
The Book of Hebrews
Part XII: Identity & Commission (Heb. 5:11-14)
I. Hearing Like a Son
Jesus is the image of true humanity. He is the Word made flesh who now wants to be made flesh in us. This Logos Word is a sharp sword, and our call is to pay attention and listen to it—and to cling it to it even in the midst of suffering and contradiction. As our High Priest, Jesus demonstrated this path of trust in the Father’s love and his identity as a beloved Son.
The author now intends to speak more directly about Melchizedek and the High Priestly nature of Jesus, but he stops to give a blunt word of correction:
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. —Hebrews 5:11
We return to the main point of the letter—listening. We are called to listen to something very specific… The Word of grace. Christ’s finished work… To minimize, forget, or disbelieve this Word is to become “dull of hearing.”
The Greek word for “dull” is nōthros. Ironically, this comes from the word nothos which is the term for an illegitimate child—someone whose birth father doesn’t know or acknowledge them. This term comes up later in Hebrews (and no other place in Scripture):
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children (nothos) and not sons. —Hebrews 12:8
This connection in the Greek language between “dull of hearing” and “illegitimate children” (“bastard” in the KJV) would be clear to the letter’s original readers. The suggestion is that they have become orphans in their hearing. It’s not that they are necessarily outright rejecting the gospel, but rather believing lies about themselves—just like the first Hebrews in the wilderness.
In other words, they are forgetting the Word of sonship—their beloved adoption and firm place in the family of God. Because of this, they are still seeking to become righteous through self-effort and religious works. They are “dull” to the finished work of Christ.
This is the scarlet thread continuing to run through the entire letter. The author is taking a sharp turn here to speak candidly about their current state of faith. From here, he opens up a massive revelation about “milk and meat” and our calling as children of God…
II. The Real Meaning of “Milk vs. Meat”
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. —Hebrews 5:11-14
There is a common understanding in the Christian world that “milk” means shallow or overly basic teaching. The “meat,” on the other hand, is about deeper spiritual teaching. But this perspective does not hold true to the text and discovering the real meaning of milk vs. solid food (“meat” in the KJV) is of vital importance.
First, the story of Jesus’s ministry to a Samaritan woman holds a key revelation here. Jesus came to a woman from Samaria and through a generous display of kindness and truth, he helped her enter the Kingdom of God. She then ended up leading many others to Christ (John 4).
While this was happening, the disciples came to Jesus with food because they knew he had been hungry after a long trip. This is what transpired:
31 Then the disciples began to insist that Jesus eat some of the food they brought back with them, saying, “Teacher, you must eat something.” 32 But Jesus told them, “I have eaten a meal you don’t know about.” 33 Puzzled by this, the disciples began to discuss it among themselves, “Did someone already bring him food?”
34 To clarify, Jesus spoke up and said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and bring it to completion.” 35 As the crowds emerged from the village, Jesus said to his disciples, “Why would you say, ‘The harvest is another four months away’? Look at all the people coming—now is harvest time! Their hearts are like vast fields of ripened grain—ready for a harvest.” —John 4:31-35 TPT
Jesus’s solid food was about doing the will of the Father—and the will of the Father is about people like the Samaritan woman coming back into relationship with him. God wants a harvest of sons and daughters. Therefore, doing his will involves being a “teacher” like Jesus who helps others find their way to God.
Hebrews 5 says we should be teachers of others by now and that we should be having solid food. The solid food is about doing the Father’s will in teaching and discipling people. What about the milk? Verses 13-14 of Hebrews 5 suggests that solid food comes after someone is “accustomed to the word (logos) of righteousness.” The word of righteousness is the scarlet thread throughout this letter. It’s the revelation of Christ and the truth of our new and righteous identity as his holy brothers and sisters.
When the writer mentions milk, there is a clear insinuation to a mother’s milk which helps newborn babies grow. In Christ, we are newborn creations free from sin and condemnation. The milk is the revelation of this truth. The milk and the logos are one in the same. So, milk is a good thing! The apostle Peter agrees with this when he makes this clear statement in his first letter:
1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. —1 Peter 2:1-2
Our salvation is a salvation from sin and from the old identity. We are to no longer identify with the old ways of deceit because it’s no longer who we are. Therefore, Peter says to put it off (trust and believe it is dead) and long for the pure milk of the logos. In other words, keep drinking the truth of your salvation, because that’s how you grow.
Putting this together with Hebrews—Jesus has accomplished a perfect salvation for us. We are 100% new creations, righteous and born from above. We are not illegitimate children. We’re not abandoned dirty sinners. We are the brothers and sisters of Christ.
The recipients of this letter were Jewish believers who were going back to the law to be made right with God. Therefore, they were leaving this truth behind. This is why the writer is saying they need to go back to the milk—the word of righteousness.
Hebrews says that those who are not mature enough to handle the solid food are not accustomed to the word of righteousness. The word “accustomed” is to be experienced or trained in something. This brings us back to the example of Jesus from earlier in Hebrews 5. Earlier, we learned how Jesus was tried and tested, and he himself grew in his “listening” to the Word of his identity, even through opposition and temptation.
Recall how Jesus was tested in the wilderness after receiving the word of his identity. He had to resist the devil who wanted him to doubt who he was and who his Father was. Like him, we are called to become experienced in trusting the Word by standing firm and becoming consistent and solid in our trust.
The Greek word for “solid” in the phrase “solid food” is rare in the New Testament but, interestingly, it shows up later Peter’s first letter:
9 But resist him (the devil), firm (“solid”) in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. —1 Peter 5:9
Jesus modeled this—he resisted the devil and became solid in his faith. Then, after his period of testing, Jesus went on to start his ministry as a teacher. He went on to make disciples and to harvest other sons and daughters for the Kingdom.
The main point: When you become grounded in your identity as a beloved child of God by continuing to drink the milk of the gospel, you then go on to the “solid food” of doing the Father’s will—which involves helping people come into their identity.
Solid food (“meat”) is not about deeper Bible teaching. It’s about someone who knows they are not an orphan. Through experience and testing, they remain steadfast in the truth that they are a royal subject of God’s Kingdom and carry a mandate and a commission to be like a mother to the nations and bring the “milk of the Word” to the lost.
All of this helps us see why the writer begins his rebuke about going back to the milk with this statement:
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles…
When the Scripture mention “teachers,” it is not talking primarily about a person who is a professional educator or a public speaker. It’s speaking of someone who raises up and trains others. It the same word Jesus used here:
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher…” —Matthew 10:24a
Being a teacher, biblically, is being a disciple-maker. Though some are more gifted in this, all of us are called to do this to some extent.
Jesus was a teacher who shared the Word of God and made disciples who could then go on to maturity themselves. He left each disciple—including us today—with the Great Commission. Every believer in Jesus is commissioned to go and make disciples.
This little part of Hebrews communicates the entire Christian life in all its simplicity. We’re called to know God’s love and his word of righteousness over us—and we’re to cling to it even in the midst of trial and temptation and difficulty.
As we mature, we are to reach others and bring in a harvest of others sons and daughters into the Kingdom.
III. Discerning True Good and Evil
Hebrews 5 closes by saying those who are mature teachers have their “senses trained to discern good and evil.”
The word for “good” here is often used to describe “good works.” In the context of the next verse (Hebrews 6:1) which talks about turning away from “dead works,” there is a strong possibility that this is about doing the good works of the Father’s will versus religious works of striving that come from an “evil, unbelieving heart” (Hebrews 3:12). People who are mature can discern between the two.
Before this passage, Hebrews 4 discussed the call to enter God’s Sabbath rest. We learned that we are to cease from our works like God did on the seventh day. Now we come to the fact that there are still works to be done. So, how do we discern the difference between good works and dead works? In other words, what are works of the Father’s will—and what are works of the flesh (human effort).
Thankfully, Jesus brings us understanding here when we look back at his ministry in the gospel of John. After the story of the Samaritan woman, John 5 shows Jesus healing someone on the Sabbath. So, Jesus is doing a good work on the day of rest. This is not a coincidence. The Scriptures are showing us something about the good works that flow from a place of resting in God’s love.
This means we are not doing good things to earn God’s favor or forgiveness. The person accustomed to the word of their righteous already knows they are favored and forgiven, and out of gratitude and joy, they want to bless others and help others find that same grace.
In the story, Jesus heals a man at the pool of Bathesda, a place that means “House of Lovingkindness.” This man who has been unable to walk for 38 years.
38 years connects to the message of the book of Hebrews in an incredible way. 38 years is the specific amount of time the Hebrew people wandered in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:14). The whole book of Hebrews has been calling us out of the wilderness of unbelief, to enter his rest.
Jesus heals this man and tells him to pick up his sleeping mat and walk… This man is a picture of someone unable to walk in the promise of God. Someone who is spiritually “lame”… That’s all of us. All of us need grace to walk in our true identity and the promise of our calling.
Jesus is that Grace. He came to this man and healed him through the love of Father, and then called him to pick up his sleeping mat and walk… This man was called to carry his rest with him! This is what we’re called to. We’re to walk out our rest in Christ. In other words, the Sabbath is not a day—it’s a realm of rest you can enter into all the time.
In this story we also see Jesus doing another good work from the Father… The work of the Father here is to bring restoration (key word: rest) to people. The good works we’re called to now involve bringing life and healing and peace to others.
In Ephesians we find this same truth shining bright and clear:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. —Ephesians 2:8-10
We are saved! This means we are righteous and secure and blessed. As we grow accustomed to this joyful truth, we bring the good works of healing, miracles, and servanthood to others… And through this we fulfill the commission to the milk of the Word to the world!
The word for “good” is also used to describe “good fruit.” The solid food is really about the life of the Spirit in us that produces both good works and good fruit.
Paul expresses this later in Ephesians when discussing the love (which is a fruit of the Spirit) that should come as we mature.
14 Then we will no longer be infants (who need milk), tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. —Ephesians 4:14-15
Paul mentions the many different winds of “teaching” out there, including legalistic ones that go against the finished work of Christ. He is affirming that we need the pure milk of Jesus’s word of righteousness, which is how we grow according to Peter and the book of Hebrews.
When an infant grows, they begin to speak. As we grow in Christ, we begin to “speak” the gospel with our lives. We become teachers of the word with our actions.
Here, we are reminded that the language we speak is love… We are to maturely speak the truth in (or through) love.
Paul gives an example of this in the final verse of Ephesians 4:
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. —Ephesians 4:32 NIV
The truth is the milk. The milk is the logos, the revelation of our new nature in Christ. We are holy and free from sin. We are loved by God and completely forgiven.
When you believe this truth and become solid and firm in it, you mature and express it by showing love and forgiveness to others.
So, moving from milk to solid food is not about finding a church with deeper Bible teaching. It means becoming so grounded in your identity that you embody that reality with your everyday life. You express it with good works and good fruit. In this way, you do the Father’s will and bring other people into the Kingdom along the way.
IV. “Because of the Time”
A final note about this portion of Hebrews, going back to verse 12: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers…”
A more literal translation is this: “Because of the time, you ought to be teachers…”
The idea here is that the times are serious. The harvest is now. So, because of the time we’re in, you ought to be teaching others the Gospel…
Jesus talked about this further in the gospel of John after doing another good work:
1 Afterward, as Jesus walked down the street, he noticed a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused this guy’s blindness, his own, or the sin of his parents?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither. It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle. 4 While I am with you, it is daytime and we must do the works of God who sent me while the light shines. For there is coming a dark night when no one will be able to work. —John 9:1-4 TPT
This brings us back to the prophetic significance of Hebrews in today’s world. God is speaking so clearly of a great shaking that is coming upon the world, just as the writer of Hebrews spoke about a shaking coming to Israel.
We are called, more than ever, to embrace our righteous identity and be ready in season and out of season (though we’re coming into an “in-season” time) to share his Word. To put it differently: Now is the time for us to arise as teachers of the Word.
Remember, the reference to milk speaks of a mother’s milk. If we are to bring the milk of the Word to the world, that means we are called to be like mothers who tenderly comfort and nurture others. Of course, this also means that we are to be spiritual fathers, helping raise up people into their full identity and destiny.
The harvest is ripe now. Because of the time, we need to embrace the call as spiritual moms and dads.
Jesus tells us a time is coming when we will not be able to do these works of the Kingdom. The door of opportunity to reach the harvest will be shut at a certain point. So, because of the time we’re in now, we need to get on with our identity before God (letting go of sin-consciousness and condemnation) and begin boldly pursuing our commission to do the good works prepared in advance for us to do.
Follow-up Encounter:
Prepare to take communion.
Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about your journey from the milk to solid food. Ask for fresh grace to rise up as a Teacher in this world—a spiritual mother and father to the people around you.
Who is God calling you to? How can you bring the pure and lifegiving milk of his Word to others? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Write it down, share it with others…
Celebrate communion, thanking God for his grace to arise in this season as one who knows who they are and is ready to help others find the same calling.