Then explain this scripture from Paul to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 5:11-13 King James Version (KJV)
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 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.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
1) Paul says the Hebrews are dull of hearing.
2) their teachers should again teach them the "first principles" of the oracles of God
3) they need the 'milk' again, because they obviously did not understand the "first principles" or they were not abiding by the "first principles".
4) they were obviously not ready for 'strong meat'. (like the Corinthians, was this churchwide?)
5) teachers that useth 'milk' are unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. Were their teachers not using 'strong meat', apparently not.
Hebrews 5:11-13 King James Version (KJV)
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 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.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Looks like the Hebrews were similar to the Corinthians. Is this problem church wide? I think so.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (the authorship is unknown, as the author doesn't name themselves) is addressing a different set of circumstances. Specifically, he is writing to Jewish Christians who are experiencing pressure to turn away from Christianity and return to Judaism. As such the author's intent is to explain to this Jewish Christian community matters of depth, of how the things of old have their fullness now in Christ.
This is the context of their becoming them needing to have the basics taught to them yet again, even though they have become dull of hearing. These things, namely, what the author has thus far spoken to them--of the preeminence of Christ--are such basics.
Note that the author immediately turns toward saying this:
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Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2)
This the author wants to do "if God permits", because first he wants to explain to them the warning that if they reject Christ, returning back to their former ways, they have abandoned everything they have received; nevertheless the author speaks of hope, not judgment:
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we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf"
Our hope, our steadfast anchor, is in Christ. And we have therefore entered, as it were, into the inner sanctuary where Jesus is our Great High Priest.
Continuing, the author of the Epistle explains how Christ is greater than the Levites. Though Christ has no priestly heritage (not being a Levite of the line of Aaron) and thus no hereditary claim to being Kohen Gadol; but He is instead rather like ancient Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who was a priest of God entirely apart from the Aaronic priesthood established by God through the Torah. Thus Christ is a priest like Melchizedek, without Aaronic/Levitical credentials, but nevertheless a high priest, and a king. And so, again, the author speaks of Christ's preeminence.
And still the author continues, of Christ's preeminence still in continuing chapters. The meat which the author of Hebrews wants to instill upon these Jewish Christians is the depth of Christ, and the fulfillment of the old things in Christ. This is the meat: Christ is the fullness of all God's purposes, and it is in Christ that the believer has their stronghold, their anchor, their refuge, their assurance and security. It is in Christ that we have hope. For Christ is the Mediator of a far better covenant. Christ is High Priest, far greater than all the sons of Aaron. Christ is our Sabbath rest. Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and we are not alone, we have the "great cloud of witnesses", all the holy and blessed saints who came before, cheering us on, their example is ours to follow.
This is the meat. This is the solid food that grips and takes hold of us. It is these deep things--not secret things, for these are not a secret, but rather the bold and public teaching of Christ's Holy Church as proclaimed by the holy apostles--which we delight in. For here is the bold truth: Christ our High Priest makes intercession for us, for having offered the only sacrifice that ever mattered--that of Himself--He has brought us into the place of intimacy and covenant with God.
-CryptoLutheran