FOR EVERYONE WHO PARTAKES ONLY OF MILK IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: pas gar o metechon (PAPMSN) galaktos apeiros  logou dikaiosunes: (Ps 119:123; Ro 1:17,18; 10:5,6; 2Co 3:9; 2Ti 3:16)

Partakes (3348) (metecho from metá = with, denoting association + écho = have) has to do with taking hold of something that is not naturally one's own kind. To have a part or share in something. To partake of something in common with someone (eat, drink, enjoy)

The writer had used this verb in Heb 2:14 (note) in his explanation that humans by nature are flesh and blood but Christ was not. Yet He willingly took hold of something which did not naturally belong to Him (= metecho). He added to Himself our nature in order that He might die in our place, and that we might take hold of the divine nature that did not belong to us (cf. 2Pe 1:4-note)

In the present context metecho means to have a share of shares in the possession of "milk" and present tense indicates it is their habitual practice.

Not accustomed (552) (apeiros from a = without + peíra = experience, trial related to peiro = perforate, pierce thru to test durability of things or simply to pass through) literally means without trial and thus without experience. Apeiros pertains to the lack of knowledge or capacity to do something - ignorant, unskillful, unacquainted with, inexperienced in.

Apeiros is used in the Septuagint (LXX) translation of Numbers 14:23 (LXX) where it refers to “inexperienced youths” who have not yet learned good and evil.

Here in Hebrews 5:13 (the only NT use) apeiros signifies ignorance of and/or inability to partake of the "deeper" Biblical doctrines.

This person cannot digest them, any more than a physical infant can digest a steak. The idea is that of being inexperienced, unprepared and incapable.

Their spiritual system (analogous to the physical body) had failed to grow sufficiently to enable them to handle these teachings (specifically in context the teaching about Melchizedek and his priesthood0 which were more difficult. A child can get something out of looking at a picture book but nothing out of looking at a textbook. The writer is teaching solid food from the "textbook" of Melchizedek.

Milk (1051) (gala) can mean literal milk but in this context is used figuratively to refer to the Word of God. There are 5 uses of gala in the NT - 1Co. 3:2; 9:7; He 5:12, 13; 1Pe 2:2.

Here in Hebrews 5 gala speaks of the rudiments of Christian doctrine by which babes in Christ are nourished. The writer is referring to an exclusive diet of milk because even adults still drink milk. They just don't drink milk exclusively as do newborn infants.  Newborn Christians are not ready for solid food, because they are not yet able to "chew" it or  to digest it. The writer of Hebrews is saying that the readers however should have reached the point in their maturing process that they need solid spiritual food to assure full spiritual health.

Yes, it is true what the Dairy Council preaches "Milk makes a body good", but the writer is saying milk is for infants and children and is not to be the sole intake of those who are fully grown. If all you are taking in is the "milk" of God's word, the basic rudiments, you must still be a "baby". Such a state is clearly one of the marks of spiritual immaturity. Beloved, may I ask you - are you still on a "milk only" diet spiritually? Are you still reading devotionals which have a few tidbits of Scripture? Are you reading "Christian books" instead of The Book? Are you primarily listening to tapes rather than your primary Teacher, the Spirit?

Milk is good but filet mignon is much better! Can I encourage you to consider delving into the great adventure of inductive Bible study, whereby you are led to dig deeply into the "solid food" aspects of the Scriptures, learning how to observe the text, how to read in context, how to look for key words, and how to recognize terms of conclusion,  contrasts, expressions of time and terms of comparison (such as similes metaphors). Although there are numerous inductive studies, by far the best studies are available at  Precept Ministries International (click for a list of their currently available inductive studies - e.g., see Hebrews Inductive Study)

Martin comments that...

The author has expected better things of his readers than they display. They should have made more progress in the Christian life than they have. The author is disturbed by their immaturity. Enough time has transpired in their spiritual lives that by now they should qualify to be teachers. Instead they need instruction. Milk is necessary and adequate for infants. No baby is criticized for taking milk (1Pe 2:2). But when a baby grows into an adult it is absurd to envision it still feeding only on milk. Milk is insufficient for the needs of an adult. With a twist of irony, the author rebukes these believers for such an absurdity: they have had enough time in the faith to be adults feeding on solid food; instead they are still feeding on milk...Solid food...points to the priesthood of Christ, which is likened to the priesthood of Melchizedek (cf. Heb 5:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 with the connective in Heb 5:11) and the instruction of the high-priestly office of Christ that will be provided in Hebrews 7:1-10:18 (Bruce, 108–9; Lane, 138–39). (Martin, R. P., & Davids, P. H. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Developments . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)

Paul uses the metaphor of milk with a similar meaning in 1Corinthians writing...

I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able. (1Cor 3:2) (Comment:  Solid food in this context refers to the hidden wisdom of God, which is imparted by the Spirit to those who possess the mind of Christ - see 1 Cor 2:6, 7; 12, 13, 14, 15, 16).

Peter uses milk in a different context to symbolize the word of God in general, emphasizes that there is no spiritual growth without intake of the pure milk of the Word...

 like newborn babies, long for (aorist imperative) the pure milk of the word, (why do we need to take in milk?) so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (See note 1 Peter 2:2)

Comment: So here milk does not represent the ABC's but the Word of God which is desirable and by every world of which man lives as Jesus taught - "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' Mt 4:4.

The word of righteousness - This is the message about the righteousness of Christ which we receive by faith (1Cor 1:30, 2Co 5:21; see Ro 3:21-note; Ro 3:22-note; Php 3:9-note Titus 3:5-note) (past tense salvation ~ justification by grace through faith. See Three Tenses of Salvation) and the righteousness we are now to live out by faith (present tense salvation ~ sanctification ~ becoming holy as He is holy [Lv 11:44, 20:7, 1Pe 1:15, 16-note], going from glory to glory [2Co 3:18], having our inner man renewed day by day [2Co 4:16], being transformed by the renewing of our mind [Ro 12:2-note, 2Co 4:16, Ep 4:23-note, Col 3:10-note], growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [2Pe 3:18-note]).

The word of righteousness is equivalent to the gospel of salvation which is received by faith. The gospel is not only the good news about salvation (past tense), but is the good news about salvation present tense (sanctification, progressive sanctification, practical holiness). The gospel that saves us initially then enables us to live a life of righteousness (right behavior before God and before man) instead of unrighteousness (which was the only way we could live before we were saved). Believers so equipped have a responsibility to work out their salvation in fear and trembling (Php 2:12-note, Php 2:13-note).

Paul explained that the Gospel (expounded on in the ENTIRE book of Romans, the "Christian's Constitution"!) is the source of revelation about God's righteousness writing that...

in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (See note Romans 1:17)

Writing to Timothy Paul outlined how a believer is to grow in righteousness declaring that...

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.  (See notes 2 Timothy 3:16; 3:17)

Vincent writes

The genitive of righteousness is combined in NT with way, God, gift, instruments, servants, law, ministration, fruit and fruits, ministers, hope, breastplate, crown, king, preacher. It is a mistake to attempt to give the phrase here a concrete meaning. It signifies simply a word of normally right character...Probably, however, in the foreground of the writer’s thought was the word spoken by the Son (Heb 1:2-note); the salvation which at first was spoken by the Lord (Heb 2:3-note)

Ray Stedman explains it this way...

They are not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Commentators differ as to whether righteousness here refers to conduct or imputed worth. Hughes opts for the latter view, describing it as

the teaching about righteousness which is fundamental to the Christian faith, namely, the insistence on Christ as our righteousness (1Co 1:30, 2Co 5:21) as opposed to self-righteousness or works-righteousness (1977:191).

Ignorance of having a righteous position in God’s eyes already through faith in Christ has been the cause of much useless laboring to earn righteousness through the centuries. It invariably produces a form of legalism which tries to earn “brownie points” with God to gain his acceptance. The dullness which does not understand the divine program that leads to right conduct manifests its ignorance by being unable to “distinguish good from evil.” But those who, by persistent obedience to the truth, are able to grasp such solid food will give evidence of it in wise and wholesome conduct. They will identify evil as evil, even when it looks good, and follow good because it is good, even when it looks evil. (Stedman, Ray: Hebrews IVP New Testament Commentary Series or Logos)

Steven Cole writes that the word of righteousness refers to...

the Scriptures, which are designed to produce God’s righteousness in those who believe and obey. The author may be referring to the doctrine of imputed righteousness, taught in Ge 15:6, and repeated by Paul in Romans 3 & 4. But also, those who are counted righteous by faith in Christ will also progress in practical righteousness, learning what is pleasing to the Lord (Ep 5:10-note). You may think that righteousness and good and evil are obvious, but that is not so. These things need to be learned through practice and training. (Sermon on He 5:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 6:1, 2, 3)

The KJV Bible Commentary explains the word of righteousness this way...

They are unskillful (Greek apeiros), inexperienced in or unacquainted with the word that instructs them in how to live a life of righteousness. (Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson or Logos)

FOR HE IS AN INFANT: nepios gar estin (3SPAI): (Is 28:9; Mt 11:25; Mark 10:15; Ro 2:20; 1Co 13:11; 14:20; Ep 4:14; 1Pe 2:2)

As someone has written

You are young only once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.

Steven Cole notes that...

If there is spiritual life, there will be spiritual growth of some sort, but growth rates vary. Some become Christians and instantly drop the sins that have plagued their lives for years and never fall back. Others struggle to get rid of those sins for decades. I have a pastor friend who got saved in his early forties. He was a night club entertainer, addicted to alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. He instantly dropped all of those habits and began to follow Christ. But I know others who have struggled with those habits for years after making a profession of faith. They make a break from them, but then keep falling back into them. (Sermon on He 5:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 6:1, 2, 3)

He is an infant -  The writer is saying in Hebrews 5:11, 12, 13, 14 that only solid food will effect the desired result of progressing beyond “first principles” (Heb 6:1, 2, 3 -note) toward spiritual maturity and moral discernment.

Is (estin) is in the present tense which indicates that the person he describes is still in their "spiritual diapers" and needs to have their "spiritual food" mashed up and fed to them by spoon!

Infant (babe) (3516) (nepios from negative nê = no + epo = speak) means one not able to talk. It is also describes one not able to chew (e.g., spiritual "steak") if they are still on the bottle and only taking in milk.

Paul uses nepios in similar way as the writer of Hebrews...

As a result, we are no longer to be children (nepios), tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; (See note Ephesians 4:14)

As an aside note Paul does say that we are to infants or babes in one thing...

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature. (1Cor 14:20)

J Vernon McGee puts it plainly...

He doesn’t know the Word of God. I don’t want to step on your toes, my friend, but I’d love to be helpful to you. You cannot grow apart from the Word of God. I don’t care how active you are in the church. You may be an officer. You may be on every committee in the church. You may be a leading deacon or elder. I don’t care who you are, or what you are; if you are not studying the Word of God, and if you don’t know how to handle it, you are a little baby. It is tragic to occupy a church office when you are just a little baby. You ought to come on and grow up. It is tragic that there are people who have been members of the church and have been saved for years, and they are still going around saying, “Goo, goo, goo.” They have nothing to contribute but little baby talk. All they want is to be burped periodically. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary:  Thomas Nelson or Logos)

Here is a simple illustration - A new Christian was reading through the Gospels. After she finished, she told a friend she wanted to read a book on church history. When her friend asked why, the woman replied,

"I'm curious. I've been wondering when Christians started to become so unlike Christ." (Which of us is not convicted!)

When you walk with Christ,
you'll be out of step with the world.

The world will try to pressure us
To fit into its mold,
But with God's help we can resist
If to His truth we hold. --Sper

The author assaults his friends with a somewhat silly image of adult babies who are still nursing. Put on your "sanctified imagination" for a moment. If this next Sunday service God were to dress each of those who attended in the garb that their spiritual maturity dictated what would the assembly resemble? Perhaps we would not even need a separate nursery! Imagine the absurdity of full-grown men and women sitting in the pews in diapers sucking their thumbs and unable to eat solid food!

Remember that if your not growing in Christ-likeness and spiritual maturity, you are not simply maintaining the status quo so to speak. There is simply no such thing as a static Christian. We either move forward or fall back. We are either climbing or falling. We are either winning or losing. Static, status quo Christianity is a delusion! Imagine yourself on a bicycle right now. Do you see yourself as pedaling forward? Are the pedals even moving? If not what happens to a cyclist, especially when the riding gets difficult on a hill?

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Babies Need Weaning - I find few things more delectable than three or four of my wife's freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies, hot from the oven but cool enough to pick up and introduce to my longing taste buds. What really makes this treat complete is a large glass of ice-cold milk. That milk and those cookies are made for each other.

Now, I'm not considered a baby because I still drink milk. But if that's all I took in for nourishment, you would ask, and rightly so, "What's wrong? Shouldn't you have been on solid foods long ago?"

Transfer this scenario to our Christian lives, as the writer did in today's Scripture. There comes a point in our experience when we must move on from the basic salvation truths (Heb. 5:12)--not that we should ever lose our taste for them. Milk is always good and nourishing. We must never lose our appreciation for God's forgiveness and our new life in Christ.

God wants us to learn the Word through study, prayer, meditation, obedience, and testing. We must know spiritual principles so that we can apply them, speak with confidence about our faith, and stand up under adversity.

The milk of the Word will always taste good, but the Bible's solid food makes us strong. How's your diet? —Dennis J. De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

The Bible is a pantry
Where I can always find
The food I need from day to day
For heart and soul and mind. --Anon.

Spiritual growth requires the meat of God's Word.

BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE: he sterea trophe teleion de estin (3SPAI): (Matthew 5:48; 1Corinthians 2:6; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:15; James 3:2)

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus likewise exhorted His listeners to seek spiritual maturity declaring...

 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (See note Mt 5:48)

But - note the contrast and also note that mature is placed first in the Greek text for emphasis...

and of perfect men is the strong food, who because of the use are having the senses exercised, unto the discernment both of good and of evil. (YLT)

Solid (4731) (stereos from  histemi = stand) literally means strong, compact, solid or firm (as used to describe a foundation as firm). Stereos is in contrast with that which is soft or liquid solid.

Figuratively, stereos refers to the foundational doctrines of God which are firm (securely or solidly fixed in place) (2 Timothy 2:19), of faith which is steadfast (not subject to change) (1 Peter 5:9) or of Biblical teaching which is

Solid "food", the equivalent of Biblical ''health'' food which builds strong, solid, healthy believers who can resist when temptation comes, who are steadfast when winds of crooked doctrine blow, and who God uses to lead others to His righteousness.

Food and drink are not uncommon metaphors for Biblical truth (Isaiah 55:1–6, Ps 42:2; 63:1; 143:6, 1 Cor 10:3; cf. Deut 8:3; Mt 4:4, etc).

2 Timothy 2:19 (note)  Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."

Hebrews 5:12 (note) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Hebrews 5:14 (note) But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

1 Peter 5:9 (note) But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

There are 13 uses of stereos in the Septuagint (LXX) (Ex 37:17, 20; Nu 8:4; Dt 32:13; 1Sa 4:8; Ps 35:10; Is 2:21; 5:28; 17:5; 50:7; 51:1; Je 15:18; 30:14; 31:11)

Sermons are good, but they are not to be compared with personal Spirit illuminated Bible study as food for your soul ("soul food"). Songs and hymns are excellent, but let us not become "songbook Christians". Men wrote the songs but God wrote the Bible. As an aside we lament the declining popularity of the old hymns (many of which do contain God's words as well as sound doctrine) as they are slowly being replaced by choruses that are often repetitive and doctrinally shallow (there are exceptions). This gradual drift should be cause for some alarm among mature believers. Why? Well, ask yourself, what is one of the marks of being continually filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18-note)? Paul answers it is...

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (See Eph 5:19-note and also Col 3:16-note)

A maturing Christian must be a Biblically saturated Christian. If we are to get a deep insight into the holy mysteries of God’s Word, we must lay aside every sin (He 12:1-note) and every preconceived notion about His Truth and come simply as children to be taught by the Holy Spirit (1Jn 2:20, 27). God has purposely hidden His truths from the wise and prudent but He is ready at any time to reveal them to babes. (Mt 11:25, 13:11, Lu 10:21).

As Solomon recorded in Proverbs 2 almost 3 millennia ago...

My son, if you will receive my sayings, And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD, And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:1-6)

To avoid being pulled into error
Keep a firm grip on the truth.

Mature (5046)(teleios from telos = an end, a purpose, an aim, a goal) (Click word study on teleios) means complete, fully developed, full grown, brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, in good working order.

Teleios signifies consummate soundness, includes the idea of being whole. Interestingly the Gnostics used teleios of the one fully initiated into their mysteries.

In using the word mature, the writer is applying terms familiar to normal human development to describe their spiritual development, which is of course far more value than physical growth (cf 1Ti 4:7, 8, 9, 10-note)

The writer uses teleios later in Hebrews writing...

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect (teleios) tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation (see notes Hebrews 9:11)

we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete (teleios) in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor (to the point of literal exhaustion!), striving (agonizomai - same  verb describing Epaphras' "laboring earnestly" in prayer for the same goal = that the Colossian saints would be complete in Christ) according to His power (which undoubtedly is how Epaphras also was enabled to prayer with such passion and power - and it is the only way we can pray this way - His power working in us and through us), which mightily works within me. (see notes Colossians 1:28, 1:29)

10 that I may know Him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect (teleioo), but I press on (present tense = his continual practice) in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting (present tense = his continual practice) what lies behind and reaching forward (present tense = his continual practice) to what lies ahead,
14 I press on (present tense = his continual practice)  toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect (teleios) have this attitude (present tense = to be our continual attitude); and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
16 however, let us keep living by that same standard (present tense = to be our continual practice)  to which we have attained. (See notes Philippians 3:10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16)

Growth in Christ likeness is what the Father expects of and desires for each of His children ("mature man" see note Ephesians 4:13)

MARKS OF MATURITY

(1). Maintaining a Proper Diet: Good food. Solid food. Sound Doctrine. You in your own inductive Bible study begin to mature (1Pe 2:2 - no intake, no growth!). You are in trouble if the pastor is the main source of food no matter how good is his exegesis!

(2). Practice: "Practice makes perfect" is the old saying. We of course will never be perfect in this life but are to practice using our powers of discernment. As we take in truth and obey that truth we progressively become better equipped to distinguish good and evil.

(3). Senses become trained: Our power of discernment becomes sharpened (not judgmental or pharisaical!).

WHO BECAUSE OF PRACTICE HAVE THEIR SENSES TRAINED TO DISCERN GOOD AND EVIL: ton dia ten hexin ta aisthethria gegumnasmena (RPPNPA) echonton (PAPMPG) pros diakrisin kalou te kai kakou:  (Job 6:30; 12:11; 34:3; Psalms 119:103; Song 1:3; 2:3; Matthew 6:22,23; Ephesians 1:18) (Discern - Genesis 3:5; 2Samuel 14:17; 1Kings 3:9,11; Isaiah 7:15; Romans 14:1; 1Corinthians 2:14,15; Philippians 1:9,10; 1Thessalonians 5:21)

Practice (1838) (hexis from écho = have) describes a habit, whether of body or of mind. It describes a condition of the body or mind acquired through custom, use or practice. The idea is doing something again and again. It refers to a habit of the body or mind, not the process but the result: The condition produced by past exercise and now the habitual or normal condition, disposition or character. Plato referred to a habit of body, especially a good habit.

Because of practice could be rendered because of habit -- Use of one's powers of spiritual discernment are to be the practice for those who seek to be mature. The old saying is "Use or lose it". Failure to nourish and exercise our spiritual faculties of discernment is like a leg that is placed in a cast for months with resultant "disuse atrophy" of the muscles to the point that the person can hardly walk on it when he is first taken out of the cast. Truth practiced (obeyed) becomes truth that is internalized not just intellectualized.

Jesus alluded to this dynamic when He declared

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. (Jn 7:17)

Comment: Jesus lays down a basic, vital principle that the first prerequisite to ascertaining God's leading in some matter or the truth about some doctrinal question, is a genuine willingness to believe the truth and obey God's will.

Wuest comments that hexis is...

translated from a Greek word which refers to a habit of the body or mind. It speaks here of the habitual use of the perceptive faculties (senses) which are being vigorously exercised. This results in the ability to discriminate between good and evil, and in this context, good and evil teaching. But these Hebrews had abused their perceptive faculties in rejecting the new light given and turning again to the First Testament sacrifices. Light rejected, blinds. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)

Senses (145) (aistheterion from aisthanomai = apprehend by senses from aio = to perceive; English = “aesthetic”) describes an apprehension by the senses or perception primarily with the external senses. It was a Stoic term for sense organs. As used in this verse figuratively it describes spiritual perception or possession of the capacity to perceive clearly. It is the ability to understand the real nature of something or to have the ability of discernment or of discrimination. It is the ability to make moral decisions using the capacity for spiritual apprehension. It implies a sort of spiritual intuition by which the sensitive Christian can, more or less, automatically discern whether something is right or wrong. However, this sense is developed only by attaining real maturity in the Scriptures.

The related word aisthesis is used by Paul...

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment (aisthesis) (See note Philippians 1:9)

Comment: Aisthesis or discernment selects, classifies, and applies what is furnished by knowledge.

The root verb aisthanomai is used in Luke...

But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they might not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement. (Luke 9:45)

Trained (1128) (gumnazo from gumnós = "naked" or minimally clothed and descriptive of the common practice of males in the Greco Roman "gymnasia" source of English "gymnasium", "gymnastics") literally means to exercise naked in the palaestra (a school in ancient Greece or Rome for sports). Vine says it means to  “to strive with the body stripped i.e., strenuously." Gumnazo means to exercise bodily and described an athlete exercising in the gym.

Figuratively gumnazo means to exercise so as to discipline oneself (in the moral or ethical "gym") or to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind. It describes the rigorous, strenuous, self-sacrificing training an athlete undergoes.

When you see something in God's Word that seems to say you need to change something in your attitudes or actions, then DO IT (under grace, not Law and in the Spirit not the flesh).

Discern (1253) (diakrisis from  diakríno = distinguish, decide, judge from diá = separation + kríno = decide, judge) is literally deciding between or making a judgment between two things. It describes the ability to evaluate and decide,  to distinguish or to clearly discern. 

Diakrisis is used 2 other times in the NT...

Romans 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment (diakrisis) on his opinions.

1Cor 12:10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing (diakrisis) of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

Good and evil - refers to ethical conduct as well as true and false doctrine for both of these areas require discernment.

Steven Cole agrees that

even behavior needs to be discerned according to God’s Word. Our culture bombards us with immoral behavior as if it were neutral, or even desirable. As a result, many evangelicals currently believe that homosexual behavior is okay, as long as the couple is “committed” or “in love”! I read recently that “55 percent of evangelical Protestants have very unfavorable views of homo-sexual men, compared to 28 percent of mainline Protestants and Catholics” (from The Washington Times, 11/19/03, p. A14). That means that 45 percent do not have “very unfavorable views of homosexual men”! That’s alarming! But when evangelicals watch the same TV shows and movies as the world does, and read their Bibles only occasionally, is it any wonder?

But the point is, Bible doctrine is not just to fill your head or help you defend some theological system. It is always intended to make you a more godly person. In his introduction to Calvin’s Institutes ([Westminster Press], p. lii), John McNeill points out that to the modern mind the word “piety” has lost its proper implication and status. But to Calvin, piety was “that reverence joined with love of God which the knowledge of his benefits induces.” “It exists when men ‘recognize that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by his fatherly care, that he is the Author of their every good.’”

Then McNeill quotes A. Mitchell Hunter, who says, “Piety was the keystone of his character. He was a God-possessed soul. Theology was no concern to him as a study in itself; he devoted himself to it as a framework for the support of all that religion meant to him.”

McNeill adds, “Since we ‘owe everything to God,’ in Calvin’s pages we are everywhere confronting God, not toying with ideas or balancing opinions about him.” (Keep these comments in mind if you read Dave Hunt’s vitriolic and baseless attacks on Calvin!) So when you study the Bible or theology, always study with an aim to obedience and godly living.  We’ve seen that it is possible to be a Christian, but be slow to grow. Also, Christian growth means moving on to deeper levels of understanding. It is directly related to obedience to the truth that we have learned. (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)

Good (2570) (kalos) describes that which is inherently excellent or intrinsically good, providing some special or superior benefit. Kalos is good with emphasis (as discussed below) on that which is beautiful, handsome, excellent, surpassing, precious,   commendable, admirable. In classical Greek use kalos was originally used to describe that which outwardly beautiful. Other secular uses of kalos referred to the usefulness of something such as a fair haven, a fair wind or that which was auspicious such as sacrifices. Kalos referred to that which was "morally beautiful" or noble and hence virtue was called "the good" (to kalon).

The New Testament uses of kalos are similar to the secular Greek -- outwardly fair, as the stones of the temple (Lu 21:5); well adapted to its purpose, as salt ("salt is good" Mk 9:50); competent for an office, as deacons ("good servant of Christ Jesus" 1Ti 4:6); a steward ("serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God", 1Pe 4:10-note); a good soldier (2Ti 2:3-note); expedient, wholesome ("it is better for you to enter life crippled" Mk 9:43, 45, 46, 47); morally good, noble, as works ("Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works" - Mt 5:16-note); conscience ("we are sure that we have a good conscience", Heb 13:18-note). The phrase it is good, i.e., a good or proper thing ("It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine", Ro 14:21-note). In the Septuagint (LXX) kalos is the most commonly used word for good as opposed to evil (e.g., see Ge 2:17; 24:50; Is 5:20).

Evil (2556) (kakos) evil, bad, destructive, damaging, unjust. Kakos basically, denotes a lack of something which is thus not as it ought to be.

The closely related word (kakia) refers to the quality of wickedness and thus in a moral sense means depravity, vice or baseness (Jas 1:21-note, 1Pe 2:16-note, Acts 8:22). It is the opposite of arete (note) and all virtue and therefore lacks social value. It denotes a vicious disposition, evilness, ill-will, spitefulness. In reference to behavior kakia conveys the idea of a mean-spirited or vicious attitude or disposition as indicated by words such as malice, ill-will, hatefulness, and dislike. It is an attitude of wickedness as an evil habit of one's mind. Kakia is used in NT to describe the wickedness which comes from within a person. Malice describes a vicious intention and expresses the desire to hurt another and rejoices in it!

Cole rightly concludes that...

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. (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)

Vincent feels that this is not referring so much to...

moral good and evil, but wholesome and corrupt doctrine. The implication is that the readers’ condition is such as to prevent them from making this distinction.

Ray Stedman asks that...

How do Christians train themselves to be able to understand the teaching about righteousness? The steps are the same in any age.

(1) Begin with truth you already know but have not been obeying. Does God want you to stop some activity you know to be wrong? Does Scripture exhort you to change your attitude, forgive someone, reach out with help to another? No further light will be given until you begin to obey the light you already have.

(2) Review the promises of God for help from on high to obey his word, for example, Heb 2:18-note; Heb 4:14, 15, 16-note; 2Ti 2:7-note.

(3) Claim those promises for yourself, do whatever you need to do, and count on God’s grace to see you through the consequences.

(4) Follow this procedure whenever you become aware of areas of your life and thinking that need to be changed. This is the constant use which will enable one to grow and to handle the solid food of the teaching about righteousness. (The Spiritual State of the Readers)

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Illustration - The American Banking Association once sponsored a two-week training program to help tellers detect counterfeit bills. The program was unique--never during the two-week training did the tellers even look at a counterfeit bill, not did they listen to any lectures concerning the characteristics of counterfeit bills....All they did for two weeks was handle authentic currency, hour after hour and day after day, until they were so familiar with the true that they could not possibly be fooled by the false." Ben Patterson, Waiting (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1989), p. 153.

Lord, help us from Your blessed Word
All error to discern,
And by Your Spirit's truth and light
From Satan's snares to turn. --H G Bosch

While it is true that we must approach the Word of God with an open mind, we also must recognize that God’s truth provides absolute boundaries for that openness. As G. K. Chesterton has said, “Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”

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CHRISTIANS AND THE FBI: [they] have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14

When a man is accepted by the FBI, he is given intensive training to prepare him for his responsible position. As part of the program he is taught to watch for counterfeit currency. He is commissioned to make a thorough study, not of the "phonies," but of the genuine bills! This is done so that a fake will be recognized at once because of its contrast with the real thing.

We, as Christians, can learn a lesson from the FBI. While it is helpful to study the cults and to be fully aware of their false and dangerous dogmas, we should also be so well versed in the truth of God's Word that when we encounter that which is not genuine, we can immediately detect it. We must study the Bible and be so familiar with the "real article" that anything which is counterfeit will be perceived almost instinctively.

We are living in a day when many are being led astray into cults and isms because they are not actually aware of what they are getting into. The only way to prevent this is to indoctrinate believers with the truth so that they will discern the false automatically. For example, if a person is really taught the truth of grace, he won't fall for the line of the legalists who inject human works into the matter of obtaining salvation. If an individual is well instructed concerning the truth about the Person of Christ, he won't be led astray by those who proclaim Him to be less than God. If one knows the truth about the second coming of Christ, he won't be swayed by those who distort this blessed hope, and make it mean something other than the personal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Himself. Let's be like good FBI agents — so familiar with the truth that at a glance we will detect the counterfeit!

The letters FBI, when used in reference to that respected agency of our government, stand for "Federal Bureau of Investigation." We also need FBI Christians — that is, those who have Full Bible Intelligence! -- H G Bosch (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

"Try the spirits," Christian,
Test them by the Word,
See if they acknowledge
Christ as living Lord!
 —M.E.

Beware! Error often rides to its deadly work on the back of truth!
—C. H. Spurgeon

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Part of the training to be a US Secret Service agent includes learning to detect counterfeit money. Agents-in-training make a thorough study of the genuine bills--not the phonies--so that they can spot the fake currency immediately because of its contrast to the real thing.

The child of God can learn a lesson from this. While it is helpful to study false religions and be fully aware of their dangerous dogmas, the best defense against such error is to be so familiar with God's Word that whenever we encounter error, we will spot it at once and won't fall for it.

Today many are being led astray because they don't recognize how they are being deceived. For example, if a person isn't solidly grounded in the teaching of salvation by grace, he may swallow the line of the legalists who inject human works into the matter of being saved. If he is not well instructed about the person of Christ, he might accept the error of those who deny the Savior's deity. A thorough knowledge of essential biblical doctrines is the only way to detect counterfeits.

Let's be diligent in our study of the Word of God. Then, instead of falling into error, we will stand firmly on the truth. --R W De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Lord, grant us wisdom to discern
The truth You have made known,
And may we not believe one word
Beyond what You have shown. --DJD

Beware! Error often rides to its deadly work
on the back of truth! --Spurgeon