In yesterday's short thoughts I commented on the Hebrew writer's indictment against them in regards to their having "become dull of hearing". In Hebrews 5:12 the author continues by stating, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food."
One of the things I had not commented on yesterday was the writer's assertion that the recipients of the letter had "become" dull of hearing. It seems that there had been a time when their "hearing" had been better. When we look at today's passage it seems clear that they had once had an understanding of the foundational truths of the faith. And clearly, sufficient time had passed where God had inspired the writer to say that they "ought to be teachers" now.
It is worth noting that since they had not matured in their faith, there existed the need to be taught again the "elementary principles". How quickly one can drift away from the fundamental truths of the faith when we fail to grow in Christ. We read in Paul's letter to the Ephesian believers that we are "to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ". Our sanctification is the will of God.
We should see the great importance of the many scriptural admonitions we have to this end. To pray without ceasing, to accurately handle the word of truth, to not forsake the assembly of ourselves together, to be renewing our minds, to be setting our mind on things above, to fix our eyes on Jesus, etc.. Without these disciplines the believer will struggle with maturing and find him or herself "needing milk and not solid food".
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