Hebrews 5:14

The writer’s point in these verses is not just that spiritual babies lack information, which they do, but that they lack experience. A person becomes a mature Christian not only by gaining information, though that is foundational, but by using that information to make decisions that are in harmony with God’s will. "The word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:13) is the solid food that results in righteous behavior. In this context the "solid food" must refer to instruction about the high priestly office of Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 7:1 to Hebrews 10:18). Practice is essential for maturity. Consequently a new Christian cannot be mature even though he or she follows the leading of the Spirit (i.e., is "spiritual," cf. 1 Corinthians 2:14 to 1 Corinthians 3:3).

"Spiritual maturity comes neither from isolated events nor from a great spiritual burst. It comes from a steady application of spiritual discipline." [Note: Guthrie, p. 136.]

The readers were in danger of not comprehending what the writer had to tell them because they had not put what they did understand into practice in their lives. Instead, they were thinking of departing from the truth.

"As we grow in the Word, we learn to use it in daily life. As we apply the Word, we exercise our ’spiritual senses’ and develop spiritual discernment. It is a characteristic of little children that they lack discernment. A baby will put anything into its mouth. An immature believer will listen to any preacher on the radio or television and not be able to identify whether or not he is true to the Scriptures." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:295.]

This section gives four marks of spiritual immaturity: laziness (dullness) toward the Word (Hebrews 5:11), inability to teach the Word to others (Hebrews 5:12), a diet of only elementary truths in the Word (Hebrews 5:12-13), and lack of skill in applying the Word (Hebrews 5:14). As with the muscles in our bodies, if we do not use what we have gained spiritually we will lose it (cf. 2 Peter 3:18).