Hebrews 5:11-14 Concerning him we have much to say, and
it is hard to explain, since
you have become dull of hearing. 12For 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. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the
word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who
because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil
The book of Hebrews was written
to a bunch of believers (Christ followers) almost wavering in their trust in
the midst of pressures brought about by their faith in God. As I went through
this Christ centered book the strong reality which gripped me was that the
recipients of this writing had all been exposed to the excellent nature of whom
they had believed in Jesus Christ the great high priest!
Yes they were in a season where
they were being challenged to give up on what they had sanely embraced and
believed in due to the temporary pressures. It will be
naïve of me to underestimate the nature of pressures they were experiencing;
however it will also be utter foolishness for me to justify their temptation and
wish to throw in the towel on their faith in Jesus Christ!
All my body senses were
stimulated with a sober feeling as I went through the fifth chapter of the book
of Hebrews. It vividly painted two main sections which complemented each other
first one being from verses 1-10 which beautifully pictured how Jesus compared
to the former high priests was such a better and more worthy candidate to
assume priestly duties on behalf of all who believe in Him.
Since he was sinless and chosen
by God the Father himself! The same segment also showed how Jesus achieved this
great gift of salvation on our behalf by sacrificially laying his life down for
us. Ultimately he was made priest in the order of Melchizedek who had neither
beginning nor end just to show how worthy he is to be our one and only great
and able high priest!
In light of the above sobering
reality the second segment which covers verses 11-13 challenges the recipients
of this writing to dare not throw in the towel to such an awesome gift which they
had received, which they were holding onto in their hands. The writer sharply
rebukes his readers. From verses 11 all the way to the end
Verses 11 starts off by exposing
them that they were no longer growing in the Word because they had seized to
open their senses to the leading of the Word, they had shifted their focus from
God and became caught up in their circumstances because of the persecution they
were in. Verse 12 takes an interesting turn by pointing that their exposure to the faith was enough to encourage them to overcome disbelief and to
also strengthen others in similar situations.
The author of Hebrews notes that his audience’s weakness was failure to practice what they had
believed and remained babies in the Word
instead of becoming adults who grow to assume solid food, which implied believing, living
and ultimately becoming teachers of the Word they had heard!
The plea to the believes of this
message was, don’t drop the choice you have made of embracing Christ as supreme
over all, and that do not lose that sight of it all because of the great persecution,
rather hold on to what you have heard, and move on to live it out both in and
out of season. That will render you mature and in that you will
equally become an effective witness of your faith both in word and deed!
Such maturity defines their
strong ability to hold fast to their faith no matter what! Verse 14 says. “……But solid food
is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern
good and evil.”
Let us Pray
God, thank you that our choice to be in you is
solely dependant on you and that our lives in your hands is the best life and
place we can ever dwell no matter what this world may throw at us or offer us. Help
us remain faithful to the word which we received and practically live it out as
James encourages us. Season us to grow into effective witnesses and teachers
of your Holy word in Jesus name we pray and ask, Amen
By Archieford Muchaka
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