1 Peter 2:2,3; 1 Corinthians 3:1,2—Hebrews 5:11-14
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able—We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): A strange opinion has obtained amongst some, that there is no such thing as growth in grace. But the whole tenor of Scripture, from one end of it to the other, proclaims the contrary.
JOHN OWEN (1616-1683): Our hearers do not look upon it as their duty to learn to be teachers…They think it enough for them, if at best they can hear with some profit to themselves. But this was not the state of things in primitive times. Every church was then a seminary, wherein provision and preparation was made, not only for the continuation of the preaching of the gospel in itself, but for the calling, gathering, and teaching of other churches also—Wherefore hearers in the church were not only taught those things which might be sufficient unto their own edification, but every thing also that was necessary to the edification of others; an ability for whose instruction it was their duty to aim at.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): “Are all teachers?” 1 Corinthians 12:29. No; the far greater part of the members of churches are hearers, or persons that are taught in the Word; are neither in the office of teaching, nor have they the qualifications for it.
JOHN OWEN: I do not say that this was the duty of all hearers. Every one was not to labour to profit by the Word that he might be a teacher. Many things might incapacitate persons from any such work. But yet—in general, every one that belongs unto the church ought to have a double aim; first his own edification, and then his usefulness in respect of others. We are so to learn in the church as that we may be useful to others; a matter which few think of or trouble themselves about. But this Christ expects of all the members of His churches in an especial manner. For every church is “the body of Christ, and members in particular,” 1 Corinthians 12:27…Every one is to contribute to the growth of the whole, Ephesians 4:16.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): The life of a Christian is a growth; he is first born of God, and is a little child; becomes a young man, and a father in Christ. Every father was once an infant; and had he not grown, he would have never been a man. Those who content themselves with the grace they received when converted, are, at best, in a continual state of infancy.
JOHN OWEN: They are such as, enjoying the dispensation of the Word, or who have done so for some season, yet, through their own sloth and negligence, have made little or no proficiency in spiritual knowledge. Such persons are babes, and have need of milk, and are not capable of instruction in the more heavenly mysteries of the gospel.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): He reproves here an infancy in understanding, such as constrains even God to prattle with us.
JOHN OWEN: God aimeth to bring men unto clearer discoveries of His wisdom, grace, and love, than they have yet attained; into nearer communion with Himself; to a fuller growth in light, knowledge, faith, and experience; that even in this world, He may more eminently communicate of Himself unto them: which He doth in, and by, the truths which they despise. These truths and doctrines, therefore, also, which the apostle calls “strong meat” for “them that are of full age,” are to be searched, and inquired into.
WILLIAM JAY (1769-1853): Let us more particularly consider cases in which persons are very unskilful in using the word of righteousness. There are some things in the Scriptures which may appear to be contradictory to us as long as we remain in this weak state. The apparent opposition of many passages of Scripture arises entirely from inattention and ignorance in the reader: a little distinction would serve to harmonize. Thus, it is possible and easy to reconcile such language as this: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him;” Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit,” Proverbs 26:4,5.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): These things are not contradictory.
WILLIAM JAY: We can see harmony between things which appear very contradictory to our little children…In the same way, people have supposed that Paul and James are opposite to each other as to justification; whereas the one refers to God and the other to man; the one to justification as a reality, and this is by faith, the other as to its evidence and fruits, and this is by works. Now, we find the Scriptures in the hands of some people nothing but confusion: we can never get two ideas or notions to lie straight in their brains. “If,” say they, “God works in us to will and to do, why should we work out our own salvation? If it be a duty, how can it be a privilege? If it be a promise, how can it be a command?” Now, these things may be easily harmonized, and will be by those who are “skilful in the word of righteousness.”
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): We have so many professors who are still babes, needing the feeding bottle and the baby carriage though they are forty years of age! What can we do with these?
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES (1899-1981): As long as they’ve read their little daily portion, they feel all is well whether they’ve understood it or not. They say, “I’ve read my Scriptures; I know my Scriptures.” But they don’t know the truth. It’s not the truth alone—it’s this understanding, it’s getting down to the doctrine, digging down to the depths!
ADAM CLARKE: They do not search the Scriptures.
WILLIAM JAY: Some are unskilful in defending it. A weak argument, instead of strengthening a good cause, always weakens it. It is like supporting a roof by a rotten pillar. How many doctrines are there which have been attempted to be proved by passages of Scripture which have no relation to the subject!
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: All Christians should believe in reading the Bible—and in studying it diligently. Have you got any taste for this? Do you get any enjoyment of this?
WILLIAM JAY: Some persons are so ignorant and so unfamiliar with the sacred writings as not even to know what is the language of Scripture and what is not, when they hear it. Some are unskilful in finding it. How they fumble for parts of the Old Testament in the New, and for parts of the New in the Old! Some are unskilful in quoting it. Sometimes they misquote the meaning, frequently the words. Now, the meaning is unquestionably the main thing; but we love the very words the Holy Ghost uses.
VERNON J. CHARLESWORTH (1839-1915): Entering the house of one of his congregation, Rowland Hill saw a child on a rocking-horse. “How wondrously like some Christians!” he exclaimed, “there is motion, but no progress.” The rocking-horse type of spiritual life is still characteristic of too many Church members in the present day. “Grow in grace” is an exhortation but little regarded.
ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER (1772-1851): Where there is no growth, there is no life.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: If you don’t enjoy the Bible at all—then I suggest that you’re not a child of God, at all.
