For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ¹³ For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 5: 12-14

In general, there is a great lack of maturity in the Body of Christ. Very few people truly care to mature in God’s Word, and in the application of God’s Word to their lives. Likewise, there is very little teaching that can truly be called “the meat of the Word.”

Why do we have this problem, and where does it come from? Is it just spiritual laziness, or is there some deeper reason why the Body of Christ isn’t maturing as it should? After all, the writer of Hebrews made this statement almost 2,000 years ago. It would seem natural that in so many years, we would have advanced at least some.

God has never intended for the church to stagnate, nor has he intended that believers should stay babies in spiritual things. He has always desired that we would grow and mature until we reach the fullness of the image of Christ (Rom 8:29; Eph 4:13).

In looking at these questions, I have to place the blame at the feet of the ministers, and not of the people; although many pastors would try and place the blame at the feet of their congregations. The reason they say this, is that they’ve seen the laziness in their congregations, and their desire for the type of ministry that gets them all excited, without requiring any change in their lives. This is true. The people are like this; but, why?

A child left to himself will eat a diet of candy, cookies, cake, and ice cream; leaving aside any fruit or vegetables that are available. They eat to please their souls, not to insure growth and health. Likewise, a spiritual baby will desire a diet of “sweets;” words that satisfy their soul, but don’t necessarily help in their spiritual growth.

In a perceived need to satisfy the desires of the people, many pastors give them what they want. They invite evangelists to the church who jump up and down, shout, run around, and spit; putting on a good show. The people enjoy the show, and give a good offering. This doesn’t help their growth; it just helps them be happy. The people leave satisfied, thinking that they’ve had a great service, and that God has touched them. The truth of the matter is, they closed the door on God, and didn’t let Him in the church.

Another way that a pastor gives his people spiritual “junk food” is by preaching a gospel that doesn’t have any cost, consequences, or sacrifice. Yes, Jesus did pay the price for our salvation, so we don’t have to. But, once we’ve been saved, all of God’s blessings have a price; they are all conditional. If we don’t meet the conditions, we don’t receive the blessings.

Many preachers, however, are preaching blessing without price. There is such a focus on blessing in the American church that one would think that God doesn’t care if we obey Him, become sanctified, or live a holy life.

This type of preaching may satisfy the soul, but it is dangerous to the spirit. God isn’t looking for a church that drives luxurious cars and lives in mansions; He’s looking for a church that is wholly committed to Him. A holy, sanctified people, who will obey His Word, complete His work, and reflect His character.

Preaching to please the people only touches their souls. Teaching, on the other hand, feeds the spirit of the person. The Body of Christ has tried to live on preaching, instead of teaching. This is just like that child who is trying to live on candy, cookies, and soft drinks.
Truth to tell, most believers aren’t even receiving the milk of the Word, they’re just receiving a soda. They need the milk, so that their spirits can begin to grow and prepare to receive the meat.

The Word of God is very specific here as to what is the “milk of the Word.” It says, “The first principles of the oracles of God.” I don’t know what are the first principles to you, and it really doesn’t matter. If we were to ask 50 believers what are the first principles, we’d probably get 50 different answers. There are certain things that all would say, but there are others that are considered more important to one denomination or one minister than to another. It isn’t so much what they are as that the people aren’t well founded in them.

The writer of Hebrews goes on in the next chapter to give us an idea of what the “milk of the Word” is. He says:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, ² Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:1-2

There are several things listed in those two verses: repentance, dead works, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. According to the writer of Hebrews, all of these are “milk” and not “meat.”

Yet, many treat some of these areas as if they are the deep things of God. There are whole denominations that are founded upon a baptism, such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These denominations have separated themselves from the rest of the Body of Christ over something that is truly only “milk.”

Or, we can look at the area of faith, another part of the “milk.” Once again, with the “faith movement” people have taken this area to be the sum and total of the “great revelation” of God’s Word. Some people in the faith movement go so far as to say that personal holiness isn’t necessary if one has enough faith.

The Charismatic movement was based upon the doctrine of laying on of hands for the purpose of giving of the Holy Spirit. Once again, this is mentioned as part of the “milk,” but to many it is meat. In that time, they taught the laying on of hands as the greatest and last revelation. If they had read these verses, they would have realized that they were still learning to consume the milk.

The truly sad part is that all of these people confess to know the Word of God, and think they do, but don’t really know it. What they know is what they’ve heard; but they’ve never taken the time to assure themselves that what they’ve heard is the truth. Some of these go around declaring loudly things that are mere suppositions, or bad interpretations; not realizing they need to receive the milk of the Word for themselves. Unfortunately, many of those who speak the loudest are those who know the least.

Just as a baby’s body receives nutrition from his mother’s milk, the new believer’s spirit receives nutrition from the milk of the Word of God. A baby is quite satisfied with milk, because it nourishes him and satisfies his hunger. His body is able to grow and strengthen on just the milk, without any other form of nourishment. In fact, if one was to give a baby meat, they couldn’t digest it.

However, if that baby grows correctly, it can’t live long on just milk. The milk may provide nourishment for a time, but not forever. As the baby grows, it will need more and more types of foods, so that its body can remain healthy, strong, and grow to its full stature.

On the other hand, a baby who has always had a diet of candy, cookies, and soda pop will not grow well; never reaching its full stature. Instead, it will get sick, and may even die. If that’s the case with a natural baby, why should it be any different for a spiritual baby? How can we think that giving a spiritual baby a diet that ministers to its soul, but ignores its spirit will help that individual grow and mature as a believer?

People need the milk of the Word, because they’re not ready to receive the meat of the Word. It says in our verses: “every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness.” In other words, they don’t know the Word of God.

To try and teach the meat of the word to one who is only ready to receive milk won’t do any good; they won’t understand what they are being taught. Instead of edifying them, it will only confuse them; instead of encouraging them, they will become discouraged. Before receiving the meat, they need enough knowledge of the milk of the Word that the meat will become digestible.

By know the Word of God I’m not saying they have a number of verses memorized, I’m talking about understanding the principles of the Bible, and how God’s heart is expressed through it. It means knowing enough that when one is studying in one part of the Bible, they are able to make connections with other verses and stories that deal with that same subject. It also means that they can properly interpret those things that are hidden in biblical symbolism; without taking them out of context.

It takes years of study to reach this point. Nobody can properly discern the Word of God if all they’ve ever had is a diet of milk. Nor can one discern between good and evil without fully studying what is good.

In banks, they teach a natural form of discernment; specifically discerning the difference between good and counterfeit money. They don’t do this by teaching what to look for in the counterfeit; they do it by teaching what to look for in the good. By learning how good money is; how it feels, its texture, the colors, even how it smells; one knows when they encounter false money. They may not immediately know what’s wrong with it, but they’ll know that there is something wrong.

One who knows the Word of God that well will also recognize that which is false. They may not realize immediately what is false about it; but their spirit will reject the teaching, or preaching as false. It might take some thought and research to verify exactly what is false about what they heard; but they will discern the falsehood.

So then, what is the “meat” of the Word? Once again, we need to look at the beginning of chapter six to find the answer.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:1

Here we find the answer. The meat of the Word is that which helps us to “go on unto perfection.” Or, to put it in other words, “let us go on unto Christ-likeness.” God’s ultimate goal in all of our lives is that we come into the fullness of the image of Christ.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom 8:29

Okay, okay; I know that none of us are perfect, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be trying to become perfect. If God’s ultimate desire for our lives is that we become like Christ, we should be doing everything we can to become like Him. In that way, we can be sure our lives are pleasing to God, our Father.

What is there in the Word of God that helps us to become like Jesus? To start with, we have the gospels, which speak about how He lived and how He ministered. In addition, we have the law, which shows us the character of the holiness of God. Then, we have the epistles, which show us how to live out the law, in the light of the work of the cross. Finally, we have the books of prophecy, which show us what God intends to do, allowing us to enter into His work here on earth.

In other words, the whole of the Bible, especially those parts that deal with our character and our walk help us to go on unto perfection, or Christ-likeness.

There are many believers who spend too much time focused on things that don’t really matter. By this, I mean, focusing on things that don’t affect how they live for the Lord. The gifts of the Spirit are important in knowing how to minister for the Lord; but they don’t affect how we live for the Lord; the fruit of the Spirit deal with that part.

According to what we’ve just read in Hebrews, the gifts of the Spirit are part of the “laying on of hands.” Or, in other words, that’s part of the “milk.” However, the fruit of the Spirit deals with becoming more Christ-like, or more perfect. Therefore, it is part of the “meat.”

Why are we so interested in those things that are only part of the milk, and have very little interest in that which is part of the meat? Maybe it’s because the church of today is a church of spiritual babies. Maybe it’s time for us to stop feeding ourselves just the milk of the Word, and look around for a nice, thick steak to sink our spiritual teeth into. Maybe then, we’ll start to mature and come into perfection.