Hebrews 5: 1-14 “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 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.”

Text I Corinthians 3:1 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”

In Hebrews 5 we are given information about the high priestly work of the Lord Jesus Christ in obtaining our eternal redemption. Having spoken of our High Priest, the speaker must stop and turn his attention to the hearer. While there is much more to be said, the speaker must conclude because the hearer lacks understanding! He points out that the problem is not the depth of the subject, but the deficiency of the saint. The hearer is “dull of hearing” or sluggish, literally lazy or stupid. These words seem rather harsh until you realize that timing is no excuse; “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers.” These were not new Christians! They had been saved for a number of years and should have been showing all the signs of spiritual maturity but were not. Secondly, training is no excuse; “ye have need that one teach you again.” The key word is “again.” They had the benefit of being taught by the best. They had access to the teaching of great men like Peter, John, and the Apostle Paul. Thirdly, a tutor is no excuse, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit had taken up residency within the believer to become a personal tutor to give understanding and guidance. It is rather easy to see the deficient areas of spiritual maturity in the lives of others, but what about our own personal life? Can the same thing be said about us? Been in church most of your life, have good leadership in church that invest in you, and have the blessed Holy Spirit to guide you! Upon close personal examination, are you a teacher or a toddler?