Hebrews 5:11-14 Part Three

Teaching @Heritage
Teaching @Heritage
Hebrews 5:11-14 Part Three
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Title: The Low and Slow Brisket

“you have come to need milk”

You are baby Christians who never want to be weaned from the warm comfort of milk.  You may survive, but you won’t grow, you wont’ mature, and ultimately that makes the Christian experience one of extreme selfishness instead of gratitude.

Matthew Henry:

Observe the sad disappointment of those just expectations: You have need that one should teach you again, etc. Here note,

(1.) In the oracles of God there are some first principles, plain to be understood and necessary to be learned.

(2.) There are also deep and sublime mysteries, which those should search into who have learned the first principles, that so they may stand complete in the whole will of God.

(3.) Some persons, instead of going forward in Christian knowledge, forget the very first principles that they had learned long ago; and indeed those that are not improving under the means of grace will be losing.

(4.) It is a sin and shame for persons that are men for their age and standing in the church to be children and babes in understanding.

Pray/QA

Q/A:  I’ll start us off with a doozy that woke me up at 3AM and caused me to add this addendum.

James 3:1 VS. Hebrews 5:12

James 3:1

Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment.  (NASB)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (ESV)

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment (NKJV)

Hebrews 5:12 

For though by this time you ought to be teachers (NASB/ESV/NKJV)

Is there an answer in Greek?

Nope.

Same Greek word in both verses: didaskalos (teacher, master)

Anyone want to take a shot?

Quick Homiletics Lesson:

Whenever we have two verses seemingly in tension with each other, what’s the first thing we must do?

Remember: Context is KING.

PB’s Answer:

Audience:
Hebrews is addressing a group of believers who
should have progressed beyond basic Christian teachings and be ready to teach others.

James is warning against the pitfalls of being a teacher without proper character and self-discipline.

Context:
James 3 primarily focuses on the power and potential destructiveness of the tongue, emphasizing that teachers, in particular, need to be careful with their words. 

Maturity:
Hebrews 5:12 criticizes Christians who are not yet mature enough to teach, implying they need to grow in their understanding before taking on that responsibility. 

Both verses encourage responsible teaching

Hebrews 5:12 emphasizes the need for spiritual maturity to teach effectively.

James 3:1 warns against the potential pitfalls of being a teacher without proper self-control, especially in managing one’s speech.