“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12).
This passage tells us that the initial recipients of the Biblical book of Hebrews were people who were lacking in spiritual maturity. But even though we are far removed from that original audience, there are some aspects of this verse that should be familiar to any student with primary, secondary, university, or post-graduate experience.
Anyone who has advanced through these educational levels knows that progress involves training and development. Each new academic level builds upon the previous level and each new lesson builds upon those we have already learned. This same idea holds true of our spiritual lives as well. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we build upon the spiritual tests we have already passed.
Unfortunately, the recipients of this letter were too immature to grasp these advanced spiritual teachings, even though they had been Christians for quite some time. In fact, their condition was so bad that they needed someone to teach them the “ABC’s” (or “…first principles”) of Christianity all over again.
This situation might be compared to a modern-day teenager who attends a class when he or she learns that the letters C-A-T spells “cat.” While that type of lesson is appropriate for a small child, it is (or should be) far too basic for someone at a higher educational level. This sad analogy describes the spiritual condition of the Christians who received this letter, especially when it came to these advanced spiritual truths.
We can apply the lesson of Hebrews 5:12 when we remember that our spiritual lives are not very different from our academic lives in this respect. As we move forward academically, our training builds on the things we’ve already learned. The same should be true of our spiritual lives as well. As we move forward in our relationship with Christ, we should grow in spiritual maturity as well.
In addition to the benefit that spiritual maturity brings to our personal relationship with Christ, a spiritually mature person can assist others who are less advanced, much like a college student might help a child with his or her elementary school work. However, a spiritually immature person who has been a Christian for an extended period is someone who may be subject to the rebuke that is given to us here in Hebrews 5:12.