Hebrews 5:11-12 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
The author would like to go deeper in this idea but apparently the readers are slow to understand. Understanding comes through faith in what is taught. The Holy Spirit brings deeper understanding as we respond in faith (1 Cor 2:6-16). The Greek is stronger than “no longer try to understand.” It literally is “since you have become “lazy” in their hearing. The tense of the verb “become” is perfect indicative, implying that this is something they grew into and have not gotten out of. A person can become hard of hearing without realizing it. But the readers are not innocent. They should have realized their problem. Spiritual dullness can happen upon us slowly until our hearts have become hardened and we no longer hear the Holy Spirit speaking to our consciences.
The author shows some frustration in verse 12. Apparently the readers have been Christians for some time but have failed to mature in their thinking and spiritual walk. They have not grown past the basic principles or elementary precepts. They are still like babies. There are many Christians today who are like this. They just coast along, do a few token things like show up at church once in a while or sit in the back pews with little or no involvement or commitment. Perhaps the only Bible they get during the week in the pastor’s Sunday morning sermon. The rest of the week is no different than the world around them. The author is implying that the readers should be diligent in growing in their faith. They must act on their faith, which will mean being serious and learning more and allowing the Bible and the Holy Spirit to grow them. They cannot be passive in their faith, because being passive can lead to spiritual death.
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