The scripture categorizes TWO types of food [teachings, doctrines] meant for two types of believers.
Heb 5:12 KJV 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.
The two types of persons in Christ are:
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BABES [ these are fed MILK ]
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MATURE BELIEVERS [ these are fed STRONG MEAT ]
There is nothing wrong with drinking milk and there is nothing wrong with meat but there is something wrong if mature folk have milk as their main sustenance. Put differently, we all begin with MILK but must grow so we can progress to STRONG MEAT. Some churches keep teaching or giving MILK to mature believers. That is a problem. We give MILK to BABIES & STRONG MEAT to the MATURE.
WHAT THEN IS MILK AND WHAT IS STRONG MEAT?
The scripture above defines MILK as the FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD. Amplified bible calls MILK the very first principles of God’s Word. This is the basic doctrines of our faith. We’ll give examples from the scripture in the paragraphs that follow.
HOW ABOUT MATURE? WHAT ARE THEIR CHARACTERISTIC?
Heb 5:13-14 AMP
(13) For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!
(14) But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.
The mature feed on the doctrine of righteousness while infants feed on MILK.
WHAT DOCTRINE QUALIFIES AS MILK OR THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OR DOCTRINES?
Scripture answers that in the very next chapter:
Heb 6:1-3 KJV
(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.
(3) And this will we do, if God permit.
Verse 1 tells us that there is such a thing as the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ—what some call Christology. 1b explains the basic doctrines [milk] and encourages us that once this foundation is laid, let us move past that to more strong meat. What are the basic doctrines?
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Christology or the doctrine of Christ
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Doctrine of repentance from dead works
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Doctrine of faith toward God
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Doctrine of baptisms
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Doctrine of laying on of hands
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Doctrine of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment
All these 6 are the foundational or basic doctrines from babes in Christ. After the foundation is laid, we must MOVE ONWARDS and NOT DWELL THERE. That is what the scripture is saying.
The (6) is doctrine of eternal judgement. It is part of the milk. But we do not keep feeding people milk forever. We must help them mature and move on to other weightier matters like strong meat—deeper doctrines.
CONCLUSION
While there is nothing wrong with dwelling on eternal judgement, remember that it is milk and keeping people on milk for their whole lives is unscriptural. When they are babes, feed them with milk but as they grow, move on to stronger meat. What you feed a believer should be tailored to their level of growth in the Lord.
1Co 13:11 KJV When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
There is nothing wrong with being a child. It’s a part of the growth process. But we must endeavour to mature so we can be bout our Father’s business.
For those who have flock, please do not dwell always on eternal judgement—especially when your flock are maturing. Teach them about the doctrine of righteousness.
Heb 5:13-14 AMP
(13) For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!
(14) But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.
