Hebrews 5:14 - Warning against Drifting Away
But solid food is for the mature
This phrase contrasts spiritual maturity with immaturity, using the metaphor of solid food versus milk. In the context of Hebrews, the author is addressing believers who should have progressed in their faith but are still in need of basic teachings. Solid food represents deeper, more complex teachings of the faith, akin to the wisdom found in Proverbs 9:1-6, where wisdom is depicted as a feast. The mature are those who have moved beyond elementary teachings (Hebrews 6:1) and are able to understand and apply more profound spiritual truths. This maturity is a call to grow in understanding and discernment, as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:6, where Paul speaks of imparting wisdom to the mature.
who by constant use
This phrase emphasizes the importance of regular practice and application of spiritual truths. The Greek word for "use" implies a habitual practice, suggesting that maturity comes through consistent engagement with God's Word and its application in daily life. This is similar to the discipline described in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, where believers are encouraged to train themselves for godliness. The idea is that spiritual growth requires ongoing effort and dedication, much like physical training.
have trained their senses
The concept of training the senses indicates a process of developing discernment and spiritual insight. This training involves both the mind and the heart, aligning with Romans 12:2, which speaks of the renewal of the mind to discern God's will. The senses here can be understood as spiritual faculties that need to be exercised and honed through experience and practice, much like the training of the body in athletic endeavors (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
to distinguish good from evil
This final phrase highlights the goal of spiritual maturity: the ability to discern moral and spiritual truths. This discernment is crucial for living a life that pleases God, as seen in Philippians 1:9-10, where Paul prays for believers to have love that abounds in knowledge and depth of insight. The ability to distinguish good from evil is rooted in a deep understanding of God's Word, as seen in Psalm 119:105, where God's Word is described as a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. This discernment is also a mark of wisdom, as described in James 3:13-18, where true wisdom is characterized by purity, peace-loving, and righteousness.
Persons / Places / Events
1. The Author of Hebrews
Traditionally attributed to Paul, though the exact authorship is uncertain. The author is addressing Jewish Christians who are familiar with the Old Testament.
2. Jewish Christians
The primary audience of the letter, who were experiencing pressure to revert to Judaism and needed encouragement to mature in their faith.
3. Melchizedek
Mentioned in the broader context of Hebrews 5, as a type of Christ, representing a priesthood superior to the Levitical priesthood.
4. Jesus Christ
The ultimate high priest, whose priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, offering a perfect sacrifice for sins.
5. The Early Church
The broader context of the letter addresses the early Christian community's need for spiritual growth and maturity.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Maturity Requires Effort
Just as physical training requires discipline and consistency, spiritual maturity involves diligent study and application of God's Word.
Discernment is a Mark of Maturity
Mature believers are characterized by their ability to discern between good and evil, a skill developed through constant practice and reliance on the Holy Spirit.
The Role of Solid Doctrine
Solid food, or deeper doctrinal understanding, is essential for growth. Believers should seek to move beyond elementary teachings to a more profound comprehension of their faith.
The Importance of Community
Spiritual growth is often fostered within the context of a faith community, where believers can encourage and challenge one another.
Application of Knowledge
Knowledge of Scripture should lead to practical application in daily life, influencing decisions and actions in accordance with God's will.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 5What is Spiritual Milk?What defines common sense?What defines spiritual maturity?What is Spiritual Milk?
(14) Strong meat.--"Solid food belongs to full-grown men." If they occupied themselves with the rudiments alone, their spiritual senses could not be trained by use (or, habit) in distinguishing between good and evil, truth and falsehood, in the various systems of teaching which men offered as the doctrine of Christ.
Verse 14. - But solid food is for them that are of full age (τελείων, equivalent to "perfect;" but in the sense of maturity of age or growth, in contrast with νήπιοι; as in 1 Corinthians 14:20; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:6; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:15), those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. Here the comparison is carried out with peculiar aptness. Τὰ αἰσθητήρια in the illustration are the organs of sense. In the infant the digestive organs, in the first place, exercised in the beginning on milk, acquire through that exercise the power of assimilating more solid and more complex food, while at the same time its sensitive organs generally, also through exercise, become consciously discriminative of "good and evil" (cf. Isaiah 7:15, 16, where "to know to refuse the evil and choose the good" denotes, as if proverbially, the age after early childhood). So, in the spiritual sphere, the mental faculties, exercised at first on simple truths, should acquire by practice the power of apprehending and distinguishing' between higher and more recondite ones. It was because the Hebrew Christians had failed thus to bring out their faculties that they were open to the charge of being still in a state of infancy.
Greek
But
δέ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.
solid
στερεὰ (sterea)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4731: Solid, firm, steadfast. From histemi; stiff, i.e. Solid, stable.
food
τροφή (trophē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5160: Food, nourishment, maintenance. From trepho; nourishment; by implication, rations.
is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
[for the] mature,
τελείων (teleiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5046: From telos; complete; neuter completeness.
who
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
by
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.
constant use
ἕξιν (hexin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1838: Condition, state, habit, use, especially: good condition of body or soul. From echo; habit, i.e. practice.
have
ἐχόντων (echontōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.
trained
γεγυμνασμένα (gegymnasmena)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1128: To train by physical exercise; hence: train, in the widest sense. From gumnos; to practise naked, i.e. Train.
[their]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
sensibilities
αἰσθητήρια (aisthētēria)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 145: Perceptive faculty. From a derivative of aisthanomai; properly, an organ of perception, i.e. judgment.
to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.
distinguish
διάκρισιν (diakrisin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1253: Distinguishing; hence: deciding, passing sentence on; the act of judgment, discernment. From diakrino; judicial estimation.
good
καλοῦ (kalou)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.
[from]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.
evil.
κακοῦ (kakou)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2556: Bad, evil, in the widest sense. Apparently a primary word; worthless, i.e. depraved, or injurious.
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