11/13 Hebrews 5:14

14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.


The author of Hebrews was lamenting the fact that the recipients of the letter were still needing to learn the basics of what God has revealed. They should have grown into being able to teach others, but instead they still needed to be taught. Like a baby needing milk, they needed the easy-to-understand essentials of salvation. Up to this point they had not listened well.

The author was longing to go on to more life-transformative teaching, but that required the learner to have spiritual teeth. It required that their discernment of good and evil be developed through constant practice. If they were not able to distinguish good from evil, they could take the meatier doctrines into unintended directions. That is how many cults have originated.

This verse tells us that if we want deeper teachings, we must train our powers of discernment with constant practice. Be sensitive to how the Holy Spirit leads you. Learn from the fruit of each experience. Watch for the signs and patterns of both good and evil to train yourself. That is a major part of maturing in Christ. As you mature, you will become ready for deeper teachings from the Word.

Consider: Our flesh resists training in discernment because its freedom is restrained. However, freedom to submit to the Spirit is true freedom.