Hebrews 5:11-14 | It's Time to Grow Up

INTRODUCTION: Laundry story. I went from living in my parents home and not doing laundry to dating Beth and convincing her to do my laundry for me.

I might have been a man, but I was still functioning as a child.

First, let’s remember where we left off:

Hebrews 5:9–10 ESV

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

So he is wanting to talk more about Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:11 ESV

11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

About this - Jesus being made perfect in the order of Melchizedek.

If I called you up, could you give an answer on Melchizedek?

hard to explain - not that it is actually difficult, but that because people have become dull. Like when you are trying to tell someone something and its not hard, but they just aren’t getting it.

become dull of hearing - They did not use to be dull, but they are now. Dull means stupid.

We might have said something like:

1. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed!

2. He’s one fry short of a Happy Meal!

3. The elevator doesn’t go to the top floor.

4. Bless your heart

Maybe that is you? Your not dumb, but dumb towards the Bible. Actively refusing to hear it. Judas had the best teacher and he still missed it. Sometimes we think a teacher is dull. But in fact, the hearers are dull.

You become dull when you hear the message but it doesn’t change you.

You come, you hear the Bible, but nothing changes week after week. You becomes dull.

This is dangerous because, if nothing changes we will see next week then you likely aren’t even saved.

Story of Pastor and Doctor hunting. Both took a shot at a buck, they debated who actually shot it until they looked at the buck and the doctor conceded that it must have been the preacher who shot the buck: because the bullet went in one ear and out the other.

Hebrews 5:12 ESV

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

you ought to be teachers - we are called to be disciple. The goal of discipleship is become like the teacher. It is not just to sit there and soak it in.

I’ve never fell asleep during a sermon I was giving.

If you have been a Christian for more than a few years you should be the ones teaching this. You should be a Community Group leader, you should be teaching the kids.

The goal of every disciple is to become a teacher.

basic principles of the oracles of God - basic principles: the first steps. imagine having to be taught how to tie your shoes . (Oracles means sayings or teachings). That is what he considered that he was teaching them.

Hebrews 5:13 ESV

13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

Milk - is the basics.

milk, not solid food - visual illustration. bring out a steak. bottle of milk.

Babies need milk. If you are a baby that is a good thing. If you are a grown man. Very Bad thing.

Adults need meat. I love a good steak. Never once I have a turned down steak because I just wanted some milk.

if you are still on milk, then you are child. - That is not good. If a grown man is drinking a bottle, call the cops.

unskilled in word of righteousness. - You don’t know the Bible. The teachings. You cant or wont teach others.

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

My child would sometimes want what I have to eat, but they weren’t ready - (haha illustration. they ask for my milkshake, I tell them it spicy and they wouldn’t like it so I don’t have to give them any. )

Powers of discernment trained by constant practice - maturity is doing, not just knowledge. Some peopel feel they are matured simply because they know theology, but you don’t actually do anything. You’re fucntionally a child in adult body.

The defining marker of meat diet was behaving. Not knowledge.(Corinthians)

We grow up when we put into practice what we learned.

How? Get involved in Community Groups. Bible study, etc. Then lead one.

Hebrews 6:1 ESV

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Don’t forget - this is written to Jews tempted to going back to Judaism. So the list here is beliefs that Jews believe. It is not teaching that we are to leave foundational teachings of Christianity. What is the foundation of Christianity? Judaism, so leave that and go onto Jesus!

Therefore - if you are trained in the word of righteousness.

let us leave - cut it off. Drop the old Covenant.

elementary doctrine - beginning words and go to the end.

laying again a foundation - let’s not go back and say these things you already know.

repentance - change your thinking or direction

dead works - thinking that works will save you. They are dead.

faith toward God - if you think dead works, your faith will be impacted.

Hebrews 6:2–3 ESV

2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

instruction about washings - Jewish laws required them to continually physically cleanse them. Similar to the word for baptisms, but different.

laying on the hands - laying his hands on the sacrifice. Transfer the sin punishment.

resurrection of the dead - that we will one day be raised up. Not just physically, but spiritually.

eternal judgement - of hell.

All of these things were simple things that he did not want to discuss anymore because you already should know it.

OT 101 plug. Community Group. bible studies.

It’s time to grow up.

CONCLUSION: fasting story.

Day 1: You are hungry and crave food all day.

Day3: the worst. headache, stomach hurts

Day4: starts tp get better, but weak

Day7 seven: almost no craving. But weaker

Same for us when we miss out the meet spiritually.

We will start to not cravr it, but we get weaker.

Not until 2-3 weeks