Hebrews 5:11-14

Summary retelling of Hebrews 5:11-14

The author of Hebrews now tells his audience that he has much to teach them about the priesthood of Christ, but they have become lazy in their desire to understand.  By this time in their faith they should be teaching others; yet they are themselves still at the point of needing to be taught.  They are like infants who need to be nursed rather than people who can sit at the table and endure solid food like an adult.  Those who can endure solid food become that way by practicing the discernment between good and evil every day.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The author is quick to chastise his audience and remind them that they have become lazy.  This isn’t necessarily an attack on their personality in this world, for there are many hard-working individuals in this world who are spiritually lazy.  This is an attack on their spiritual persona.  The audience should have been growing ever-closer to God and they are not.  They are slow, struggling to retain and remember even the most basic of truths.

Why do people – even good, honest, hard-working people – become spiritually lazy?  What are some of the distractions in life that keep us from growing spiritually?  Are all of those distractions bad things?  How does this section of scripture challenge us to remain spiritually active?

Second Thought:

The author indicates that the people to whom this book is written should be teachers of the faith, yet they are still basic students.  I think there is a really fundamental principle to be found in this passage.  We only become masters at a skill when we endeavor to teach it to others.  When we know we have to learn a skill well enough to explain it to others and guide them in the practice of it, then we will master it ourselves.  So many times people believe the lie that “they could never teach this to others” or “they don’t know enough to teach their faith to others.”  What they are doing is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.  They will never be strong enough to teach others so long as they believe they aren’t strong enough in the faith to teach others.  Only in teaching others will they become strong enough to teach others.

Does this logic seem somewhat circular?  Can you buy into the idea that being a teacher in the faith is something that one can become only through making an attempt at being a teacher in the faith?  In what ways does this really make sense?

Third Thought:

The author speaks about spiritual food.  Infants need milk.  Infants need to have easily digestible material.  New Christians need to know about the love and grace of God.  They need to know about the faithfulness of Jesus.  They need to know about Jesus’ passion.  They need to know about the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.  New Christians need to be reassured all the time.  This is spiritual milk.  However, if this is all that is happening then growth will not occur.  When ready, all Christians need to be challenged.  All Christians need to have their perspectives broadened.  All Christians need to see their sin and how their sin keeps them from being obedient to God.  These things are the spiritual meat that brings about true relationship with God and one another.

Which do you like hearing from your spiritual leaders: spiritual milk or spiritual meat?  Why?  Was this always the case?  When might you like to hear spiritual milk?  When might you like to hear spiritual meat?

Passage for Tomorrow: Hebrews 6:1-3