The Problem of Spiritual Immaturity
The writer of Hebrews is recognized as a Jewish Christian writing to a congregation of predominantly Jewish Christians. His overall objective in this sermon/letter is to show the superiority of Jesus Christ to all of the types and shadows of the Hebrew Bible, that is, the Old Testament. Throughout his sermon, he presented a total of five warnings to the congregation. Our focus here is leading up to the third warning against retrogression in one’s Christian faith.
In Hebrews 5:11–14, we are introduced to the problem of spiritual immaturity. In the context of the warning against falling away from faith in Jesus Christ, we acknowledge the problem to be a negligence, in departing from the obsolete dispensation of the Old Testament.
Imagine yourself as a Jew in the first century A.D. Your life is intimately linked to the traditions, genealogies, the Temple, Torah, the priesthood, the animal sacrifices, the Jerusalem pilgrimages for the high feast days three times every year, etc. Now imagine one of your Jewish family members or friends tells you that Messiah, the promised deliverer of Israel, has already come. He tells you that the long-awaited Savior was Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph and Mary.
Your initial skepticism, even disdain, is replaced by interest, even intrigue as your acquaintance skillfully walks you through the Old Testament prophecies of Messiah. You begin to realize only one man in the history of Israel has fulfilled all of the prophecies. You believe…well, sort of believe. You attend synagogue; but now you begin to attend a local church gathering of Christians — made up of fellow Jews and Gentiles.
This is what you hear at church, “Jesus Christ is the ultimate and final blood sacrifice for all the sins of God’s chosen people. He fulfilled the whole Law of God given through Moses. He fulfilled the Aaronic priesthood with the final sacrifice of Himself on Calvary’s cross. He was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, to be enthroned at the right hand of God His Father, having been given all authority in heaven and on earth to rule and reign over all. Finally, King Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead…at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10) and upon His great white throne (Rev 20:11). He will destroy the present heavens and earth with fire, before He creates a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Pet 3:7, 16; Rev 21–22).”
What is now required of you as a Jewish believer in Jesus is to let go of the types and shadows of the Old for the antitypical reality of the New. Everything you have always practiced is now complete in Jesus Christ. He has become your all-in-all, as the Lord of all (Acts 10:36). In addition, God has sent His Spirit to cause His elect, redeemed people, both Jew and Gentile, to be born again…spiritually (Jn 3:1–8; 14:17, 26; 15:26; 1 Pet 1:3). You see this displayed in your little church family where Jewish and Gentile members refer to one another as “brother and sister.” It is a truly loving fellowship.
At the local church gathering you listen to the “Word of righteousness” being preached by the pastor (Heb 5:13). You have listened for a number of years now. Something is not right. The pastor charges some in the congregation with spiritual immaturity. What does he mean?
Christians are to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). The goal of one’s spiritual growth into maturity is to be conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 8:29), the perfect God-man, who was like us, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). The problem of spiritual immaturity is a deficiency in growth. What can stunt one’s spiritual growth? The Greek word employed by the pastor in Hebrews 5:11 is nothros. This can be translated: lazy; dull; negligent; or languishing.
The author of Hebrews is calling people out using food metaphors (Heb 5:12). Milk is for babies (immature). Meat is for people who have grown up (Mature). The pastor’s charge is that some in the congregation have not grown up in the Word of God, the Bible. In fact, he says that they have been “doing Christianity” so long that they should be teachers of the Word of righteousness…but they are far from that status (Heb 5:12).
A return to the basic principles of the Christian faith is necessary for those who have been slothful in the spiritual disciplines that would cause them to grow. There are some lessons for us, today.
The first is that there are always people in local churches who are play-acting as Christians. These kinds of people are not born again of God’s Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17; 1 Cor 2:14); and they do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. They may have grown up in a Christian family. They may have always gone to church gatherings; but for reasons known only to God these are outside of Christ, albeit inside the visible church.
Second, we live in a world of traditions that may actually distract us from a personal relationship that is growing in depth. The “we have always done it this way” mentality rules this person’s use of spiritual disciplines. Christians grow by the Holy Spirit teaching us God’s Word, by praying in the Spirit, by worshiping together in local fellowships, and participation in the sacraments.
Third, the devil and his world system can occupy people as much as religious traditions. We may give too much of ourselves to work, sports, travel, accumulation of material goods, politics, entertainment, unhealthy relationships, etc.
A born again soul hungers and thirsts for the things of Christ Jesus, our Lord. He or she loves the fellowship of the saints and the accompanying spiritual exercises laden with abounding grace from our heavenly Father. Our God knows how to grow us up in Christ, which means you my dear reader, must examine yourself and your progress in these matters. If in doubt, ask God for help…and other believers to assist you in charting a better course for spiritual development, which always includes the spiritual disciplines given for you to spiritually mature.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 27, 2023
Hebrews 5:11–14
