Letter to the Hebrews Volume 43

 Spiritual Immaturity Part 1

Hebrews 5:11-12 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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 Note: CEV = Contemporary English Version

The writer of Hebrews here takes a turn away from the subject of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ to admonishing, cautioning, and warning those Hebrew Christians then (and all Christians now and from every era and generation) of their spiritual immaturity and their lack of spiritual discernment. The writer in verse 11 here in Hebrews Chapter 5 begins his disgust of their spiritual condition with these words, "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." (Hebrews 5:11) (KJV). The many things he wants to declare to them is that concerning our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and the deep spiritual understanding of His High Priesthood, but because of their immaturity spiritually he cannot do so for it would not be comprehended by them in all its glory. Here, from the end of Chapter 5 to the end of Chapter 6, the writer is attempting to ignite their spiritual pilot light in their inner man and inner woman before he returns to the discussion of Jesus Christ our High Priest as he does in Chapter 7. He warns them that their hearing has become dulled, that meaning their spiritual discernment or understanding.

The English word 'dull' he uses here in this verse is translated by the Greek word nōthros meaning that they have become sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid: - dull, slothful spiritually (this word is used only one other place in the New Testament). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "He assigns the reason why he did not say all those things concerning Christ, our Melchizedek, that he had to say, and what it was that made it so difficult for him to utter them, namely, the dulness of the Hebrews to whom he wrote: You are dull of hearing. There is a difficulty in the things themselves, and there may be a weakness in the ministers of the Gospel to speak clearly about these things; but generally the fault is in the hearers. Dull hearers make the preaching of the Gospel a difficult thing, and even many who have some faith are but dull hearers, dull of understanding and slow to believe; the understanding is weak, and does not apprehend these spiritual things; the memory is weak, and does not retain them. He insists upon the faultiness of this infirmity of theirs. It was not a mere natural infirmity, but it was a sinful infirmity, and more in them than others, by reason of the singular advantages they had enjoyed for improving in the knowledge of Christ."

The writer of Hebrews now begins to express his specific concern about their spiritual immaturity making a comparison of them being like a new born baby in the physical realm who can only drink his/her Mother's breast milk but not solid food yet because of their not being physically grown up yet enough, here is how he phrases his concern, "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." (Hebrews 5:12) (KJV). The particular Hebrew converts the writer is referring to hear is unknown and likewise the time since their conversion to Christ is also unknown, but whatever their length of time being a Christian, the author is completely disappointed in their spiritual growth or lack thereof in their case. Just like an infant when newly born in the physical realm does not stay the same size and weight after 6 months or 1 year or 5 years or 15 years or 25 years, but they grow up physically in size and stature. So is the writer of Hebrews here making the same analysis to a newly born again son or daughter of Jesus Christ, they should grow up spiritually, just as the Apostle Peter warned them and us in his second epistle or letter with these words, "My friends, while you are waiting, you should make certain that the Lord finds you pure, spotless, and living at peace. Don't forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom that God had given him. Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said. They do the same thing with other Scriptures too. My dear friends, you have been warned ahead of time! So don't let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance. Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:14-18) (CEV).

The milk of the Word of God is for the new born again babe of Jesus Christ to begin their spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2), but just as the new born baby in the natural grows stronger, and then he/she needs solid food to propel their growth onward and upward, so does the newly born again son or daughter of Jesus Christ need to move up from the elementary things of the faith (as we will see expressed by this same writer of Hebrews in just a few more verses at the beginning of Chapter 6 where he continues this admonishment) into the deeper spiritual understanding of Christ Jesus our Lord, for we can learn more about Him, but we will never learn all the things concerning Him and His greatness, but now and even throughout eternity in heaven we will be continually learning more and more about His graciousness, goodness, and greatness. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "What proficiency might have been reasonably expected from these Hebrews - that they might have been so well instructed in the doctrine of the Gospel as to have been teachers of others. Hence learn, (1.) God takes notice of the time and helps we have for gaining scripture-knowledge. (2.) From those to whom much is given much is expected. (3.) Those who have a good understanding in the Gospel should be teachers of others, if not in a public, yet in a private station. (4.) None should take upon them to be teachers of others, but those who have made a good improvement in spiritual knowledge themselves. 2. Observe the sad disappointment of those just expectations: You have need that one should teach you again, etc. Here note, (1.) In the oracles of God there are some first principles, plain to be understood and necessary to be learned. (2.) There are also deep and sublime mysteries, which those should search into who have learned the first principles, that so they may stand complete in the whole will of God. (3.) Some persons, instead of going forward in Christian knowledge, forget the very first principles that they had learned long ago; and indeed those that are not improving under the means of grace will be losing. (4.) It is a sin and shame for persons that are men for their age and standing in the Church to be children and babes in understanding."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…