The Meat of the Word
May 20, 2001
Dear Friends,
When we talk about "meaty" things in our modern speech, we speak of things that are substantial, complex or weighty topics. I am not sure which came first, the use of the word in the vernacular or the Bible passages, but the same meaning is generally given to the Bible phrase "meat of the word." By this, it is generally assumed, that we mean something more difficult than a first principle or basic Bible teaching. The "milk" for babies is the basic teaching of Scripture while the "meat" is the deep things reserved for those who have mastered the basics of Scripture. The common things that are referred to as "meat" topics are types and shadows, prophecy and other intellectual challenges.
We would suggest for your consideration is that this is not what the Bible is referring to when it speaks of the meat of the word.
Look at Hebrews 5:12-14 for one of the major occurrences. It reads "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." The key phrase which indicates that the writer to the Hebrews is not talking about deeper, more intellectual things concerning Scripture is found at the end of the passage quoted. He defines those who have graduated from "milk" to "meat" as those "who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." The New Revised Standard Version translates as "those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil." In other words, those in need of milk cannot "distinguish good from evil."
Likewise in another well-known "milk/meat" chapter, we have a similar use of the concept. "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. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (1 Cor. 3:1-3) As is evident from the context, the Apostle Paul is chiding the brethren of Corinth for their poor behavior, not for their inability to understand the deep things of Scripture. They did not "distinguish good from evil."
I would suggest that the lesson of these milk/meat passages is that when we come into Christ, we might not be familiar enough with the Word of God to apply it to all circumstances of life. In this state of spiritual immaturity, we make mistakes being "unskilful in the word of righteousness." However, as we read and understand more and more of the mind of God and learn to apply it to our lives, we become mature in Christ. We learn to apply these lessons to life's challenges.
Jesus showed us by example again and again how to apply Scripture to moral choices. In several instances, his choices of Scripture are not at all obvious how they apply to the situation at hand. Yet, as the ultimate "meat eater", he set us a pattern of how to read and apply Scripture to our lives.
Have a great week!
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