Hebrews 5 (5)

Introduction
Just when everything was going along so patiently and pleasantly – BAM! The writer gets in their faces, chides their spiritual surliness, and brings to the surface the real reason for their drifting from Christ. Sort of like Nathan with David. Sometimes confrontation is a necessary step toward restoration.

Read 2 Samuel 12.1-13.

Read Hebrews 5.12.

Think it through.
1.  What does the writer mean by saying his readers “ought to be teachers”? Teaching whom? Teaching what? Is this true of all Christians? Are we all called to be teachers? Explain. Note the phrase by this time. Apparently, these readers had been believers for a while, long enough that they should have been active in promotingthe faith, rather than drifting away from it. How does one get to the place of being able to teach others the things pertaining to our great salvation? How long does that take? How long did it take Philip to teach his friend Nathaniel what he had learned (Jn. 1.43-45)? 

2.  What does he mean by milk? What’s the difference between milkand solid food? Give some examples of the “first principles of the oracles of God.” These are important, but are they sufficient to enable us to fulfill our calling as teachers and witnesses? Explain. Are you more inclined to feed your soul on milk or solid food? Explain. Can we be effective teachers without being consistent learners? Explain.

Meditate.
“I am afraid that this might fitly be said to you also, that ‘though by this time you ought to be teachers,’ you do not hold fast to the rank of learners. Ever hearing the same things on the same subjects, you remain still in the same condition as if you heard no one. If any person should question you, no one will be able to answer, except a very few who may soon be counted.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ… Ephesians 4.17-20

Feed me on the solid food of Your Word, Lord Jesus, so that I might teach others to…

Pray Psalm 132.8-18.
As you pray, ask the Lord to clothe you more fully with His salvation and to give you something to “shout aloud for joy” about with someone today.

Psalm 132.8-10, 13-18 (Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Arise, O Lord, come to Your resting place; 
Your holy presence meet with us in might. 
Clothe us with righteousness in Jesus’ grace, 
And we will shout to Your divine delight!
For David’s sake, turn not away Your face, 
But look upon us in Your holy light.

God dwells among us, and He will forever, 
To meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior, 
And made us His eternal resting-place.
His foes are banished from His presence ever, 
But we shall reign with Him before His face.

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.