Lesson #19 ID3b The Encouragement toward Maturity part 2

by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)

14. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

As we grow in the Word, we learn to use it in daily life. As we apply the Word, we exercise our “spiritual senses” and develop spiritual discernment. It is a characteristic of little children that they lack discernment. A baby will put anything into its mouth. An immature believer will listen to any preacher on the radio or television and not be able to identify whether or not he is rightly dividing the Word.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” In 1 Pe.2:1-2, Peter says, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

“But solid food is for the mature,” who are those capable of decisive commitment and of making up their minds, “who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” indicates that, for the Hebrew preacher, there were only two kinds of pupils —the mature and the immature. The mature are those who have the senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil.

The ability to discern good and evil is a vital part of Christian maturity. The nation of Israel in Moses’ day lacked this discernment and failed to claim its promised inheritance. The readers of this letter were in danger of making the same mistake. It is impossible to stand still in the Christian life: we either go forward and claim God’s blessing, or we go backward and wander around aimlessly. Please pray for me that I will go forward and never stop studying and learning God’s Word; that I will eat meat, not just drink milk. And I will pray the same thing for you.


14. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

As we grow in the Word, we learn to use it in daily life. As we apply the Word, we exercise our “spiritual senses” and develop spiritual discernment. It is a characteristic of little children that they lack discernment. A baby will put anything into its mouth. An immature believer will listen to any preacher on the radio or television and not be able to identify whether or not he is rightly dividing the Word.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” In 1 Pe.2:1-2, Peter says, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

“But solid food is for the mature,” who are those capable of decisive commitment and of making up their minds, “who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” indicates that, for the Hebrew preacher, there were only two kinds of pupils —the mature and the immature. The mature are those who have the senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil.

The ability to discern good and evil is a vital part of Christian maturity. The nation of Israel in Moses’ day lacked this discernment and failed to claim its promised inheritance. The readers of this letter were in danger of making the same mistake. It is impossible to stand still in the Christian life: we either go forward and claim God’s blessing, or we go backward and wander around aimlessly. Please pray for me that I will go forward and never stop studying and learning God’s Word; that I will eat meat, not just drink milk. And I will pray the same thing for you.


Note:
1. “Therefore” takes us back to that which is recorded in chapter 5, verses 11-14, where Paul rebuked the Hebrews for their spiritual laziness and compared them to children taking milk when they should have been eating meat. They still needed someone to teach them when they should have been teaching others.