Hebrews 5:10-14 {Jesus} Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull (nōthros, pronunciation no-thros’, means SLOTHFUL, SLUGGISH, LAZY) of hearing. 12 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 unskillful 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.

The Danger Of Becoming Stalled In Your Faith

Why is it important that you not only hear the Word of God, but do the Word of God? It is because you can never advance and mature as Christ followers unless your hearts are opened to Him, unless you see His Word as the most valuable thing on earth – then apply that Word. The Book of Hebrews has been comparing the House of Moses (the Old Covenant) to the House of Christ (The New Covenant). We found out that God spoke to His people through both Moses and Jesus Christ. We found out that:

• The Old Covenant relied on animal sacrifices and ceremonies to provide a temporary salvation.
• The New Covenant relies on the once and for all sacrifice of Christ to provide a permanent salvation.
• The Old Covenant was offered to ethnic Jews, and the Gentiles who would agree to circumcision.
• The New Covenant relies on the work of the Holy Spirit to circumcise the heart of a person. Through the Spirit we are born again, born into the family of God.
• The Old Covenant relied on fallen humans as priests to cover the sins of the people.
• The New Covenant relies on the sinless Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, Who sits on the right hand of the Father covering our sins.
• The Old Covenant was but a shadow of the coming New Covenant in Christ. The moral laws have not changed, but Atonement has.
• Under the Old Covenant the Tribe of Judah led God’s people, whereas the Tribe of Levi ministered as priests. Messiah would come from the Tribe of Judah. Kings could not be priests.
• Under the New Covenant Jesus, of the Tribe of Judah and the House of David, is the promised Messiah. Jesus is a High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek, an ancient priesthood that predates Mount Sinai. Jesus is both King and Priest, and the children of God by faith in Christ are Kings and Priests unto God (Revelation 1:5-6). We are children of the Most High.

Jesus is a High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, & there are many great truths that go with this that bless us. But the lazy listeners hear but refuse to do the commands of God’s Word.

Many today are like the children of Israel at the base of Mount Sinai, demanding that Aaron create them a Golden Calf. When Israel left Egyptian bondage that God moved on the hearts of the Egyptians, and “Israel borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver and gold” (Exodus 12:35). When Israel came to Aaron and demanded “gods that shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1), the High Priest told the people to bring him the blessing that God bestowed on them at Egypt. He took that blessing, those jewels – and created a golden calf (Exodus 32:4).

God’s people are called to be salt, not sugar. We are called to hear God’s Word, and DO those things which glorify Him. We are not to make golden calves of God’s blessings to us. Those whom God is addressing should be mature believers, teachers of others. But instead they have become dull of hearing. They are lazy hearers. The lazy hearer hears what is being preached or taught, and is probably fascinated by it.

The lazy hearer rejects the MEAT but wants the MILK of the Word. Our text states:

Hebrews 5:12 are become such as have need of milk

There is nothing wrong with being a “babe in Christ” when you are first saved. Newly saved believers should want the “pure milk of the word”

1 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV) Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Every Christian is a baby when they are first born again (John 3:3, 7; 1 Peter 1:23). As you study God’s Word, you will grow. God has promised, “My Word will not return to Me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please” (Isaiah 55:11). But you must DO what God directs.

The Hebrew Christians had “BECOME” in need of milk. They brought this condition on themselves by their failure to live in Christ, to

Romans 13:14 … put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Saved by Grace, as Christians we

Ephesians 4:1-3, 24 (NKJV) …. walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. … 24 … put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Salvation is by Grace – but sanctification and growth is by spiritual effort.

The Blood of Christ POSITIONALLY makes us right with God. Our partnership with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible PRACTICALLY let’s us walk with God.

God gave us salvation so that we might positionally be righteous, righteous because of Christ. But once positionally righteous, God wants us to be practically righteous. We are to be salt and light, not sugar and darkness. God did not save us so we could be gossips, homosexuals, transgenders, adulterers, murderers, kidnappers, thieves – in short, walk in the flesh. God saved us by the blood of Christ so that we might walk according to the Spirit of God:

Romans 8:2-8 (NKJV) … the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The thought that Christ died for our sins so we could remain in our sins is foreign to the Scripture. The Scripture says:

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) {Jesus} Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

God did not save us just to send us to Heaven. He saved us to make us children of God by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26). As the Apostle John noted:

1 John 3:10 whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

We are to love our God, and keep His commandments (1 John 5:2).

Hebrew 5:13-14 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But STRONG MEAT BELONGETH TO THEM THAT ARE OF A FULL AGE, even those who by reason of use have THEIR SENSES EXERCISED TO DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL …

The Christian who learns to not only HEAR but to DO what God has said is able to “DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL”. That Christian understands WHY something is right and WHY something is wrong. The Christian that not only HEARS the Word of Christ but DOES it has the ability to make godly, adult decisions. Children, on the other hand, often make bad decisions because they don’t know any better. Listen Beloved,

It is not PHYSICAL age that makes a mature Christian. It is SPIRITUAL OBEDIENCE and APPLICATION of the Scripture to your life.

You cannot, as a Christian, “DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL” unless you are applying the Word of God to your life. When asked, “Why is homosexuality incompatible with the Christian way of life?”, you cannot answer this if you have never graduated from milk to meat. When asked, “What is Biblical marriage?”, or “Why do you think Jesus is the only Way to be saved – don’t you think that’s a bit intolerant?”, babies cannot answer this. “STRONG MEAT BELONGS TO THOSE OF FULL AGE”, Christians who not only read but DO what God’s Word says.

The First Principles Of The Oracles Of God

Hebrews 6:1 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

The “First Principles Of The Oracles Of God” mentioned in Hebrews 5:12 are the foundational doctrines or truths that the Christian life is built on. The very FIRST foundational truth is “the doctrine of Christ”. The Doctrine of Christ is not only mentioned here, but also in:

2 John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The “DOCTRINE OF CHRIST” is the belief that there is no salvation outside of faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Only Savior. The Doctrine teaches that, once saved by faith, you are saved into a Family, the Family of God. You no longer belong to yourself, but are a purchased possession, a child of God. The Doctrine of Christ teaches that He Who saves you is also the One you wish to please and follow. Jesus said:

Matthew 4:19 … Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 8:22 … Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 16:24 … Deny yourself, take up your Cross, and Follow Me

Matthew 19:21 … Come and Follow Me …

John 10:27 … My sheep … Follow Me

John 12:26 … If any one serve Me, let them Follow Me …

The Doctrine of Christ is the doctrine of ABIDING. We cling to Jesus, like a branch to a vine (John 15:4-11).

John 15:5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that ABIDE (menō, cling to, remain in) in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.

Every work that the Christian does is built on the FOUNDATION OF CHRIST:

1 Corinthians 3:11 (ESV) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

It is Jesus Who saves you, His Blood which covers your sins, His High Priesthood that maintains your status as a Child of God in the Father’s eyes. We live to glorify our Lord Jesus!

What is the next foundational truth?

Hebrews 6:1 … the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

“repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” is key to the Christian way of life. Everyone fails at times. Everyone sins. What does the Christian do when we sin? Do we do PENANCE before God? Do we sacrifice animals, or beat ourselves with whips, or promise to do better? Every human action that attempts to bring us righteousness before God is a DEAD WORK. The Scripture says:

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

We cannot make ourselves RIGHT with God. Only CHRIST can make us right with God. When the Apostle Paul examined his own life – an Apostle – an APOSTLE I say – he declared:

Romans 7:18 … I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Romans 7:24 … Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

But then Paul cries out in verse 25, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”. When we as believers sin, we REPENT and RETURN TO WHERE SALVATION IS. We do not strive to do penance, but we do REPENTANCE. Just as we were saved, we enter into His presence through the door of REPENTANCE. We put our faith in Him Who loved us, and gave Himself for us.

You Can Be Judas, Or You Can Be Simon Peter

Who failed Jesus – Judas Iscariot or Simon Peter? If you answered BOTH, you’d be right.

When Jesus was telling the disciples that He had to go to the Cross for our sins, Peter rebuked Jesus, and said, “No, this will not happen to You!”. Jesus rebuked Peter, saying:

Matthew 16:23 … “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Peter had left the foundation of Christ and began to follow the flesh. He was rebuked. Later Peter told Jesus,

Matthew 26:33 … (NKJV) … Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble

Peter was heavily relying not on the power of God, but of his flesh, his own strength. Jesus told Peter,

Matthew 26:34 (NKJV) … Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.

Jesus knows us better that we know ourselves. Peter continued to argue with the Lord. “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (vs 35). What happened? Jesus went to Gethsemane. While praying in Gethsemane, Peter couldn’t stay awake to pray with Jesus. When the soldiers came, Peter cut off a man’s ear, and was rebuked by Jesus (Matthew 26:52). Peter then ran away with the others. As Jesus was being tried, a servant girl saw Peter and said, “You were with Jesus of Galilee” (Matthew 26:69). Peter denied Jesus. Another young girl saw Peter and said, “That man was with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 26:71). Again, Peter denied Jesus. Finally, several in the crowd spoke up. “You are one of Jesus’ men – your speech betrays you!” (Matthew 26:73). Peter swore and cursed, saying “I do not know Jesus!”.

And the rooster crowed. Peter left, weeping bitterly.

Then there was Judas Iscariot. He had all the blessings that the other disciples had. Judas was an Apostle, just as was Peter and the others. Judas had the power to heal the sick, and to preach the Gospel. As the disciples were sharing the Last Passover together, Jesus honored Judas and gave him the “sop”, a special honor, the Bible says “Satan entered Judas” (John 13:27) and Judas left the table to betray Jesus to the Pharisees for thirty pieces of silver. Interestingly, it was not long after this that Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed, he would deny Him three times (John 13:38).

You all know the story. Judas left the Table, and Jesus, after teaching the disciples a few more truths, instituted the Lord’s Table. Judas contracted with the Chief Priests and Pharisees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. When Jesus went to Gethsemane for His final prayer prior to His trial, He was abandoned by all His disciples. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Jesus was tried, convicted, beaten, and carried before Pilate to be executed (Matthew 27:2). What happened to Judas?

Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Judas “repented himself”. He did not repent, and return to God. Judas “repented himself”. He tried to do penance instead of repentance. He did not go to God for forgiveness, but tried his own do it yourself religion. He thought by bringing the 30 pieces of silver back, that all would be well. It wasn’t. Finally, Judas killed himself, sacrificing his own life to make what he did right with God. Did it? No. Jesus called Judas “the son of perdition”, the “son of apōleia, of waste or destruction, of damnation” (John 17:12). Though Judas had the title of Apostle, though he was chosen by Jesus but “was a DEVIL” (John 6:70). Judas is the picture of many who PROFESS Christ, but are not POSSESSED of Christ.

The Devil enter Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter,
but only one repented and believed.

Peter denied Jesus also. He wasn’t at the foot of the Cross with Mary his mother and John the Apostle. Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Cleophas was at the foot of the Cross, but Peter was absent (Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 23:49; John 21:24). But on the first day of the week, when the women ran back to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead, both Peter and John ran to the Tomb – but Peter was the first to enter the Tomb. John got to the Tomb first, but Peter went in to see where His Lord lay. The Bible tells us that the first man to see Jesus resurrected was PETER:

1 Corinthians 15:5 {after His resurrection Jesus} WAS SEEN BY CEPHAS, THEN by the TWELVE.

“CEPHAS” is the Aramaic form of “Peter”, which is the name Jesus gave Peter once he recognized our Lord as the one and only Christ (Matthew 16:18). According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus appeared to Peter FIRST before He appeared to the other Apostles. Why? Because Jesus has promised us:

“I will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU” (Hebrews 13:5)

Peter belonged to Jesus by faith. And it was proved by his actions. In the final chapter on John’s Gospel, Peter was out fishing in the Sea of Tiberius with 6 others – including John. They fished all night long and found nothing. As they were coming toward shore, a Man called out:

John 21:5 (NKJV) … Children, have you any food?

When they said “No”, the Man said “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some”. As they hauled in the net, now filled with fish, John said “It is the Lord Jesus!” As soon as Peter heard this,

John 21:7 … {Peter} put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

Peter never tried to do penance. He never tried to make things right with his own works. Peter understood the basic foundation of Christianity is not our works, but to RUN TO JESUS. When we fail, we RUN TO JESUS. When we sin, we RUN TO JESUS. Our works cannot make things right – but Jesus can. And once we return to Jesus, we do that which Jesus tells us to do. Jesus asked Peter three times

“Do you love Me?”

Peter replied, “Yes Lord, You know I love you” (John 21:16). And Jesus said, FEED MY SHEEP. Do what I tell you to do. Cling to Me, as I cling to you. Obey Me if you love Me. If you fail Me, repent, and return to Me. I am your Lord, your Savior, your all.

That is the foundation our faith is built on – Jesus. Do you know Him? Have you received Him by faith? Have you repented, and come to Him with empty hands to receive the glorious Gospel of salvation. I pray you have. May God the Holy Spirit work in your heart today. Amen and Amen.