Letter to the Hebrews Volume 44

 Spiritual Immaturity Part 2

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. KJV

For a baby in the natural realm milk is a must have and without milk the baby would not develop properly physically or mentally, however, as we declared in Volume 43, this is needed as the main source of nourishment, nutriment, and nutrition only for a period of time (foreordained by our Creator God for the proper growth of the body & mind) then the baby must begin to consume solid food in order to progress, preserve, and perpetuate the continued growth and development of the body and mind into adolescents and then onto adulthood. It was the Apostle Peter who wrote these words to the children of the Living God, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:1-5) (KJV).  Therefore, we now find the writer of Hebrews continuing his assertion, analysis, and assessment of this truth that likewise spiritual growth must also progress from childhood into adulthood or he or she will remain an infant spiritually, as he declares these words in verse 13, "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5:13) (KJV).

The English word 'useth' is translated by the Greek word metechō meaning (as used here) to share or participate; by implication belong to, be partaker, take part, use, or to take as his/her portion. The English word 'unskilled' used here is translated by the Greek word apeiros (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning inexperienced, that is, ignorant. In other words, the Christian man or woman who never goes beyond the 'milk' of the Word of God will impede, that is, be a hindrance or obstacle to their own spiritual growth and maturity. They also, if they make only the 'milk' of the Word of God their portion or part or parcel then they will never come to know the deeper alluminations from the Word of God that God the Holy Spirit wants to open up to their understanding. The Word of Righteousness is the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and it is the entire Scripture that speaks of Him from Genesis to Revelation. It is also Christ instruction to His adopted sons and daughters through the letters of the Apostle Paul and the other New Testament writers describing, declaring, and detailing to us what our conduct should be if we truly love Him and desire to please Him, as it is written, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:15-21) (KJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 5:13, "And sits down contented with the first principles of the Gospel, such as are easily taken in and digested; or makes use of the ceremonial law, as a schoolmaster to teach him the Gospel: the Gospel, which is a doctrine of righteousness; not of works of righteousness done by men, and of justification by them, or of a man's own righteousness; but of the pure, perfect, and everlasting righteousness of Christ: and it is called so, because it is the means of stripping a man of his own righteousness; and of revealing the righteousness of Christ unto him; and of working faith in him to lay hold upon it; and of discovering the agreement there is between the righteousness of Christ, and the justice of God; and of teaching men to live soberly, righteously, and godly: and such are unskilful in it, who either have no knowledge of the doctrine of justification; of the matter of it, Christ's righteousness; of the form of it, by imputation; and of the date of it, before faith: or have a very confused notion of it, joining their own works with Christ's righteousness, for justification, as many judaizing professors did; or who, if they have a notional knowledge of it, have no practical concern in it; do not believe with the heart unto righteousness; have not the experience, sweetness, and power of this doctrine upon them; and do not live lives agreeable to it. This word is used sometimes by way of commendation, and is expressive of some good characters of the saints; such as harmlessness and inoffensiveness, humility, and meekness, a desire after the sincere milk of the word, freedom from rancour and malice, hypocrisy and guile; but here it is used by way of reproach, and denotes levity and inconstancy, ignorance and non-proficiency, want of digestion of strong meat, and incapacity to take care of themselves, as standing in need of tutors and governors."

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…