College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 5:11-14
II.
Necessity of growth in knowledge in order to realize the hope of the priesthood. Hebrews 5:11 to Hebrews 6:20.
A.
Difficulty of explaining the priesthood because of the low stage of the knowledge of his readers. Hebrews 5:11-14.
Text
Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:12 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. Hebrews 5:13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 5:11 Concerning Melchizedek I have much to say for the illustration of Christ's priesthood, which is difficult to be explained when spoken, not on account of the darkness of the subject, but because ye are of slow apprehension in spiritual matters.
Hebrews 5:12 For though ye ought to have been able to teach others, considering the time ye have professed the gospel, ye have need of one to teach you, a second time, some of the fundamental principles of the ancient oracles of God concerning the Christ; and have become such as have need of being taught the easiest doctrines, and are not capable of receiving the higher parts of knowledge.
Hebrews 5:13 Now every one who uses milk only, who knows nothing but the letter of the ancient revelations, is unskilled in the doctrines of the gospel: For he is a babe in Christianity.
Hebrews 5:14 But the matters concealed under the figures and prophecies of the law, which may be called strong meat, because they strengthen the mind, are fit for them who have made progress in knowledge, and who by practice have the faculties of their mind accustomed to discern both truth and falsehood.
Comment
Of whom
Of whomwho is meant?
a.
It is applied to three different persons:
1.
To Melchizedek.
2.
To Christ.
3.
To the endless priesthood.
b.
So little is known of Melchizedek, we are quick to believe that he might be referred to here.
We have many things to say
Now he is discussing Christ's priesthood, so we may assume of whom refers to Christ. He is not speaking of Melchizedek except as an illustration; Christ is the main subject:
a.
He has much to say about Christ and little about Melchizedek.
b.
The many things are wonderful things.
and hard of interpretation
It is also translated, hard to be uttered:
a.
Difficulty of interpretation may lie in one of three directions: (Newell)
1.
The teacher's inability.
2.
The subject, deep and difficult.
3.
The hearers.
b.
It wasn-'t the teacher, it wasn-'t the subject, so the listener was at fault.
seeing ye are become dull of hearing
The brightness of His glory could not be seen because of their dullness, their darkness.
a.
Their souls did not keep pace with the doctrines delivered.
b.
They had a love for their brethren, but they were dull of hearing.
Jesus found the Jews this way and quoted Isaiah against them. cf. Matthew 13:14-15.
For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers
Time should have been used to advantage:
a.
Newell: Over 30 years from Pentecost to the writing of Hebrews.
b.
Christians are to grow; they are not to be stunted. Teaching should be the objective of all-Christians:
a.
People who attend Bible School, worship, prayer meeting, evangelistic services, ought to get to the place where they can teach others.
b.
Most churches find it difficult to find a few teachers for their Bible School.
Ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments
Literally, teach you a second time. Kindergarten lessons sometimes must be learned in adulthood.
of the first principles of the oracles of God
The average church member can-'t turn to God's word and point out the pattern for the church or its doctrine.
a.
Church people complain at hearing old messages over and over again, but they often couldn-'t turn to a scripture on the subject.
b.
Those who are teachers love to hear the Word taught. Of the oracles of God: what is meant?
a.
It may refer to the notices which the prophets gave of the priesthood of Christ. Psalms 110; Isaiah 53.
b.
Oracle simply means a divine utterance, and appears four times in the New Testament. (Milligan)
1.
2.
3.
4.
and are become such as have need of milk
They once were in better condition than now:
a.
When they first became Christians they were not so dull of hearing.
b.
It is a sad day when men cannot digest God's deep treasures. As have need of milk.
a.
Milk, a metaphor, is used to indicate first principles. cf. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2.
b.
These early principles are enumerated in Hebrews 6:2-3.
and not of solid food
Deeper teachingweightier problemsheavier responsibilitiesthey could not digest:
a.
Babes are on a very weak diet.
b.
They had not grown out of the high chair age.
c.
The scaffolding of Christianity was the thing upon which they depended.
For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience
Babes can do only what they are taught, and that is very little:
a.
The Hebrews had not experienced the things that mature Christians were to experience.
b.
The walk of holiness, launching out on faith was needed, Babes have milk carried to them; adults take milk to babes.
of the word of righteousness
These have not been able to launch out into the sea of experience for Christ:
a.
b.
They were still in the crib.
Word of righteousness is suggestive:
a.
Matthew 5:20: Righteousness is that which goes on beyond the right, the plain duty.
b.
It means purity of heart, attitude of mind.
he is a babe
What are the characteristics of a babe?
a.
They are tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14. So is a baby.
b.
They belong to some special sect and cry, My church.
c.
They glory in men. 1 Corinthians 1:12: I am of Paul, Apollos.
d.
A babe sleeps instead of serving.
Our spiritual capacity suggests our spiritual age.
But solid food is for fullgrown men
Fullgrown men spiritually are needed. 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 14:20;
The value of solid food is seen in Ephesians 4:14.
who by reason of use have their senses exercised
Miserable is the person who fails to use his spiritual senses.
a.
By believing, praying, thanking and by being obedient, we can make full use of our spiritual faculties.
b.
The only way to exercise is by action, by using the abilities given to us.
c.
People will be spiritually impotent until they use their senses. The word for senses is an interesting word:
a.
Clark says it signifies the different sense organs as eyes, ears, tongue, palate, and nervous system in general.
b.
The soul has its sensations: love, joy, compassion, etc.
c.
The five senses of man have spiritual significance.
1.
Taste: 1 Peter 2:3; Psalms 34:8; Hebrews 6:4; Matthew 5:6.
2.
Hearing: Isaiah 55:3; Revelation 3:22.
3.
Sight: Psalms 119:18; Ephesians 1:18.
4.
Smell: Philippians 4:18.
5.
Feeling: Ephesians 4:32.
Exercise is a requirement for one's spiritual development:
a.
This word exercise is a metaphor taken from the athletes or contenders in the Grecian games.
b.
These men applied all their powers that they might be ready for competition.
to discern good and evil
Those who do not exercise will see little or no harm in the pleasures of the world.
a.
So many good people get into trouble, because, I didn-'t see any harm in it.
b.
The iceberg is dangerous because three-fifths of it is beneath the water, unseen, with jagged edges which may tear great holes in the ship.
Sin brings a tolerance for evil, so that men do not bother to discern good and evil.
Study Questions
804.
Who is meant in the expression of whom? Hebrews 5:11.
805.
Are there many things to say of Melchizedek?
806.
In what three matters may difficulty of interpretation be possible? Hebrews 5:11.
807.
Is it hard to interpret of whom Christ or Melchizedek?
808.
Is it the teacher's fault here?
809.
Is the subject hard to understand?
810.
In the light of this verse, where is the difficulty? Hebrews 5:11.
811.
Do you understand what is hard of interpretation?
812.
Is dull of hearing an offensive accusation?
813.
What made Paul think that they were dull?
814.
Did Jesus feel that His generation was dull? Cf. Matthew 13:14-15.
815.
Reason of time would refer to what?
816.
How much time had expired between Jesus-' death and the writing of the Hebrew letter?
817.
Is Paul implying that all of them ought to be teachers?
818.
How many of our converts aspire to be teachers?
819.
How many become teachers?
820.
How many are even interested in learning, according to Bible School, church, prayer meeting attendance?
821.
Are elders expected to be teachers?
822.
Should a man be an elder if he has all of the other qualifications? If he can-'t express himself, is he fit?
823.
Need again would mean what?
824.
What are rudiments?
825.
First principles would mean what?
826.
Do people complain at hearing simple things repeated over and over again?
827.
Are the dull of hearing ones the complainers or the teachers?
828.
What do oracles of God refer to?
829.
Is oracles a common word in the New Testament? Cf. Acts 7:38; Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11.
830.
What would the milk refer to? Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2.
831.
What does Peter say about milk? 1 Peter 2:2.
832.
What does solid food refer to?
833.
Why could they not digest it?
834.
Did they not understand Aaron's priesthood?
835.
Could it refer back to the priesthood of which he wanted to say many things?
836.
Name some things that would be classed as solid food.
837.
Is there much hope of evangelizing the world with high chair Christians?
838.
What is the future of the church when folk cannot wield the sword of the spirit?
839.
What is meant by experience?
840.
What experience does the baby in Christ lack?
841.
Can a baby do more than it is taught? Is the same true of spiritual babes?
842.
Would Romans 14:1-6 have a bearing on this subject?
843.
Do we have any clues in Hebrews as to the particular shortcomings of the people which caused this to be written? For instance, in Corinthians and Galatians special problems are named.
844.
What is meant by word of righteousness?
845.
Can you define righteousness?
846.
What could they have lacked that kept them from being righteous?
847.
Did Jesus have anything to say concerning righteousness?
848.
What does a baby do that weak Christians do?
849.
Could our spiritual capacity be an indication of our spiritual age?
850.
What do you consider solid food to be?
851.
Observe that wisdom is connected with fullgrown men. 1 Corinthians 2:6.
852.
What comparison can be make with stature and Christ? See Ephesians 4:13-14.
853.
It is said of Jesus that he increased in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52. What evidence do we have that He did?
854.
Could these or the lack of them prove that we have or have not attained spiritual adulthood?
855.
Do you know of anyone whom you consider to be full-grown?
856.
Should a man be an elder in the church if he is a babe?
857.
What would the senses refer to?
858.
What sensation does the spiritual person have?
859.
What can you do to exercise your senses?
860.
Are the five senses referred to in the Word? See 1 Peter 2:3; Hebrews 6:4; Psalms 119:18; Ephesians 1:8.
861.
Look at Ephesians 4:32 for feeling.
862.
What does Philippians 4:18 say concerning smell?
863.
Why should a person exercise himself?
864.
What is meant by discernment?
865.
Why is it an effort to detect evil? Isn-'t it obvious?