Hebrews 5:11-14

Hebrews 5:11-14

Having begun teaching about Christ as a great high priest, the author moves into his third digression or exhortation about not leaving the faith to return to Judaism. The warning covers the last part of Hebrews 5 and all of Hebrews 6, then returns to the priestly role of Christ in chapter 7. This warning has three parts. First, the problem of spiritual immaturity; second, the result and danger of this immaturity; and third, the better hope the author has for these believers.

There are difficult teachings in Hebrews, specifically, who was Melchizedek? And what was his role in the bigger picture of the Christian faith? Those deeper questions were important for believers but are unattainable as long as the believer is content to stop learning of the basics of the faith. There are some things too difficult for new believers. Too often we are content with a lifelong spiritual diet of new believer kind of teaching. As a result, we will never develop the spiritual maturity to learn how to discern good and evil. Basics are critical, and in the next chapter the author will list the fundamental teachings of the faith. But endless rehearsal of these will not be adequate to develop holiness in our lives and the discernment that comes with being holy.

Too many believers are content to, once having become disciples, remain at the entry-level spiritual maturity. But notice there is an essential link between maturity and discernment of good and evil. Many issues we face today were not faced by our first-century brethren. In the same way, we don't face the same day-to-day issues they faced. The scriptures did not provide for us a detailed list of dos and don'ts for every possible issue. It gives us something better: maturity that knows how to tell right from wrong and thereby live a holy life.

“Lord, draw me into the deeper things of faith and holiness. AMEN”