Hello brothers and sisters;
Throughout the Old and New Testament God teaches / warns us constructively about drinking milk. We usually understand this by a lack of zeal to grow from milk to meat in the Word of God. Hebrews 5 is a good example;
Hebrews 5:11-14, 11 About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need some one to teach you again the first principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. - RSV
The author writes about dull of hearing, meaning no longer interested in understanding. Jesus called out the Jewish Christians (even Gentiles) who all had the potential to teach but remained immature in their growth as disciples. The Jews wanted to remain in their comfort zone of traditional sayings and practices, and for the Gentiles - Biblical teaching mixed with philosophy.
Growing in the knowledge of the Bible can lead us to expand additional studies with Biblical text books to get better understanding. But even in this area we are still drinking milk because we have lost our zeal for the first principles of God's Word.
The Pharisees, which means, "to separate" had a zeal and strong loyalty to sustain the teachings of Moses and to live strictly by the Law. The Scribes were a class of Israelites who were educated in teaching and interpreting the Law. In their eyes they must have felt they were getting plentiful meat.
But Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes for overlooking the more important matter in Matthew 23b: But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. - NIV
The Pharisees and Scribes were proud of their high standing and knowledge of the Law but overlooked (was not interested in listening) to the high priestly role of Christ. By their exposure they were still drinking milk.
Dull of hearing can go both ways. Having a low discipline of studying the Bible but a heart for loving and tending to others, or gaining much knowledge of the Word but neglecting to give a brother or sister a cup of cold water.
God desires us to be growing disciples, skilled in the Word of Righteousness and a doer in the first principles of God.
It would be a blessing for all of us to read your insight to Christ's teaching on this study.
God bless you all.
Throughout the Old and New Testament God teaches / warns us constructively about drinking milk. We usually understand this by a lack of zeal to grow from milk to meat in the Word of God. Hebrews 5 is a good example;
Hebrews 5:11-14, 11 About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need some one to teach you again the first principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. - RSV
The author writes about dull of hearing, meaning no longer interested in understanding. Jesus called out the Jewish Christians (even Gentiles) who all had the potential to teach but remained immature in their growth as disciples. The Jews wanted to remain in their comfort zone of traditional sayings and practices, and for the Gentiles - Biblical teaching mixed with philosophy.
Growing in the knowledge of the Bible can lead us to expand additional studies with Biblical text books to get better understanding. But even in this area we are still drinking milk because we have lost our zeal for the first principles of God's Word.
The Pharisees, which means, "to separate" had a zeal and strong loyalty to sustain the teachings of Moses and to live strictly by the Law. The Scribes were a class of Israelites who were educated in teaching and interpreting the Law. In their eyes they must have felt they were getting plentiful meat.
But Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes for overlooking the more important matter in Matthew 23b: But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. - NIV
The Pharisees and Scribes were proud of their high standing and knowledge of the Law but overlooked (was not interested in listening) to the high priestly role of Christ. By their exposure they were still drinking milk.
Dull of hearing can go both ways. Having a low discipline of studying the Bible but a heart for loving and tending to others, or gaining much knowledge of the Word but neglecting to give a brother or sister a cup of cold water.
God desires us to be growing disciples, skilled in the Word of Righteousness and a doer in the first principles of God.
It would be a blessing for all of us to read your insight to Christ's teaching on this study.
God bless you all.