For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

Hebrews 5

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. Hebrews 5:12-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, I maintain my focus on Hebrews 5:11-14, as I lean on my commentary and explore what the commentary describes as the second division "The Symptom: Childish Understanding," which looks at Hebrews 5:12-13. Building on my post yesterday, where I focused on Hebrews 5:11 and how the author admonished the Jewish believers at the time of what my commentary refers to as sluggishness of heart towards God and indifferent to scripture. The commentary for this text starts by sharing where mature believers ought to be: "All Christians, however, are expected to be teachers in the sense that they should be prepared to train new believers in the fundamentals of the faith. The congregation should consist of willing and maturing disciples who are training up newer and less developed disciples."  Instead, the audience originally reading Hebrews had "laps[ed] spiritually, and need[ed] others to teach them the basics of the faith again." We are referred to 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 where Paul uses very similar language to urge believers to grow in their faith.  The commentary then warns us that spiritual immaturity leads to "moral immaturity. Spiritual immaturity leads to believers who live according to the flesh rather than the spirit." The commentary wraps for this text by offering not just words of admonishment but words of hope, by pointing out that the admonishment made in the text implies that "spiritual maturity is quite possible [emphasis added] in the life of a believer. We cannot persist on a diet of milk when God offers us solid food." 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace, compassion, and patience for me as I have grown in my faith.  Thank You Jesus for Your grace, compassion, and patience for me!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.