Imagine a grown man drinking milk from a baby bottle. That's kind of absurd, but there he is, sitting up in a church pew on Father's Day, sucking on his bottle of milk. It would be funny, if it were not for the fact that this is a reality in many houses of worship today. Allow me to explain.
My last post was about desiring the milk of the word. We are told, "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). Babes can't handle solid food. Mother's milk is their main source of nourishment. Most babies grow rapidly on milk alone. But gradually they are weaned off mother's milk and transition to solid food. In the animal kingdom, most adult mammals rarely consume milk. Milk is for babies.
The apostle is saying, in the same way a newborn baby desires and needs milk in order to grow into adulthood, believers should also recognize their need for the milk of the Word. God's Word provides the nourishment we need to grow strong in the Lord.
However, the Bible uses the term "milk" in a different way in the NT book of Hebrews. Here we see the writer is teaching us to move past the old system of animal sacrifices. Christ is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The OT temple system of animal sacrifices was an awesome foreshadow of the ultimate sacrifice.
The writer mentions that Jesus Christ was "called by God as High Priest, 'according to the order of Melchizedek,' of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:10-11). The writer wants to go deeper into the topic of Melchizedek, who according to Genesis 14:18, "was the priest of God Most High." But the people who received this letter were not ready to receive the teaching because they're "dull of hearing."
The Spirit goes on to say, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14). Milk is for babies. As we mature in the Lord, we're weaned off the "first principles of the oracles of God."
The Bible continues with: "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits" (Hebrews 6:1-3).
According to this passage, some doctrines can be considered "elementary principles of God" or milk for babes. While other doctrines are to be considered "solid food" which "belongs to those who are of full age." The Spirit is rebuking the readers because they have been in the faith long enough to be teaching others at this point. But alas, they're in need of someone to go over the ABC's of the faith again! In other words, we have grown men and women sitting up in church sucking on bottles of milk!
May JAH give us the grace to go deeper into His Word. For "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [or woman] of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV).
Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!