Okay. No problem with that. Honestly, not even sure what is the milk yet. But if I understand you correctly, you are saying you have moved on to strong meat? Hebrews 5:11-14 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. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Well, if one is still on the "milk" of God's Word, it means they are still trying to grasp what Apostle Paul revealed in the next Hebrews 6 chapter in the first couple of verses:
Heb 6:1-2
6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
KJV
A few thoughts here just working through it because I am confused. He said everyone who uses milk ...is yet carnal and walk as men...babes in Christ. Paul spoke with tender love in multiple places of how if his meat offended another, a babe in Christ, then he wouldn’t eat meat as long as the world stands. Unless I’ve misunderstood, Paul said to destroy another with your meat, was not charitable. And how meat is more about (again an opinion) that ‘you are not able to bear, and still are not able to bear it’ and wanting them to reach ‘full age’, same as Charity (love): bears all things, believes all things, endures all things, and hopes all things.
Paul actually said one still on the "milk" is "unskillfull", ignorant, because the Greek word is
apeiros (no.552). Being yet carnal isn't really the same thing, but I get your point.
You're talking about what Paul said at the end of 1 Cor.8 about not offending a brother in eating meat. Paul said if he knows it would offend a brother, he would not eat meat to keep from offending. That's not what he was talking about at the end of Hebrews 5 though, regarding the 'milk' vs. the 'strong meat', which is about one's level of understanding in God's Word.
The passages said they still were full of strife and envy and walked as men not yet as ‘them that are full age’them that are full age...who belongs that strong meat spoken of so often in a boastful spiteful way (not saying you but only speaking from past experience of being met with the spirit of ‘the meat is all mine and get away from it because it is for me and to grow me and further me and not you and the things of Christ.’ If there is discerning between good and evil...that (imo) doesn’t go with Charity but pretty much walks alone as carnal. not really caring or interested in increasing any other but only ourselves to ‘them that are full age’. instead destroying and wounding babes of Christ not yet mature. Alarming when He warned any who harms one of these little children...
I don't... tend... to think that way about it. It's not a competition matter. It's a matter of having understanding, doing it God's Way.
Heb 5:11
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
KJV
Paul isn't speaking about their not being able to understand the "strong meat"; he is speaking of how they have closed their ears, their spiritual ears and their spiritual eyes to see. This is something our Heavenly Father talked about through His Old Testament prophet Isaiah...
Isa 6:8-10
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then said I, "Here am I; send me."
9 And He said, "Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
KJV
Our Lord Jesus quoted that above in Matthew 13 when His disciples asked Him why He spoke to the multitudes in parables. There are things our Lord Jesus revealed in that Matthew 13 chapter that go into unlocking many of the 'mysteries of the kingdom of heaven' that He mentioned.
So Paul's topic is about those on the "milk" of God's Word still with their spiritual eyes and ears somewhat closed, which is why they don't progress to the "strong meat". They are satisfied with the "milk" only. An example of this would be someone who just believes on Christ and does not much else. Those are content with the 'milk', and if you throw "strong meat" at them, they just get confused. It's not that they can't understand the "strong meat", it's that they don't want it. They are comfortable on the "milk". And the "milk" is what most seminaries teach ministers to preach. So it's not just those who have closed their spiritual ears and eyes that is a problem today, it's also the Christian centers of learning that are preparing their prospective ministers more on how to run a Church as a business, instead of actually getting believers into the "strong meat" of God's Word.
What is full age if not 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
John 4:32-34 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. [33] Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? [34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
The above 1 Cor.13 and John 4 subjects are not in relation to Paul's subject of the "strong meat" at the end of Hebrews 5. Love does conquer all, we well know that. But that does not mean we are to live Christian life with a '60s hippie love-dove' mentality. We are to have the Gospel Armor on, so as to make a stand against all the fiery darts of Satan, remember? We wrestle not with flesh and blood..., remember.
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
This Luke 12:42 verse is... on topic with Paul's Message in Hebrews 5 about the "strong meat". Our Lord Jesus' idea there was about waiting for His return, as He wants to find us still working in the field (world) when He comes. Our working in the field represents giving our household the "strong meat", a healthy pasturing in God's Word like Jesus commanded Peter to do for His sheep. This so Christ's servants at the end of this world will not be deceived by the coming pseudo-Christ, nor deceived by those who falsely preach we have no need to make a 'stand' for Christ during the tribulation, etc.
Where was Paul getting Spiritual meat from he said they were not able to bear yet, being not yet full of age but instead carnal? Since you are saying you have meat and others are still on the milk...are you not then saying you are full age?
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Think not that I come to destroy ...I am come not to destroy but fulfill. Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
For one on the "strong meat", they will understand what our Lord Jesus said here, and how it is meant for His servants during the coming tribulation:
Luke 17:33
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
KJV
2 Peter 3:14-16
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
KJV
When Peter began that 2 Peter 3 Message, he mentioned how there are those who are "willingly ignorant" of what he was covering there. What was he covering there in that chapter? Peter also showed how Paul in some of his Epistles also spoke of the 2 Peter 3 subject, "...in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest...".
These things don't mean some kind of private interpretation of God's Word. Many brethren know what this "strong meat" is about, and these Scripture examples I speak of. So it's not a big secret. It is simply about a deeper understanding in God's Word.
