"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5:12-14
One of the great tragedies of christianity from the cross of our LORD unto this present hour is the constant tension between two allegiances. Between Moses and Christ, Between Law and Grace, Between Works and Faith. It appears that while men slept an enemy has come into the church and sowed the tares of doubt concerning the absolute efficacy of Grace. The complete satisfaction of Christ’s atoning work, and the simplicity of the Gospel of Faith in Christ alone.
These unbelievers no matter how sincere or earnest they may appear, must be identified as corrupters of the word of GOD. "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." (2 Corinthians 2:17). The three Divine Persons, have but one enemy. This one enemy is our enemy. He is both mortal and Angelic. He is the enemy of the cross of Jesus Christ. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." Philippians 3:18,19. God only has one enemy because there is only one issue in controversy, the cross of his Son, and will you bow to it!
The great sorrow of heart apparent in the efforts of the Hebrew writer is that the Hebrew church is halting between two opinions and stand in doubt of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. A firm rebuke is yielded in verse 12 which will be the basis of our study on the subject of Grace. We will proceed forward and backwards in the chapters as necessary to ascertain the breadth and scope of the significance of warning these Hebrews not to depart from Christ (the Person) to return to Moses (the Picture) and thus show themselves reprobate concerning the Faith. These Hebrews should have been teachers of Christ. They should have been preachers of the righteousness of GOD. But they were unskillful in the word of righteousness. This word of righteousness is not the ten commandments. It is not sabbath keeping. It is not sacrifices and offerings. It is not prayer. It is not worshipping twice a day. The word of righteousness is not what you do.
The works of the Law call for personal obedience. It demands that you perform all things written there in to do them. "And the law is not of faith: but The man that doeth them shall live in them." (Galatians 3:12). "But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in my statues, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 18:5-9). And the list is endless of the commands of Holy GOD as given under the administration of Moses, as to what a man must personally do to stand just before GOD, such as the ten commandments. These are the things that a man, women or child, must do to be just as Ezekiel says before GOD personally.
This is a righteousness, but it is not the righteousness of which we speak. It is the righteousness of the Law. But the righteousness of GOD apart from the works of the Law is made manifest, his name is Jesus Christ. This is the word of righteousness that the Hebrews were destitute of as so many Hebrews today. The Apostle condemns them as retarded spiritually.
They were unseasoned, and without the fruit of Grace in the knowledge of Christ. Everything is beautiful in its time saith the preacher, but like the fig tree which Christ saw afar off having no fruit when He came to it, so these Hebrews were fruitless in the knowledge of Christ. "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." (Philipians 1:9-11).
The Jews had long been under the tutor and governor of Moses and Aaron. They had for 1500 years been exercised in the catechism of the ceremonial Law. The prophets and the priest every sabbath day preached to them Moses. "For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day." (Acts 15:21). All of it designed to bring them to Christ as a nation, in their theology and in their worship. But they refused to grow up. They refused to let go of the training wheels of the old economy, and the scaffolding of that system of works that were only designed to preserve them unto Christ. But much like a five year old child who should have long ago let off with the bottle, or the teenager who still wets in his pants or the adult who still depends upon his parents for support when he should be weaned and independent, Israel as these Hebrews, love the picture more than the person. They love the temple and the sacrifices instead of him who was greater than these. And when He came unto his own his own received him not. It is an odious thing to be a child when we should be adults.
Let us then understand what is meant by the phrase, for he is a babe, from the Jewish perspective, from the standpoint of Israel. A babe means to be still in bondage to the Law. "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father." (Galatians 4:1-2). The word child here is our word neepios. It is the word babe in our text Hebrews 5 vs. 13. The Apostle is clearly teaching that until Grace is poured out into the soul, though one is a Jew outwardly as these Israelites to whom and by whom Christ came, they were no different than the heathen who bowed down to Baal, or Ashtaroth, they both were still slaves, servants of sin and in bondage under the elements of the world. "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:" (Galatians 4:3). But should the most high GOD rain blessings from above and send forth the spirit of Christ into our heart, whether Jew or Gentile, we by an act of free Grace are redeemed from the bondage of sin and error, from the weak and beggarly elements of the world, where unto our eyes are bowed down to the earth.
"They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;" (Psalm 17:10-11). The psalmist here is speaking of those who hate Christ. Those who hate the message of Grace and the servants of Christ. And as it was with the Jews in Christ’s day. And as it was with the Jews and Hebrews in the days of the Apostles, so it is now with those who profess that they know him but in works deny him. These ought to be teachers but have need to be taught once again what the principles of the oracles of GOD were designed for and to what end they should accomplish. As we conclude with today’s study let it be clearly understood what is in view in the book of Hebrews. It is the damnable sin of unbelief. "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2). "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12). "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26). "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:38-39).
My point in concluding. Many churches today are very much like these Hebrews. Their worship, their message, their doctrine, their practice is that of will worship and unbelief, legalism and works. It is a False Faith, built upon a False Gospel with a False Christ. All of it rooted in unbelief, in the full efficacious free and sovereign Grace of GOD in Christ, as presented in the simplicity of the Gospel, given to his Apostles and then to us who believe. And until men let go of the picture and embrace the person their soul and the souls of all of their auditors, no matter how sincere, studious, and zealous, worship GOD in vain, and shall perish without Faith.
Jesse Gistand, Pastor
Grace Bible Church
San Leandro, CA 94572
Phone (510)-799-7934