Missed opportunity
We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Hebrews 5:11-12 CSB
The relationship with Melchizedek and Jesus Christ, as the author states here, “is difficult to explain.” Now, the reasoning behind the difficulty was not that it was unfamiliar to the author, but rather, “you have become too lazy to understand.” This phrase here shows how they were unable to learn difficult subjects due to their own fault. The Lord spoke through Jeremiah to address the Israelites during his time in which they had the same issue as well in Jeremiah 6:10, “Who can I speak to and give such a warning that they will listen? Look, their ear is uncircumcised, so they cannot pay attention. See, the word of the Lord has become contemptible to them—they find no pleasure in it.” Like the previous generation, the readers of Hebrews closed themselves off to God’s Word, which in turn, led them to being ill-equipped to receive more complicated instruction. The author does not mince their words here, “although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again.” These readers had been Christian believers for a long enough time in which the expectation was that they would be able to teach others about basic principles of Christianity. Instead, they were inept and even needed clarification and further teaching about their own understanding of basic principles of God. They were at the starting point, as the author states, “you need milk, not solid food.” Like newborn babies, you cannot feed a baby steak and potatoes, but milk. These believers should have been showing maturity, but they were found to be childlike in their understanding. This is why daily time with the Lord in His Word is so important. The Word of God feeds the believer in understanding, being guided by the Holy Spirit speaking to them. We go through our days taking care of our health, making sure we eat regularly, drink water, get enough sleep, exercise and so on, yet how often do we also nourish our own spirit? The Christian church must continue to grow in order to exist. Those who have heard the gospel and have accepted it in faith are required to share their knowledge with others who need instruction. There are people who claim to be Christ followers who has heard Bible stories and has been taught the doctrine of salvation, yet still fails to put their ability to work in leading others to a knowledge of salvation in Christ. How much opportunities have we missed to witness for Christ and teach the gospel because we feel inadequate? Let us continue to desire the “solid food” of God’s Word so we can live the life God gave us for His glory.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
