Milk versus Meat

Hebrews 5:12 presents a strong wake-up call. The ones addressed are those who once knew at least the basic principles, but not having moved on to higher principles, lost even these.  Note it states, “You need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and have come to need milk.”  These need the milk again, the basic principles, when they should have been long past this.

Verse 13 states that he who partakes only of milk, is unskilled in righteousness, so placing the knowledge and living of righteousness well above these basic principles.  And in verse 14 we find that the more advanced Christian, partaking of strong meat, or solid food, as compared to liquid milk is considered more mature as he knows and lives righteousness, and uses it always in the understanding, wisdom and appreciation of all that is truly “right” with God, thus he readily “discerns between good and evil,” and chooses only the good.

In Hebrews 6:1, 2 we read of “leaving the elementary principles (the milk) and not laying them again; that is repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”  These are all truth, but they are things of knowledge, traditions, history and prophecy but do not help us mature as copies of Christ.  Many other such “‘technical”’ points could be added to the list.  We are urged rather to go on to perfection, from milk to strong meat.

The key point is in 5:14: “those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”  The need is to move beyond the basic principles of truth, to the constant “use” of living truth in our lives so that we gain the discernment and the application of the knowledge of good and evil, thus knowing and choosing God’s will and refusing Satan’s.  Only this is the mature and faithful life, and only this is strong meat.  Conceding priority to knowledge, traditions, history and prophecy of even our own beliefs is all milk.  It’s true, but it is milk (1 Cor. 13:2). And anything we concede to the world, Satan, and the pleasing of others is far worse!

Choose righteousness!  Do good!  Love the brethren! - 1 John 4:13.
Choose righteousness!  Do good!  Love your neighbor! - Lk. 10:29-37.
Choose righteousness!  Do good!  Love your enemies!  -  Mt. 5:42-48.
Let us wake up!  Live on the strong meat!  - Micah 6:8; 1 Jn. 2:29; 3:7
Discern good and evil!  Live the good!  - Hebrews 5:14.
               

J. Knapp  ©CDMI