“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:11-12)

Have you ever tried to explain a deep, wonderful truth to someone who just wasn't ready to hear it? This is the very situation the writer of Hebrews faced. The passage is a challenging word, one that echoes with relevance for us today. It speaks to a state of spiritual infancy, where believers might hover around the doorway of salvation without a strong desire to step into the fullness of life God has called them to.

The author was trying to explain a profound truth about Jesus’s priesthood, likening it to that of Melchizedek. But the explanation was difficult, not because the topic was impossible, but because the audience had become “dull in your [spiritual] hearing” (Hebrews 5:11 AMP). They had not engaged with God's word enough to understand its foundational principles, let alone its deeper mysteries. They needed the basics—the "milk"—all over again, instead of the "solid food" of mature teaching.

This condition can happen for a couple of reasons. Sometimes, leaders may only offer the elementary truths over and over, never leading their people into deeper waters. Consequently, individuals may not develop a hunger to discover what God’s Word says for themselves. They might accept what they are taught without personally digging in, feasting only on the milk of the Word. This can lead to a faith that struggles to mature and reflect the character of Jesus.

As believers, what is our path forward? It begins with placing the utmost importance on knowing God’s Word. This is not about checking a box on a to-do list, but about studying it to gain spiritual understanding and revelation. This book is our handbook for life and God’s love letter to us, revealing the person of Jesus Christ. John tells us that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1, 14). This means that these written truths are living, and as we digest them, they activate within us and bring about real change.

Scripture itself confirms its power. Peter wrote that God's divine power has given us "everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him" (2 Peter 1:3). Paul urged Timothy to continue in the Holy Scriptures, which are “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” and are useful for equipping us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15-17). These great leaders understood that the Bible is filled with incredible truths and precious promises, but you can only experience them if you know them.

You might think the Bible is too hard to understand, but you have a capable and willing teacher. The Holy Spirit is our guide. John writes, “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things…remain in him” (1 John 2:27). As you begin to explore scripture, the Holy Spirit will guide you into understanding. All you need to do is plant the seeds of His Word in your heart, and He will bring the growth.

Let’s take up Paul’s charge to Timothy as our own: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We study not to earn God's approval, but to walk confidently in the approval we already have through Christ. By skillfully handling the word of truth, we grow into the maturity He has planned for us, ready for the solid food of a deep and abiding faith.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Where are you growing in faith, and where are you still relying on spiritual "milk"?

2. Do you approach God's Word as a checklist, or do you dig in for real growth?

3. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding this week?