6. JESUS DESIRES OUR PROGRESS TOWARD MATURITY (Hebrews 5:11 - 6:20)

In this passage the writer expresses the heart concern of Jesus for His people.

6.1. A CONCERN FOR HEARING (Hebrews 5:11)

The desire of the writer is to say much more about the eternal priesthood of Jesus.

Hebrews 5:10,11 "Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." (KJV)

Things not too difficult or mysterious of themselves, but hard to explain because of their impaired hearing. Owing to their lack of spiritual development they could not grasp truth in solid form. The warning is clear - dullness of hearing makes spiritual dwarfs, who are slow to learn even the essentials of the faith.

Hebrews 5:12 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. " (KJV)

What a sad condition to remain in babyhood (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 ). Milk is intended for growth (1 Peter 2:2 ). It is the appropriate nourishment - for babies in order that they may grow up. Infancy instead of maturity brings instability (Ephesians 4:14 ). Hearing and assimilating the Word of truth (Ephesians 4:15 ) is the means to mature growth (Ephesians 4:13 ). Tendencies today that contribute to undeveloped believers:

	Failure to systematically study the Scriptures, privately and collectively.
	Weakness in preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God.
	Breakdown in Christian families in the discussion and sharing of God's Word.
	Popular contentment with a limited, even shallow knowledge of biblical truth.
	Majoring on feeling, and new emotional experiences, rather than proper instruction in God's Word.

6.2. A CONCERN FOR GROWTH (Hebrews 5:12-14)

Hebrews 5:12 "... ought to be teachers, ... " (KJV)

Every established believer has the ability to share with others the truth they have learned and experienced (Acts 8:1,4 ) The Lord's commission to teach and disciple the nations is to be the mission of all His people (Matthew 28:18-20 ). Does spiritual infancy make you a loser, an "ought to be"? Are you falling short of what you are intended to be in Christ? When you are not what you can be to others, you remain dependent "unskilled in the word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:13 ), a spiritual infant. You are disapproved owing to not being able to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 ). To correct this, heed Paul's instruction to Timothy:

1 Timothy 4:13 "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (KJV)

Timothy was to help others grow by reading the Word - exhorting its practice, and teaching its principles, so personal growth comes from hearing and practising the word of righteousness, and developing a competent knowledge of its teachings.

Hebrews 5:12 "... have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; ..." (KJV)

It is regrettable when sluggishness makes otherwise able students have to repeat class. In the case of these Hebrews they had slipped back to where they had started, instead of progressing on to maturity. The thought is not that there is a more perfect doctrine than the essential first teachings of Scripture. Rather the emphasis is that without full knowledge of them, no further knowledge can be absorbed, and so are unable to instruct others. To admit to not being able to teach others is also a confession that you have not learned the elementary truths of the gospel. It is an unwelcome fact that many today are in need of beginning their learning again. Not to be able to absorb solid teaching is indicative of infancy - the spiritual organs have not been developed, as the verse explains:

Hebrews 5:14 "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (KJV)

The baby exercises the digestive organs in the beginning, on milk. Strengthened the child comes to be able to assimilate more solid, complex food, which illustrates how spiritual growth in comprehension takes place by exercise of basic truths. The practice makes perfect - or better, matures developing spiritual discernment between good and evil. Failure to grow by practice in spiritual knowledge and understanding is the cause of vulnerability to deception.

Philippians 1:9 "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;" (KJV)

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Would you conclude that dullness of hearing produces spiritual dwarfs (Hebrews 5:11-12 )?
   • For whom is milk and appropriate nourishment (Hebrews 5:12 )?
   • What is the means of mature growth? Why is there a scarcity of what is needed in order to mature believers today?

2. What are you doing to help undeveloped believers who are in your care?

3. Should every properly fed believer be able to teach others (Hebrews 5:12 )?
   • Are you skilled in the word of righteousness, or unskilled (Hebrews 5:13 )? Or are you in need of being retaught (Hebrews 5:12 )?
   • What can you do to improve your skill (1 Timothy 4:13 )? Have you developed your spiritual senses? Or are you, through lack of discernment, vulnerable to deception (Hebrews 5:14 )?