, couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready." This parallel theme in Corinthians echoes the metaphor of milk and solid food, emphasizing the need for readiness and maturity in receiving deeper spiritual truths.
Ephesians 4:14: "that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error." This passage aligns with the call for maturity, emphasizing the importance of stability and discernment in the face of various teachings.
In conclusion, Hebrews 5:12-14 serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual maturity and the ongoing pursuit of deeper understanding in the journey of faith. It challenges believers to move beyond spiritual infancy, partaking of solid food, and actively engaging with the transformative truths of God's Word.
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PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible