Hebrews 5:11-14

 

Heb 5:11 (KJB)

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

 

Hard to be uttered - Difficult to explain or interpret

Dull - Lazy, sluggish, or indolent

 

Of hearing - Hearing with understanding

The writer wanted to continue to expand on the Melchizidekian priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ but the spiritual condition of the readers had prevented him from going any further. The word in the Greek for “hearing” means hearing with understanding and it is apparent that these who heard and read the Scriptures were very slow or even to the point of being lazy in their understanding. They were unable to grasp any of the more stronger truths of the Bible and remained at a level of new believers. It is very hard to explain a spiritual truth to someone who does not understand or makes no effort to understand.

 

Heb 5:12 (KJB)

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

 

Oracles - Sentence, declaration, little word, or brief utterance

Principles - Basic elements like the ABC’s of the Gospel

 

Here was a major problem then as it is now. Christians who prohibit their own spiritual growth literally rob themselves and others. They rob themselves by stunting their growth in understanding the Scriptures and this causes them to, in turn, rob those who speak with them about the Gospel since in their immaturity they cannot give any decent answers. The verse tells us that these people have been listening to the Gospel long enough to be able to grasp the more intense spiritual truths but because of their voluntary immaturity they must be treated like they were saved yesterday. (1 Cor 3:2 KJV) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. In the Corinthian church the same situation existed where the believers had remained immature and needed to be fed on the milk of the word instead of strong meat. God expects every Christian to grow and it is true that we all grow at a different pace, but nevertheless there must be some type of growth. If a person is saved for 5 years and still does not have any more understanding than they did when they first became saved, then this proves a laziness in their spiritual life. This problem is pandemic today as the majority of Christians have relegated their thinking to someone else. Ask a Christian their opinion on something and they will quote somebody else. There seems to be an air of ignorance which hangs over the majority of Christians today. How many read and study their Bibles? How many are reading Christian novels like the “Left Behind” series and then as they read these novels they believe they are being taught doctrine? There is only one place a person can get Biblical understanding and that is to study the Scriptures and not the corrupt modern versions either. There is only one true line of manuscripts and it is the one used in the King James Bible which has nothing missing. In these last days it seems there is a return to the visual like in the middle ages when the Roman Catholic Church forbade the reading of the Bible but used images and statues to keep the people in bondage. Today we have DVD’s and VHS where we watch “Christian” movies instead of studying the Scriptures. These things have not augmented Christianity but have supplanted it with all kinds of fanciful teachings. If Christians do not study the Scriptures for themselves, then they will always be immature and never be able to give an answer to anyone.

 

Heb 5:13 (KJB)

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

 

Unskilful - Unacquainted or Inexperienced

Babe - An infant

 

Have you ever tried having a conversation with a baby? All you get is goo-goo or gah-gah? Have you ever tried having a conversation with someone who has been saved a while and is still ignorant of the Scriptures? You might as well bang your head against the wall for all the good it does you. The verse teaches us that those who use milk or the ABC’s of the Scriptures are unskilful and that word carries with it the meaning of “unacquainted or inexperienced.” What an indictment of ignorant Christians who carry Bibles and are still unacquainted with the Scriptures. The verse calls that person an infant. The way a person becomes skillful in the Scriptures is they have to read them and then study them, there is no way around that. (2 Tim 2:15 KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 teaches us that we need to study and that word study in the Greek means “be diligent” and it is in the Imperative Mood making it a command. For those who chose to remain ignorant and unacquainted in the Scriptures, do not condemn those who have advanced and are being used by God in mighty ways. The Marines would never put a baby in a foxhole on the front lines and neither will God.  Grow up or Shut up!

 

Heb 5:14 (KJB)

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.

 

Strong - Firm or solid

Of full age - Full Grown, mature, or complete

Their senses - Faculty of Judgment or organ of sense (in the spiritual not biological)

Exercised - Having been trained

Discern - Judicial distinction

 

Here in this verse is the other side of the coin from verse 13 and the immature Christians. We are being told that strong or solid Biblical understanding belongs to them who have matured in the faith. A little baby cannot chew steak because it has no teeth but when they grow up they can have a steak with no problem. Those who have grown in the faith are able to make proper decisions and proper biblical interpretations because they have trained themselves in the Scriptures as an athlete trains themselves for competition. Once a Christian matures in the faith they have the ability, by reason of being able to make judicial judgments which will cause them to keep the distinction clear between good and evil. Those Christians who truly mature in the faith will continue to mature and train their spiritual faculties so they can get to a point where they will be able to be instant in responses to either questions or situations. (2 Tim 4:2 KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. The word “instant” carries with it the meaning of “stand by, be near, or take one‘s position” which means they will be in the heart of the matter at hand and will know what to do. Maturity brings with it not only an increased knowledge of the Scriptures but it brings with it life’s experiences. If a person never matures, they will never understand life’s challenges and how to apply the Scriptures to them. It is every Christian’s responsibility, not choice, to grow in the faith. We must all get to the point where we will be able to teach others and this will not happen reading books about the Bible or watching videos instead of studying. Those who read books on “textual criticism” should throw them out. One can never grow by readings books on how to attack the Bible. Those who do this are of no more value to Christianity than unbelievers.

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