Hebrews 5:12-6:3

Introduction

In Mark 4:1-8 we see that just as a plant needs depth of soil to grow so do we. We see that trials will come but depth of soil will result in real growth in the midst of trial. In fact, trials and persecution are not just a possibility but rather an expectation. Jesus promised as much in Mark 13:9-13. However, the trials and persecutions result in our own spiritual growth. Look at Job 23:10 and James 1:3. So we need to accept that we will be tried but these trials will be for our good if we have the right soil.

• So, how do you make the soil of your heart good for growth?

• • We must grow in grace and knowledge according to 2 Peter 3:18.

Main Body

God desires for us to be mature in our knowledge and understanding of Him.

The Problem (5:12-14)

The Evidence of Immaturity (V. 12)

• What issue does the writer of Hebrews 5:12 raise?
  • In Hebrews 5:12 the writer argues the readers should be further along in their spiritual maturity. They had apparently been saved for a long time but despite this period of time to grow they were not developing. In fact, the writer argues that these readers should have been mature enough to be themselves teachers. These individuals should have had a solid grasp but instead they were failing to grow in maturity.

• What does the word "again" mean?
  • The word again carries the idea that something has already occurred before. In the context of verse 12 this means that the readers had already been taught the "basic principles of the oracles of God." Yet, apparently, they did not learn. When I teach I am always amazed at how often people don't learn something. There is an old adage that in teaching you need to 1) Tell people what you about to tell them 2) Tell them 3) Tell them what you told them. In many cases it is simply because people don't pay attention well. When it comes to spiritual things we need to be careful to pay attention so that we don't have to be taught again.

• What was it that the readers needed to be taught again?
  • In the passage we see the phrase basic principles. The greek word is στοιχειον and really means something most basic. Hodges states it well "In alluding to the elementary truths the writer employed an expression which could refer to the letters of the alphabet as they might be learned by a school child. “You seem to need your ABCs reviewed,” his rebuke suggested," . It was not that the readers were stuck on something hard, no the readers were struggling with the very basics they needed to go deeper.

• What point of comparison does the writer make at the end of verse 12?
  • Bruce states that "The contrast between milk and solid food in this spiritual sense appears to have been commonplace in the early church, as it was in Greek moral philosophy."