CONCERNING HIM WE HAVE MUCH TO SAY: peri ou polus hemin o logos  legein (PAN):  (1 Kings 10:1; John 6:6; 16:12; 2 Peter 3:16)

Harry Ironside introduces this next interpretatively difficult section from Hebrews 5:11-6:20 with this note of caution...

We are now to consider one of those portions of the writings of "our beloved brother Paul," (Ed note: I do not think Paul wrote Hebrews) as Peter called him, "in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest... unto their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). Probably there is no part of the Word of God that has stumbled immature and uninstructed Christians like Hebrews 5:11-6:20. Therefore the need of examining it with the utmost care. (Ironside Expository Commentary on Hebrews)

Ray Stedman introduces this section writing that...

It has been quite evident thus far in Hebrews that the pastor’s heart of the author has been deeply troubled over the spiritual state of some of his readers. Twice he has warned them at some length that they are in danger of repeating the unbelief of the Israelites in the wilderness and failing, therefore, to enter into the spiritual rest which they had been promised. Once again he confronts them with their perilous state.

They are slow to learn, he declares, and because of this dullness, he has difficulty in explaining to them the extraordinary advantages of the Melchizedek priesthood of Jesus. If they had been growing as they should, they ought by now to be able to pass the great truths of the faith along to others. They would no longer be learning elementary truths of God’s word for themselves but could be teachers of those coming after them. The high priestly ministry which Jesus wants them to learn represents an advance on the introductory truths of the Christian faith. But instead of responding to his exhortations they seem to require those basic truths to be explained to them again. At best, they are spiritual infants who need to be taught over and over the elementary truths as a baby needs to be fed milk and is not ready for solid food. At worst, they are not Christians at all, but are like many of the Israelites in the wilderness. They also are in danger of failing to act in faith on the teaching they have received. Fear that this may be their condition is what leads the author to issue the solemn warning of Hebrews 6:4; 6:5; 6:6, though in Hebrews 6:9, he indicates that he does not yet believe they are all in such a fearful state.  (Hebrews 5:11-14 The Spiritual State of the Readers)

Concerning him - Speaking of this mysterious OT figure Melchizedek. The writer wanted to dive into a "meaty" discussion of this personage, but their spiritual condition was an impediment as he now explains.

Concerning (4012) (peri) means around, about this, concerning or regarding this. About what? It could be translated about this or about him, the latter fitting the context better.

He is ready to discuss Melchizedek but for the fear that the reader may fail to grasp his meaning, for he will run counter to the usual Jewish ideas. (Hebrews 13:22 [note] "bear with" = endure 2 Timothy 4:3 - note) Hence he pauses to stir up the interest of the readers before going on with the argument.

“I still have a lot of things to say.”

As it turned out, his subsequent discussion was indeed lengthy (Hebrews 7:1-10:18) as well as deep.

It is one of the tragedies of the Church that there is so little attempt to teach new knowledge and new thought - notice I am not referring to "new revelation" for the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation is complete and is all we need for life and godliness. Be very wary of those who claim to have new revelations from God. The Spirit as our Teacher gives illumination to our heart and mind as we diligently study and meditate on the Word of Truth, but He does not give us new divine revelation. Stated another way, the Bible is the completed record and nothing is to be added to it. John records these somber words...

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (See notes Revelation 22:18; 22:19)

AND IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN SINCE YOU HAVE BECOME DULL OF HEARING: kai dusermêneutos epei gigonate (2PRAI) nothroi gegonate (2PRAI) tais akoais: (Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:15; Mark 8:17,18,21; Luke 24:25; Acts 28:27)

Hard to explain (1421) (dusermeneutos [dysermeneutos] from dus [dys] = hard + hermêneuô = interpret) is literally hard to interpret. It conveys the ideas of hard or difficult to explain, not easy to make clear, and pertains to being difficult to tell the meaning of something.

It means hard to explain because of the strange (to Jews) line taken, but still more because of their dullness. It is not hard or difficult in itself, but hard to present in such a way that the readers will understand. The fault lies with the hearers not the presenter.

You have become dull - "Become" implies a deterioration on the hearers’ part. The thought is that they had once been alert and interested to learn more of God's Word. They did not start out dull but became that way. At one time they had been stirred and moved and open, but they had sunk into a settled state of relative spiritual stupor.

Become (1096) (ginomai) means to come to acquire or experience a state. The perfect tense indicates that they had became and still are in such a state of spiritual stupor. It is not a question of what they are by nature, but of what they have become by default. How? Why? What happened at some point of time in the past that they should become dull? What happens in my life that I become lethargic toward God's Word? Usually it's sin in one of it's manifold forms. Sometimes it's being attracted to worldly pursuits, not necessarily sinful ones but not God's best, not His will for my short day on earth (see note 1 Peter 1:17).

These Christians were spiritually immature, though they were not recent converts. Hebrews has as one of its main goals the challenge to press on to spiritual maturity. One of the first symptoms of spiritual regression, or backsliding, is a dullness toward the Bible. Sunday School class is dull, the preaching is dull, anything spiritual is dull. The problem is usually not with the Sunday School teacher or the pastor, but with the believer himself.

Matthew Poole wrote that they

"dull of hearing;” because the ears of their mind were not created nor proportioned to it: they were babes and children in understanding; the difficulty was in themselves, not in the word or mystery; their intellective faculty was slow to discern, perceive, and judge of this doctrine, and their hearts were averse to it, being so conceited concerning the Levitical priesthood: such were the apostles at the first, John 16:12 (Jesus declared "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.". (Matthew Poole's Commentary)

Adoniram Judson wrote:

"A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity...the same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever...each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny....How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness...! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked." (from E. Judson "The Life of Adoniram Judson" published in 1883) (See biography)

Dull (3576) (nothros from negative nê = no + ôtheô = to push means no push in the hearing) is literally "no push" and thus means slow, sluggish, "numbed" in mind as well as in the ears.  The idea is they are slow, slothful, slack, obtuse, languid, lazy, sluggish.

In NT nothros is found only here and Hebrews 6:12

that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (note)

Nothros was used in secular Greek to describe the numbed limbs of a sick lion and the stupid hopes of the wolf that heard the nurse threaten to throw the child to the wolves! In the Greek papyri the corresponding verb is used of sickness. Plato calls some students nôthroi (stupid). "When they have to face study they are stupid (nothroi) and cannot remember.” (Theaet. 144 B)

In the Septuagint (LXX) nothros is used only in Pr 22:29.

The author cannot deal with profounder themes (like Melchizedek) because his readers have become slow to hear and learn.  Nothros however does not mean that the readers are in a permanent state of low intelligence. They have had time to understand, but they still do not and thus are in danger of falling into a state worse than the one they were in before they heard these truths (see note Hebrews 6:6)

Nida writes that...

The readers have become less keen in their understanding of the Christian faith and are in danger of abandoning their faith completely. (The United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series or Logos)

Steven Cole notes that...

The author hits the Hebrews with the fact that they have become dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11). They didn’t used to be that way, but they have developed this spiritual malady. Dull is used only here and in Hebrews 6:12 (note) in the New Testament, and has the nuance of sluggish or slow. It is used in the Greek papyri of someone being sick and therefore lacking energy. So the word has the idea of spiritual laziness or lethargy. When there is an opportunity to get into God’s Word, this person says, “Nah, let’s see what’s on the tube.” When there is occasion to go and hear the Word taught, he says, “I’m tired. I think I’ll stay home and go to bed early.” Verse 11 shows that teaching God’s Word is a two-way matter. There is the knowledge and ability of the teacher to explain things clearly and in an interesting manner. But also, there is the receptivity of the hearers. It is significant that the best teacher who has ever lived used to exhort His audience, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” “Take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him” (Luke 8:8, 18). If Jesus is the preacher and the message isn’t coming through, guess who is at fault? When hearers are dull, teaching is difficult.

I’m talking here about motivation. Motivation is the key to learning. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (see note Matthew 5:6). Hunger and thirst are strong motivators! When you’re hungry or thirsty, there is only one thing on your mind, to satisfy the craving for food or water. If you are driven by the hunger or thirst for righteousness, you will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). If you think, “Ho hum!” not only will you not grow; you won’t even know what you’re missing! There is one other lesson in 5:11: There is no neutral in the Christian life. Either you are growing or you’re shrinking. Which is it for you right now? We fool ourselves into thinking that we’re just treading water, but the strong current of the world, the flesh, and the devil carries us backwards if we’re not striving to move ahead. Let me shoot straight: if you’re not making time daily to spend in God’s Word and in prayer, you’re not growing, you’re shrinking! You’re going from eating meat back to the formula and pureed peas. That stuff is great for babies, but it won’t sustain a growing teenager or adult.

The author wanted to teach them about the significance of Jesus being a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, but they can’t handle it. It’s like trying to get a student to read Shakespeare, but he can’t even recognize the letters of the alphabet! In terms of their years as believers, they should have been capable, but they needed to go back to spiritual kindergarten. (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)

Hearing (189) (akoe from akoúo = to hear; see related verb hupakouo) is the act, the sense or the thing heard.

Dull of hearing - (idiom = ‘lazy as to one’s ears’) slow to understand.

The idea of hearing is a key idea in Hebrews...

Hebrews 2:1 (note) For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Hebrews 3:7 (note) Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, 8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS

Hebrews 3:15 (note) while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."

Hebrews 4:7 (note) He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

Hebrews 5:9 (note) And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey (literally "hear under",  listen attentively hupakouo = hupo + akouo) Him the source of eternal salvation,

Hebrews 5:11 (note) Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Hebrews 11:8 (note) By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed (literally "hear under",  listen attentively hupakouo = hupo + akouo) by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Why might they be dull of hearing? Drifting, neglecting (unconcerned, paying no attention to) (see notes Hebrews 2:1; Hebrews 2:3), doubting (see notes Hebrews 3:7ff), hardening their hearts (see notes Hebrews 3:7, 3:8  4:7), not obeying (see note Hebrews 5:9). All of these attitudes and actions might explain their dullness. They had heard but they were not obeying and thus not growing.

Jesus emphasized this important principle of spiritual growth in John declaring...

"If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself." (John 7:17) (Comment:  "If any man sincerely wants to do God's will, he shall know...." The first prerequisite to ascertaining God's leading or the truth about some doctrine, is a genuine willingness to believe the truth and to do the truth which one does understand. To know and not to do runs the danger of being hardened to that truth and thus becoming dull of hearing!)

The problem was not that the writer was a dull teacher, but that they are dull hearers! Think of a slug! Slothful, sluggish, lazy, stupid, a condition of spiritual apathy and laziness that prevents spiritual development. This is an instructive passage in terms of studying Scripture. The writer says he’s got a lot to say, but its “hard to explain.” Why? Is it the difficulty of the revelation? No, it’s the density of those receiving. There’s a "learning disability".

Spiritual lethargy and slow response to God's truth prevented additional teaching at this time on "him" (probably Melchizedek), so the writer delays until Hebrews 6:20 (note) to mention Melchizedek again. This is a reminder that failure to appropriate the truth produces stagnation in spiritual advancement and the inability to understand or assimilate additional teaching (Jn 16:12"...but you cannot bear them now.")

Such a situation existed also among the Gentiles who have received God's truth of natural (general) revelation from God in the creation (Ro 1:18-20). Rejection of that revelation results in a process of hardening (Ro 1:21-32).

The Hebrews had not only received natural revelation, but also special revelation consisting of the OT Scriptures (see note Romans 9:4), the Messiah Himself (see note Romans 9:5), and the teaching of the apostles (see notes Hebrews 2:2; 2:3). Until the Hebrews obeyed the revelation they had received, additional teaching about the Messiah’s priesthood would be of no profit to them. Evangelical Ear trouble is still a problem today!

Christ as a priest after the order of Melchizedek is a difficult subject, and the writer is going to deal w it forthrightly. To understand the subject requires sharp spiritual perception. It requires hearers to be spiritually alert and to have a knowledge of the Word of God.

The Hebrew believers who are being addressed here had a low SQ, not IQ, but SQ—spiritual quotient. It was hard to teach them bc they had lazy ears & it was difficult to make them understand. They were babies, as many of the saints are today, and they want "baby talk" from the preacher. They don’t want to hear anything that is difficult to understand. This is the reason some preachers are getting by w murder in the pulpit—they murder the Word of God. They absolutely kill it and substitute something from their own viewpoint, and the congregations like that kind of baby talk.

Guzik makes a cogent observation and application regarding dull of hearing writing that...

The dullness usually comes first, then the desire to give up. Watch out when the Word of God starts seeming dull to you! (Ibid)

Hughes explains...

Therefore we understand that their problem was an acquired condition characterized by an inability to listen to spiritual truth. They were not naturally “slow,” they were not intellectually deficient, but they had become spiritually lazy. They listened with the attentiveness of a slug. They had become unreceptive and closed.

When people truly come to Christ, their initial posture is one of intense listening. Though only a boy, I was “all ears” after I met Christ. I listened as best I could—and even took notes. God’s Word was alive! My experience was not unique.

Webber, in his massive three-volume "A History of Preaching in Britain and America", writes that one of the by-products of the Awakening was an interest in shorthand...

Men and women studied shorthand in order that they might take down the sermons that were stirring the English-speaking countries. This had happened once before in Scotland, and it made its appearance once more in all countries where the influence of the Awakening was felt. It was not at all unusual to see men with a portable inkwell strapped about them, and a quill pen thrust over an ear, hastening to join the throng assembling on the village green.

But as the newness of it all died down, so did the listening—just as with the Hebrews centuries before, and as with so many in the church today. To such people it is “hard to explain” the deep, needful doctrines of the faith.

Richard Baxter in his “Directions for Profitably Hearing the Word Preached” gives this wise advice...

Make it your work with diligence to apply the word as you are hearing it.… Cast not all upon the minister, as those that will go no further than they are carried as by force.… You have work to do as well as the preacher, and should all the time be as busy as he… you must open your mouths, and digest it, for another cannot digest it for you… therefore be all the while at work, and abhor an idle heart in hearing, as well as an idle minister. (Hughes, R. K. Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul. Volume 1.  Crossway Books; Volume 2 or Logos)

FOR THOUGH BY THIS TIME YOU OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS: kai gar opheilontes (PAPMPN) einai (PAN) didaskaloi dia ton chronon:   (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19) (Ezra 7:10; Psalms 34:11; 1 Corinthians 14:19; Colossians 3:16; Titus 2:3,4)

They had professed faith in Christ but were still "babes," needing spiritual milk (1Cor 3:1-3). It often happens that we dodge teaching something because it is difficult; we defend ourselves by saying that our hearers would never grasp it. It is one of the tragedies of the Church that there is so little attempt to teach new knowledge.

The key word in this passage is time. Underline it in your Bible. The writer tells his readers, when by virtue of the passing of time you ought to go on to the college department, you’ve got to go back to kindergarten and learn your ABCs all over again. When you should be communicating the truth to others, you need to have someone communicate the truth to you. In fact, he says, you still need milk, not solid food. Solid food is for the mature. Who are the mature? Are they the people who go to seminary? Who can whip anyone in a theological duel? Who know the most Bible verses? No, the writer says you are mature if you’ve trained yourself through constant use of Scripture to distinguish good from evil. The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much you understand, but how much you use. In the spiritual realm, the opposite of ignorance is not knowledge but obedience. The Bible is the divine means of developing spiritual maturity. There is no other way.

Time (5550)(chronos) perceives time quantitatively as a period measured by the succession of objects and events and denotes the passing of moments. Kairos in contrast refers to a season, the time of accomplishment, and considers time qualitatively as a period characterized by the influence or prevalence of something. Chronos is a period of measured time, not a period of accomplishment as kairos. Chronos embraces all possible kairos, and is often used as the larger and more inclusive term, but not the converse.

Ought (3784)(opheilo from ophelos = Increase, profit, advantage thru idea of accruing) conveys the basic meaning of owing a debt or having a strong obligation, especially a moral obligation and personal duty. It is not being forced to do something because of outward pressure but implies a special personal obligation ("he is bound")

We are continually obligated to perform this duty. This is a strong word, meaning "we have a duty." (Lu12:48)

What are we obligated to be by this time? Teachers ...those who are torches lighting other torches ablaze with gospel truth that the world might see a "proper opinion" of our Father Whom they cannot now see except thru us!

Teachers (1320)(didaskalos from  didasko = teach to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught) is either the act of teaching or the thing taught and in this use denotes doctrine or what is taught) (See study on related word didaskalía) means instructors, teachers, those whose one whose occupation is to instruct. A didaskalos is one who shapes the will of the student by the content of what is taught. Jesus is our example of the Master Teacher as this Greek word is used to describe Him in 41 of the 58 uses in the NT. The message from the NT is clear -- Keep your eyes on Jesus as the Author and Perfecter of the faith. The tragedy in the modern church in America is Christians without Christian minds, no only not able to teach but in need someone to teach them the ABC's of God’s Word. Why are the elders not teaching? Why are they not weekly making "rounds" through the Sunday School classes to monitor what is being taught. In too many situations classes are being "taught" by some video series which may make mention of a few token verses as it focuses on "felt needs" rather than the serving of the pure milk of the Word of God.

The ability to share spiritual truth with others is a mark of maturity. Not all Christians have the gift of teaching, but all can share what they learn from the Word. One of the hardest lessons children must learn is the lesson of sharing. The recipients of this letter had been saved long enough to be able to share God’s truth with others.

Every believer is to be a teacher (see notes Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:15, 1 Peter 3:15, Dt 6:7). If these Hebrews had really obeyed the gospel of Christ, they would have been passing that message on to others. The Jews were instructed in the law and prided themselves because they taught the law, but had not really understood or appropriated its truths to themselves (see notes Romans 2:17; 2:18; 2:19; 2:20; 2:21; 2:22; 2:23).

Knowledge without obedience does not advance a person. In fact, by rejecting saving faith, the Hebrews were regressing in their understanding concerning the Messiah. They had long enough been exposed to the gospel to be teaching it to others, but were babies, too infantile and unskilled to comprehend, let alone teach, the truth of God.

YOU HAVE NEED AGAIN FOR SOMEONE TO TEACH YOU THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD AND YOU HAVE COME TO NEED MILK SOLID FOOD: palin chreian echete (2PPAI) tou didaskein (PAN) humas tou didaskein humas tina ta stoicheia tês archês tôn logiôn tou theou kai gegonate (2PRAI) chreian echontes (PAPMPN) kai ou stereas trophes: (Isaiah 28:9,10,13; Philippians 3:1) (Hebrews 6:1) (2 Samuel 16:23; Acts 7:38; Romans 3:2; 1 Peter 4:11) (1Hebrews 5:13; Isaiah 55:1; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 1 Peter 2:2)

Instead of helping others to grow, these Hebrew Christians were in need of learning again the simple teachings of the Christian life. They were experiencing a second childhood!

Elementary principles (4747) (stoicheion from stoicheo = march in (military) rank from stoíchos =row) refers to something orderly in arrangement. It is one of a row, hence a letter (of the alphabet), by extension the elements of knowledge. It is always in the plural (tá stoicheia), the basic parts, rudiments, elements, or components of something.  Among ancient Greek philosophers, designated 4 basic and essential elements of universe earth, water, air, and fire. This meaning is conveyed in the following verses (see notes 2 Peter 3:10, 3:12) Figuratively it refers to the elements or first principles of Christian doctrine.

ABCs of Christian life

The plain things are the main things, and the main things are the plain things.

It is sometimes well said, “use it, or lose it”—and some had lost it.

Oracles (3051) (logion from lógios = an orator) refers to sayings, pronouncements, declarations. In Classical Greek logion was used to describe oracular utterances of heathen deities.  It refers to an utterance, in this case an utterance of God. It is used as the very words of God (see note Romans 3:2) a synonym for the Holy Scriptures.

Oracles are contained in the OT Scripture, which had laid the foundation for the gospel and had been committed into the care of the Hebrews (see notes Romans 3:1; 3:2). The ABC’s of the law tutored the Hebrews in order to lead them to faith in the Messiah (Gal 3:23,24). They had also heard the NT gospel (see notes Hebrews 2:2; 2:3; 2:4; 1 Peter 4:11, Hebrews 5:12; 5:13).

a message from a god, usually in response to an inquiry; also the sacred precincts whose powers made it possible for the oracle-prophet to consult the god. The Greco-Roman world knew three types of oracles: the oracle obtained through the casting of lots; the dream oracle obtained by sleeping in the sacred precincts, usually connected with healing; and the inspired oracle by which an oracle-prophet responded to inquiries. Though oracles were associated with a place, other prophets, diviners, and soothsayers might be employed by the state to give advice and to travel with the army, or they might set up practice in the local marketplace. (Achtemeier, P. J. Harper's Bible Dictionary. Harper & Row)

Logion (oracles) is a diminutive of logos (note), which is most commonly translated word. Logion generally referred to important sayings or messages, especially supernatural utterances...In many pagan religions of that day, mediums and seers gave occultic predictions of the future and other messages from the spirit world through supernatural “oracles.” By observing the movements of fish in a tank, the formation of snakes in a pit, or listening to the calls of certain birds, fortune-tellers would purport to predict such things as business success or failure, military victory or defeat, and a happy or tragic marriage. Such a connotation could not have been further from Paul’s use of logion in this passage. (MacArthur, J: Romans 1-8. Chicago: Moody Press)

Milk (1051) (gala) is literal milk but is used here figuratively to refer to the Word of God. In context the writer is referring to a need to move on to deeper truths. He uses milk in this verse to refer to the beginning truths of Christianity. Peter uses milk to refer to the Word of God in general (see note 1 Peter 2:2)

Solid (4731) (stereos) means stable (firmly established), steadfast or solid like a foundation. In a physical sense this word describes something as firm, hard, solid and compact like a rock.

Food (5160) (trophe from trépho = to feed, eat) refers to nourishment or sustenance and here is used figuratively of food for soul.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT (LIKE THEY SAY)! Eat "soul food".

A lot of saints today sit and listen to truths that amount to "baby talk" from the pulpit. It is tragic indeed that they have to endure this, but they do. It's like the pastor I once asked to consider teaching us deeper truths in his sermons to which he replied "They couldn't handle it!". To an extent that might be true, but how can they ever grow to handle it, if they are never even challenged? And remember the Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher and the Word is such that it never returns void without accomplishing what God intended!

Steven Cole writes that...

beyond these basic truths, there is much in Scripture that is deep and nourishing. Someone has said that the Bible is like an ocean, deep enough to drown an elephant, but shallow enough at the shore for a toddler to play. If you want to see how spiritually dull you really are, read the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Keep in mind that all children in Reformed homes used to be required to memorize this before they could be confirmed and join the church. You all know the first question and answer: “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” There is a lifetime of practical content in that short answer!

But do you know Question 4: “What is God?” Answer: “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.” Question 5: “Are there more Gods than one?” Answer: “There is but One only, the living and true God.” Question 6: “How many persons are there in the Godhead?” Answer: “There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God the same in substance, equal in power and glory.” Could you have explained the nature of God and the Trinity so well? Question 7: “What are the decrees of God?” Answer: “The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.”

The Shorter Catechism has 107 questions like that. I dare say that if we Baptists learned that sort of thing, we would be light years ahead in our understanding of sound doctrine, and we would not be tossed around by all of the foolish things being taught in the Christian world today. I recommend, A Faith to Confess, subtitled, “The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, Rewritten in Modern English” [Carey Publications]. It is essentially a modification of the Westminster Confession in accordance with a Baptist understanding of the ordinances. Teach these things to your children!

When the author says that by this time, the Hebrews should have been teachers, it does not mean that he was writing to a select group of leaders in the church. Rather, every Christian who has been a believer for a few years should be knowledgeable enough in the teachings of Scripture to instruct a younger believer. Not all are gifted as teachers for the whole church (James 3:1; see notes Ephesians 4:11;  4:12), but all should know enough to present the gospel, to teach the basics about God, man, salvation, and the Christian life. If you cannot do that, either you are a relatively new believer, or you’re one of the older believers that this section of Scripture confronts. Grow up!

Let me add that we live in a day of dumbed-down Christianity, where we have an aversion to sound doctrine. The mantra of our day, even among evangelicals, is,

Doctrine is dead head knowledge that just leads to arguments and division. So be careful not to get into doctrine too far!

But the fact is, every believer has doctrines! They may be sound doctrines, in line with Scripture, or they may be screwy doctrines that are inconsistent with Scripture. Theology is simply the process of synthesizing and harmonizing the teachings of the whole Bible on the major subjects that it discusses. So if you are a Christian, you can’t avoid being a theologian. The question is, are you growing to be sound in your theology, or are you shallow, mixed up, and unbiblical in your theology? (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)

Why does the writer make this statement? Because they are still spiritual babies (1Cor 3:2) and not able to chew "solid food" for they without intellectual and spiritual teeth. They ought to be teachers and mature saints, but instead they are still little babies needing someone to burp them. “Why didn’t the soloist sing this morning? We wanted to hear the soloist sing.” They are little babies, wanting their rattles, and wanting the bottle with the nipple on it!

The writer defines the milk as the first principles of the oracles of God. The meat of the Word is the teaching about our Lord’s ministry now in heaven as our High Priest. The writer wanted to give this meat to them, but they were not ready for it. The milk of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ did on earth—His birth, life, teaching, death, burial, and resurrection. The meat of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ is now doing in heaven. We begin the Christian life on the basis of His finished work on earth. We grow in the Christian life on the basis of His unfinished work in heaven. And where do we find the most in depth treatment of the subject of Jesus' present ministry in heaven? In the book of Hebrews, a book that many pulpits shy away from because of what are admittedly several of the most difficult passages in all of the Bible.

Of course, even the most mature adult never outgrows milk. As believers, we can still learn much from our Lord’s work on earth. But we must not stop there! But the writer's point is that his readers must make spiritual progress, and they can do this only if they learn about Christ’s present priestly ministry on behalf of believers. (See notes Hebrews 13:20; 13:21 for a summary of what the Lord wants to do for His people now.)

The contrast between the immature Christian and the child, between milk and solid food occurs in some other NT passages (see note 1 Peter 2:2; 1Cor 2:6; 3:2; 14:20; see notes Ephesians 4:13; 4:14; 4:15; 4:16).

No one likes to be told "Just grow up!" Especially if they are adults! So here the writer is saying you should act your spiritual age. And it must have surely commanded their attention. We don't want to be humiliated by having to field this question regarding maturity. One may be old enough to handle certain things but they may not be mature enough. But you don't want to be told you are not mature.

Growth is important to every person - witness the marks on the wall of the door in your house that mark a child's growing up...each year they grew a bit more.  Growth is measured against age, as when you take the child to the doctor. The first thing he wants to know is "How old is your child?" Why? because we assess their maturity level by comparing it with their age. By age 2 the child should be walking. By age 3 he should be speaking, etc, etc. Growth within may not match our growth without. Some have a great deal of wisdom yet are not big. Others may be big in size but lack intelligence. So growth within does not necessarily match grow without. This all applies to the Christian life & God sees growth as very important:

From the moment of the "new birth" we are in some stage of the process of growth, ideally taking in good nourishment (pure milk of the Word), watching good models who live out God's Truth and we begin to exercise and practice this Truth we are taking in. That's growth in maturity but this is rare today. So many believers after a burst of zeal begin to wane, becoming rather lethargic as the growth stagnates. These "children" need to hear the admonition "Grow up."

These hearers do not appear to have been "victimized" by someone but rather to have suffered self-imposed immaturity. Why does dullness set in? You can be 50 years in a Bible teaching church and yet be a baby. Job 32:7,8: (Living Bible) declared

Those who are older are said to be wiser but it is not mere age which makes men wise.

Illustration - Dull hearers are like the teacher who had "25 years experience" but was passed over for a promotion by a teacher with only "10 years" experience. When she asked why she was passed over even though she had longer tenure, the principal said "You have not have 25 years of experience. Instead you have had 1 year of experience 25 times!"

We need to stop talking about how long we have been in the family of God and start talking about how mature we've become (not bragging of course but living it out). We don't need to tell others how many times we've gone through our Bible but how many times the Word gone through us!. We don't need to show others how big our notebook of sermon notes is. Who cares? God doesn't! The vital question to answer is "How much have I grown in maturity since I was first saved? Since last year? Since last week?" Are you growing older but not growing wiser? These are convicting questions!

Dearly beloved, only you can answer these pithy questions. Stop a moment and think upon these things. Your spiritual health and vitality depend on it!

><>><>><>

How Old Are You? - Hebrews 5 was addressed to believers who should have been mature enough to teach others, but they were still babes in Christ. They were like nursing infants, lacking spiritual fruit and in danger of severe discipline from the Lord. They were urged to put away childish things and to grow up.

The author wrote, "Leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection" (Heb. 6:1). The word perfection means "maturity." The recipients of this letter were to leave the milk stage and grow up to "full age" (5:14) by feeding on the solid meat of the Word.

Many churches today have this same problem. They should be workshops but instead they are just nurseries for infants and crybabies. A vigorous church will have a "nursery" for new Christians, but when the babies don't grow up the workers have to spend too much time being nursemaids while neglecting the rest of the family of God.

How long have you been a follower of Christ? How much have you grown? Are you a burden to your pastor and your fellow believers, or are you an encourager and a burden-bearer? The apostle Peter challenged us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). Let's aim for maturity. --M. R. De Haan, M.D. (founder of RBC Ministries) (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

By feeding on Your blessed Word, dear Lord,
I will no longer weak and childish be;
And as I listen to Your Spirit's voice,
May Christlike love and grace be seen in me. --Hess

Growing close to Christ produces a growing Christlikeness.

><>><>><>

Grow Up! - When my children were infants, my wife and I gave them milk. As they grew older, we fed them soft food. They looked as happy as the plump babies pictured on the baby-food jars.

Our children are adults now. When they come to visit, my wife fixes them food like steak and potatoes. They've grown up.

Milk and baby food are great for babies. As they mature, however, they should go on to solid food. The same is true about spiritual growth.

Maturing as a Christian can also be compared to becoming a concert pianist. In a sense, you are a pianist from the moment you play your first simple piece. Yet it takes years of practice to play the piano well. You'll never be a concert pianist if you don't advance beyond the easy compositions.

The writer to the Hebrews was concerned about the lack of spiritual growth among his readers. He wrote, "By this time you ought to be teachers." Then he observed, "You have come to need milk and not solid food" (Hebrews 5:12). He urged them to "go on to perfection" in their faith (Hebrews 6:1).(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Christians should move on to spiritual maturity. We must feast on the meat of God's Word and put into practice the lessons we have learned. It's the only way to grow up. —Haddon W. Robinson

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me. —Hewitt

The new birth takes but a moment
Spiritual maturity takes a lifetime