Immature Once Again

Text: Hebrews 5

Introduction

Illustration: Talk about the logic progression of an infant maturing (mobility, diet, speech, milestones).What would you think if you saw a healthy teenager go back to wearing diapers? It is contrary to normal physical development.

Now, when it comes to spiritual maturity, we should think along the same lines. There should be milestones being met the older they get as a child of God. If you witnessed a 15 year old Christian (spiritual age) start living more by sight than by faith, that should equally shock you.

The writer of Hebrews will start to unpack more truth about Jesus’ role as High Priest, but then will take a detour to help them course correct back to a maturity level to where he can finish what he is teaching them about Jesus.

Recap the last few verses of chapter 4…

1) Jesus Qualified To Be Our High Priest

Verses 1-10

A. There were two qualifications of a High Priest (v1-4)

a) He had to be ‘human’ and ‘appoint’ to that position.

b) The writer takes them back to the office of High Priest under the law of Moses.

Every human High Priest had to be appointed by God for the people.

Exodus 28:1 “1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.”

Leviticus 17:1–8

It came with great price to reject God’s selection. They would face God’s wrath (Numbers 16:1-15; 1Samuel 13:5-14; 2Chronicles 26:16-23)

Responsibilities:

Offer both gifts (offerings other than animals) as well as animal sacrifices for sin.

The role of the High Priest to offer up the annual sacrifice on the Feast Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) will be focused on later.

Ability to empathize:

He served people who were going through the struggles of life.

He himself needed to make sacrifice for his own fleshly struggles.

B. Jesus was appointed by God to be our High Priest (v5-6)

Psalm 2:7 “7 I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee.”

Psalm 110:4 “4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.”

C. Jesus was able to sympathize as High Priest (v7-10)

(v7) There is a reference to the Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane

a) Compare Jesus’ prayer prior to and after the Last Supper

(Before) John 12:27 “27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”

(After) Matthew 26:38 “38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

Q — How should we balance what seems to be the Father answering one prayer, but rejecting the other?

Was Jesus actually asking not to endure the cross or for the cup of ‘God’s wrath’ to pass and not leave him in the grave?

God’s wrath and the cross are not the same!

Think back to the sacrificial system. Every lamb that was slain died and never came back to life!

To experience God’s permanent wrath would be equal to Jesus never rising again!

Q — You tell me, “Did Jesus stay in the tomb?” NO!

Read verse 7 again — The Father answered positively both of Jesus’ prayers.

“in that he ‘feared’” = for his piety; submission; to be heeded; conforming.

The Father permitted His wrath to pass from Jesus that He would rise again!

Acts 2:32 “32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”

Acts 4:10 “10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”

Acts 10:40 “40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;”

Acts 13:30 “30 But God raised him from the dead:”

D. Jesus was perfected in His sympathy as High Priest

a) Jesus’ experience of trials were perfected at Calvary

Q — So, what does this say about Jesus in His resurrection? How does this make you feel as His child?

b) Jesus’ experience of resurrection perfects our salvation

Romans 6:17 “17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

Romans 10:16 “16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”

Romans 16:25–27 “25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

2) Believers Not Mature Enough For Deeper Truth

A. Past actions had caught up with them

a) They ‘became’ dull of hearing. (v11)

They regressed from a place of greater maturity.

At one point they could hear, but now they cannot.

b) They needed to be taught again (v12)

This is not speaking of them teaching some kind of formal discipleship class.

This was references that they should be able to sit down with one another and discuss what the Book says and be living it out.

They had not forgot what they had learned, but they had fallen away from living their life on God’s biased view of the reality.

They were simply not living as mature believers any longer.

c) They had to go back to the basics

Q — What kind of language is he using when talking about ‘milk’ and ‘meat?”

The writer knew good and well that they would not grasp anything deeper about Jesus due to their immaturity!!!

Example: 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 “1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?”

Q — Can we lost our compacity for the deeper things of God? YES!

You might understand the words, but you will probably miss how God is wanting you to execute that particular truth in your life!

The Christian life is all about APPLICATION OF TRUTH!

B. They were purposed to grow

LISTEN…you must begin as a spiritual infant. But you should never remain there!

Senses exercised?

The term comes from the Greek verb gumnazoI. This is where we get our english word ‘gymnasium.’

It gives you the picture of someone preparing for certain sporting games.

Q — Is it good enough just to ‘know’ the strong meat? NO.

Christians need to apply it out on the field or arena.

Your judgement needs to be sharpened.

Your worldview needs to be aligned with God’s perspective.

Life decisions need to be based on God’s Word.

Q — So, is maturity the same as ‘not failing?” It has to do with how we respond when we encounter failure, trials, and temptations in life.

Conclusion

Here are some beneficial observations of spiritual maturity provided by Hutson Smelley:

Maturity is not equivalent to knowledge of the Bible, but maturity presupposes knowledge of the Bible.

Our learning of the Bible can far outpace our spiritual growth.

Maturity is knowing the Word and living life on the basis of what God says reality is.

In the spiritual growth process, you are either moving forward or back.

Milk is not so much about the topic under consideration, but the depth to which the topic is explored.