Vere. 11-14.-A sharp reprooffor ignorance, The apostle, having used the expres- sion," after the order of Melchizedek,". remembers that his readers will not bo likely ro understand it without careful explanation. So he pauses in his argument to chide them for their backwardness in religious knowledge, I. THE .'rBOTHS OF REVELATION ARE PROFOUND AND FAB-REACITTNG. The story or God's love in redemption may, no doubt, be called with propriety" the simple gospel;" but, while it is so, it exhibits at the same time "the manifold wisdom of Go<l." The Bible i11 not merely a book; it is a literature. It does not simply contain a message of mercy; it is the record of a long and gradually developing process of redeeming grace. It may be studied profoundly from many different standpoints, as e.g. those of hi~tory, of dogmatic theology, of morals, of ecclesiology, etc. The Bible deals, too, with all the deepest. and most wonderful of themes, such as the human soul, the problem of sin, God, eternity, and immortality. So there is spiritual food in Holy Scripture, at once for the shallowest and the profoundest minds. Revelation supplies nut only "milk " for II babes in Christ," i.e. the alphabet and rudiments of religious knowledge, but 11 solid food" for "full-grown men," i.e. materials for the more recondite study of Christianity as a great and harmonious system of Divine truth. II. CwwlTIANS DIFFER IN THE DEGREE OF THEIR SPIRITUAL LS:OWLEDGE. They differ because: 1. Some are" babes.". Believers who are young in yearn, and those of maturer age who have _newly come to the knowledge of the truth, require to be fed with tho 11 milk'' or simplest elements of religious instruction. 2. Some are "full-grown men," who can relish and digest the "solid food" of the Word. An advanced Christian who is a diligent student of Scripture will acquire so firm !l grasp of truth as to become qualified to act the part of a "teacher" in the Church· (ver. 12). His proficiency in kno)Yledge will sharpen his spiritual perceptions, so that he will learn readily to rlis- tinguish between "good and evil" in doctrine (ver. 14). 3. Some are invalids. Tho apostle chides his Hebrew readers for having become such, as the result of their disregard of the laws of spiritual health. It was now many years since they had first believed, and by this time they should have been adults in Christian knowledge-quick of i;ipprc- hension in relation to the higher reaches of truth. So far, however, from being able to assimilate the "solid food" of the Word, they bad degenoratecl into spiritual weak- lings and invalids. They heard the gospel indolently (ver. 11). The "solid food" which they had once enjoyed now occasioned them the miseries of dyspepsia. 'l'hcy could digest nothing but gospel "milk." In our own time, too, there are many such invalids. What multitudes attend church through the years, and yet never get beyond the attainments of the sabbath school I How many otherwise intelligent men are quite ignorant of the or11:anic structure of the Bible I How many betray an utter want of living int'erest in the doctrines and truths of the New Testament I Ill. REASONS WHY THE BELIGIOOB KNOWLEDGE OF JdANY CHRISTIANS IS SO DEFECTIVE. The Hebrews were II dull of hearing" because they had got divided in heart betwecu Christianity and Judaism, and because they were beset with temptations to apo8latizo from a faith which hnd involved them in much trial. Now, our temptations are sub- stantially similnr. Our hearts are prone to try to serve both God and rnauimon; and we are tempted to avoid very intimate acquaintance with a religiou faithfulness to which demands from us very serious Racrifices. In addition to these fundamental r~BIIOlll ot!leJ'B IDaj' be indicated, as follows: 1. TM want <I earnest Bible study. Tue 144 THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE HEBREWS. [OH, V, 1-14,
hurry of th_e a~e :i,cts on the side of spiritual ignorance. Other studies and pursuits are clamorous m their cla.ims; those e.g. of business, politics, literature, philosophy, science, art. Thus many Christians do not read the Bible systematically, or with sufficient intellectual effort. The la.rger pa.rt of the Old Testament is, to their minds, a kind of desert of Sahara. Perhaps they interest themselves only in isolated texts, a.part from the scope of the passage in which these occur. 2. Neglect of parental instruction. Every pa.rent is bound to sow the seeds of Divine truth in the minds and hearts of his children. Where this duty becomes generally neglected the rising generation can only continue one of spiritual infa.nt.s. 3. Irregularity in attendance upon God's house. (Ob. x. 25.) Church-going is not religion, but as it is a divinely appointed ordinance, a man need not expect to grow in grace and in Christian knowledge without it. 4. Unedifying pr&Uhing. The consecutive exposition of Scripture from the pulpit, when ·wisely and skilfully done, trains a people into" experience of the Word of righteous- ness." The congregation which receives no instruction of this kind may be expected to become "dull of hearing." 5. Misconception of what adequate religious knowledge is. Many good people judge that, having apprehended and embraced" the simple gospel," they have finished their spiritual education. They love a few pet texts which express "the rudiments of the first principles" (ver. 12), and a.re content to leave the rest of the Bible alone. They count it a virtue to relish only" evangelistic preaching," and seem even proud of occupying always only the first form in the school of Christ. But the fruit of their neglect of the truth in its higher and deeper and broader aspects becomes apparent in the imperfection of their Christian character, and in their lack of progress towa.rds perfection. IV. THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRISTIAN TBUTH. 1. Reve- rence to God requires it. He has not given a.ny portion of his Word in vaio. Intelligent Christians dishonour him when they do not" press on unto perfection" as students of the Bible in every department of its glorious design and drift and method. 2. Duty to our own souls requires it. If we would not become spiritual dwarfs, but "full-grown men," we must "search the Scriptures." If we would be truly happy and prosperous, we must "meditate on God's law day a.nd night." 3. Usefulness to others requires it. Bel:ievers who have become established in knowledge and grace are expected to serve the Lord Jesus as "teachers" ( ver. 12). A Christian, too, should be " ready al ways to give answer to every man that asketh him a reason concerning the hope that is in him..