Hebrews 5:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

NIV: Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

NASB: For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

CSB: Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.

NLT: For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.

KJV: For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

NKJV: For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

The context of this verse is spiritual immaturity. The writer of Hebrews has paused his explanation of Christ's High Priesthood to give a warning about those who take a lazy, slow-moving approach to their spiritual growth. In the prior verse, he pointed out that the Jewish Christians he writes to ought to be teachers of the faith by now. Instead, they are still in need of basic instruction. In this way, they are like babies who have never grown up: they are still dependent on milk and cannot handle solid foods.

Those who come to faith in Christ have to begin with basic ideas (1 Peter 2:2). This is a good thing, since it promotes growth. Over time, though, a believer should learn, and develop, and deepen their understanding (1 Corinthians 3:1). The reason these particular Christians have not grown is given in verse 11: they are "dull," from a Greek word meaning "slow or lazy." This criticism is similar to the one given in Hebrews 2:1–4, admonishing the readers to "pay much closer attention" to matters of faith.

Those who are bland and disinterested in their spiritual growth simply will not grow. Spiritually, they are like babies, who can only consume the simplest of things, and have no ability to process anything of real substance. The term "unskilled" here is from the Greek apeiros, which means someone who lacks experience.

Hebrews 5:11–14 is the beginning of yet another warning from the writer. Prior verses have begun to introduce the idea of Christ's High Priesthood. This is being tied to the Old Testament figure of Melchizedek. Here, the original audience is chastised for being spiritually immature. Like children who never learn to eat solid food, they are criticized for being dependent only on milk, from a spiritual standpoint. That will make much of the information the writer wants to relate hard to understand. This discourse on immaturity will continue through chapter 6.

Hebrews chapter 5 completes the previous commentary about Jesus' humanity. His human existence qualifies Him to understand other men and to offer sacrifice to God on our behalf. Jesus also fulfills the roles of both high priest and king, which the author demonstrates by returning to the Old Testament. The figure of Melchizedek is used to illustrate this point: that Christ, unlike any before, was able to be both the kingly Son of David and the High Priest for all people. The deeper meaning of this example, however, may well be lost on the letter's audience, since they are languishing in spiritual immaturity.

The book of Hebrews shows how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God's purpose for mankind. For the sake of Jewish Christians, in particular, the author explains that Christ is superior to all other figures, and His covenant is superior to all other relationships. Chapter 5 continues the point made in chapter 4, that Christ's humanity makes Him a uniquely qualified High Priest. This passage bridges that idea into the writer's next warning: spiritual immaturity. This call to avoid apathy will run through all of chapter 6, before the writer returns to Jesus' priesthood in chapter 7.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.