Hebrews 5:11-14
The Enigma
“To Discern Both Good and Evil”
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:11)
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. (Hebrews 5:12)
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (Hebrews 5:13)
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. (Hebrews 5:14)
During the course of World War II there was a coding devise called ‘The Enigma.’ This devise was so good that it was a riddle to all the code breakers, the only way to break the code of the Enigma was to capture that devise from the enemy.
It would take the Enigma to release the secrets locked within itself. All the codes were held within it’s keys, all the riddles of death and destruction could only be solved and revealed by the riddle maker itself, the Enigma.
The Supernatural Code
In the closing part of Hebrews Chapter 5 we are brought to understand the closing statement: discerning both good and evil. The Bible is the divine plan of God. It has been revealed key stroke by key stroke throughout the history of mankind. This book within a book, within a book, within a book, is only ciphered by the book itself, yes, the Holy Spirit gives direction, and interprets the very Scriptures that the Living Word has revealed to us in written form. There is a divine supernatural code to the Scriptures, and this code is found in John 5:39. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. He, who authored the Scriptures, reveals Himself within it’s pages. Christ is the great code breaker so that the Bible reveals the truth of God as a book within a book, within a book, so the wheels of God’s government are wheels within a wheel, within a wheel, within a wheel, and all revealed by the God of truth as truth within truth within truth; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The Lord said of Himself, I am the way, the truth, and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
The Code in the Supernatural Realm: Truth
To discern the pages of the Bible one must have the mind of Christ. For one to have the mind of Christ they must be possessed by the Spirit of Christ. Through the Living Word (Jesus Christ) the Man in heaven, we have a divine connection with His written word, and the truth of our divine Creator. In the supernatural realm truth becomes a code, seek the truth and the truth will set you free. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (John 8:31) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32) Through the pages of Scripture truth is revealed, and truth is discerned by the very pages of truth within the Bible. God has given this book to enlighten the understanding of man. He has given it to reveal Himself to man that man through God’s truth might be brought back to God from the abyss of man’s unbelief. The Bible reveals God’s mind to man. God travels through the entire history of man (revealing Himself) as in our Scripture section from Hebrews Chapter 5; this section is a code breaker for it reveals the heart of man, and the mind of God. The entire book of Hebrews is an enigma to man because without the Spirit of God within, man falters and flounders unable to discern the truths within this marvelous book. Man is not only dull of hearing, but fails to see the revealed glory of Christ within it’s pages. God, however, reveals to the hearts of those who diligently seek Him. He opens their eyes and unstops their ears, and teaches them to discern both good and evil.
The Supernatural Code Reveals Mysteries
He opens some of the hidden mysteries of Christ (which were hidden from the foundation of the world) through this wonderful book of Hebrews. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9)
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25)
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:26)
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7)
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(1 Corinthians 2:8)
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (Colossians 1:26)
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Ephesians 3:5)
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11)
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Matthew 13:17)
As we behold these Scriptures they draw us back to the prophets, and to the men of the Old Testament that what has been now revealed to us through the New Testament was hidden from their understanding. In their desires they desired to know the code, but God was holding the code in heaven above in His bosom. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18) For in the fullness of time God sent forth His Son into this world to reveal the mind of the Father through both love, truth, and grace. The divine code had been opened to the whole world that whosoever would believe in their heart in the Son of God would be saved from the wrath to come. All these Scriptures speak of codes that needed to be broken, and Christ came to break all the codes in His death upon the cross of Calvary. And to enlighten us to the determinate counsels of God: that God’s Son would rise from the dead and become the figure of the new Man that would dwell in heaven with God the Father. We should understand that we are not here to apologize for our faith, but to uphold our faith. The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it]. ) (Psalm 68:11)
The Code Both Revealed and Hidden
The code is both revealed within the pages of God’s word, and the code is also hidden: for it is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little for the divine hand to work in the heart and portray the complete masterpiece of His mind, and heart towards man. What has been hidden from the foundation of the world, according to the Spirit of God, is now revealed unto us! When the Lord Jesus was upon this earth He was God’s expression of both light and life to man. Now in our age it is the Spirit of Christ who enlightens us to the glory of the Man who is in heaven for us. The more that we see of the wonder and glory of Christ, the more His Spirit reveals to us to discern both good and evil. But why now? We have traveled through 5 chapters of the book of Hebrews. Should we have not known this wonderful truth from the very beginning of Hebrews? The book of Hebrews, like the entire Bible, is a book of progressive revelation. As we travel over the peaks the Spirit of God reveals further territory for our hearts to embrace. Why good and evil? This takes us back to the paradise of God, back to Adam and Eve, back to the deception of the serpent, back to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Code: Mixed Multitude Then and Now
The Spirit of God has shown us the journey of the children of Israel in Chapter 3 of Hebrews, they fell in the wilderness because of unbelief, and we must remember that when they came out of Egypt they came out as a mixed multitude. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, [even] very much cattle. (Exodus 12:38) The Spirit of God in this closing section of Hebrews Chapter 5 is displaying to us the same truth as when He was addressing a mixed multitude as documented in Exodus 12:38) that is why only the word ‘milk’ is used and not ‘the sincere milk of the word.’ 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. (Hebrews 5:12) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (Hebrews 5:13) 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. (Hebrews 5:14) There is a difference in the quality of ‘milk’ as recorded in 1 Peter and the ‘milk’ in Hebrews 5:12, 13. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1Peter 2:2) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1Peter 2:3) ¶ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1Peter 2:4) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1Peter 2:5)
We should understand the difference between 1st Peter 2 and Hebrews Chapter 5. In 1st Peter 2, there was no dullness of hearing. The participants were all eager and desired the sincere milk of the word. They were aware of their beginnings, and in their hearts they desired to grow thereby; pushing on so that they might see more of the glories of Christ which became ‘meat’ unto their souls in the glory of God’s righteousness. What was lacking in the people in Hebrews Chapter 5? They didn’t want to hear, they were dull of hearing, they were only choosing the loud tunes for their own pleasure, they were listening to the melodies of man and not to the Spirit’s voice through the word of God. There was no depth to their understanding as the children of Israel lacked understanding in the revealed writings of Moses. In the book of Hebrews we have many references to verses, people and objects found in the Old Testament.
Hebrews: Code Book
The book of Hebrews becomes a code book in understanding the full glories of Christ. If we did not have the book of Hebrews we would not understand the glorious priesthood that our Lord possesses, and the majesty of that position before God Almighty. Christ picked up the mantle of Melchisedec by His death, by His resurrection, and by His ascension to the right hand of God. These wonderful truths might be a mystery to the dull of hearing, why? because the dull of hearing cannot hear without the mind of Christ; therefore they cannot see the Scriptures that reveals the wonderful, the majestic, the glorified Christ of God. Before the enigma machine was captured in WW II men and women diligently sought to break it’s code, and each time they came up short. In order to understand biblical code, the Almighty God tells us to take one scripture and build upon it with another scripture, to take one line upon another line, to take one precept upon another precept; for the divine mind knows that the unveiling of the word of God comes from within the word of God. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (Isaiah 28:9) For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: (Isaiah 28:10)
Understanding of Bible code is based on a building code: foundation laid, brick by brick, one brick laid upon another brick until the building is completely realized: line upon line, precept upon precept, truth upon truth, from Genesis to Revelation it is one building. And finally, in this wonderful code God has given us His Son; the One who is the Book within the Book, the One who is the Word within the word, the One who is the wheel within the wheel, the One who is the truth within the truth.
Now for the sake of discussion: if we remove the book of Hebrews from the canon of Scripture what would we miss? We would miss so much that the spiritual being could not imagine the depth or the loss to every believer. We must all agree that we live in a world that is full of man’s religion, and not God’s divine salvation. To the religions of the world the Bible is an enigma, and this is proven by the religions themselves in their various denials of the word of God. There are many who remove the book of Hebrews from their preaching and from their belief system by falsely stating that the book of Hebrews was only for the Hebrews; however, that reasoning would also require the removal of the books of Romans (only for the Romans), the book of Ephesians (only for the Ephesians), the book of Galatians (only for the Galatians), and other books as well, see how this circular reasoning should not be allowed to go unchallenged. Those who reject the book of Hebrews as not being applicable nor necessary for the Christian are seen through their walk and their actions. We see that their faith is void and empty. The very Author of all scriptures has preserved the book of Hebrews in the canon of Scripture to reveal the wonders of God’s dear Son, Jesus Christ, who is the very Author of the book that contains His Person.
The Enigma: The Riddle: The Parable
In Chapter 5, verses 11-14, we not only have the dullness of hearing, but we also have the lack of understanding. It is the lack of content in their very souls. They have a void place and cannot give themselves to the wonder of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God does not describe the milk as sincere, only as ‘milk,’ An infant can survive for a time on milk, but there comes a time when this food must have more nourishment. The Lord Jesus describes the word of God as the very food for the soul and spirit of man, But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) This is what the Hebrew believers lacked. They were not sincere in their desire, they were not pressing on in the word of God, that is why the Spirit of God describes them as being ‘unskillful’ in the word of righteousness for they had not yet beheld or received the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. These are the same problems that we face today. The Lord Jesus Himself foretold us of these problems that his own would face throughout the history of His Church. He gave us the parable of the sower and the seed. The seed was sown, and the enemy snatched it out of the heart. The seed fell among thorns, and the cares of this world entangled them. The seed fell on stony ground, and could not take root, but God prepared a ground, He turned the soil, He made the ground to be a good ground. And when the seed found the good ground that had been prepared, it sprang forth and grew, and produced fruit for the Almighty God.
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.(Matthew 13:17)
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. (Matthew 13:18)
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (Matthew 13:19)
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (Matthew 13:20)
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.(Matthew 13:21)
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22)
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.(Matthew 13:23)
This parable is very specific as each seed is described by where it falls. There is only one place that has good ground, and to prepare this ground, the Spirit of Christ must brood over the soul of man and prepare a place for divine faith. Once again, faith is a gift, and not a possession of man in Adam. The ground has to be prepared by God Himself. Today, many are still dull of hearing as the disciples: they stumble over this simple parable and will not accept the divine sovereignty of God working through His determinate counsels. As He is drawing out the Hebrew believers in Chapter 5, so in the parable in Matthew 13 the Spirit of Christ puts the eternal seed in the good ground.
In our study of the book of Hebrews God is building a knowledge of His own eternal Being within us. He is magnifying Himself, and His Son, so that we might have confidence in discerning both good and evil. In Ephesians we have the whole armor of God, in Hebrews we have God Himself displaying His wonder, His majesty, and His glory to us. Chapter 1 begins with God Himself. The only book in the Bible that begins with the majesty of the One who gave the word, however, we progress through the book of Hebrews learning and understanding on every page more about His majesty (line upon line, precept upon precept), and more of His glory that He accomplished when He gave Himself for us on the cross of Calvary.
The Hebrews who were being addressed at the end of Chapter 5 had a feeble evidence of life with no reality. They were clouds without water. They were trees plucked up by the roots. They professed, Lord, Lord, but did not know the depth of His death, burial and resurrection. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (Matthew 13:21) The word of the Lord Jesus was completely acceptable to the Hebrew professors and to the Jews in general. Remember, many of the gatherings and meetings took place in Jewish synagogues; however, within these meetings there existed a mixed multitude. Some held the law of Moses above the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and some held the traditions of men above both the law and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. They had heard from the lips of not only the apostles, but from other holy men of God like Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, and many others approved in the knowledge of the gospel. Not all the Hebrews had fertile ground within their hearts to receive the truth of saving grace. Paul was trying to prepare them for the next glory to be revealed in the book of Hebrews: the wonder, the glory, and the majesty of Melchisedec. Paul understood the condition of their hearts and souls for Jesus Christ. They were dull of hearing. They would be offended, and would not be able to go on, they listened to the ten spies and not to the two who spoke the truth (Numbers 13), they would turn back to the troughs of the world, and would feed with the rest of the swine. As when the Lord Jesus cast out the demons, they would run head long into the abyss. In many of the perils of Paul it was the Jews from the synagogues who stirred up both Jew and Gentile against the apostle even to stoning him and leaving him for dead. This should be an understanding to every true believer that we live in an environment of tares. It is God Himself who brings in separation. He divides the sheep from the goats, He continually warns those who are dull of hearing.
The Note on the Doorstep
This is a note of the Spirit of God dropped on the doorstep of the Hebrew professors. The Spirit of God also drops a note on the doorstep of the Corinthians (or Gentiles). (2 Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? The Spirit of God continues with a note to the Galatians. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (Galatians 3:1) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?(Galatians 3:7) This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.(Galatians 3:8) Through these notes from the Spirit of God we see that God is not slack concerning His promises for He continually exposes the heart of man; for the heart of man is deceitful above all things. God is telling both Jew and Gentile, Don’t be deceived by your own hearts. It is only through the supernatural work of God preparing the ground, sowing the faith that brings forth life in the power of His divine Son, Jesus Christ. Religion does not take this approach, it is what man does, and what man accomplishes, and what man obeys in the religions of man that is important. There is no divine work of regeneration, it is simply putting on new clothes of self-righteousness, and allowing the devil and the tares to deceive. The religious systems, and many preachers, would rather lose you to hell fire then to lose your twenty dollar bill on Sunday.
The Responsibility
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48:10)
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand (Ezekiel 3:18) .
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.(Ezekiel 3:19)
Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. (Ezekiel 9:9)
And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. (Ezekiel 16:6)
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:18)
From the Old Testament the Spirit of God reveals to us the absolute responsibility of the servant of God to pronounce the truth in such a way that those who hear will understand and know that they are standing on the precipice of hell, and that only through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can they be saved by the Man who is in eternity and who is eternity The first charge for the servant of God is to be loyal and obedient unto the work of God, and the second charge is to perform God’s service in such an honorable way that the blood of man will not be upon the hands of His servants. We also see the responsibility of each and every person (while he is in blood, that is, while he is framed with flesh and blood) that he has the opportunity to come to Christ. When life is past, (when blood is past) there is no second call! In life God may call more than once, however, there will always be a final call either to destruction or to salvation. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1st Corinthians 2:10) All mankind has a responsibility to the gospel of the living God: to one there is life unto life, to the another there is death unto death. No one can express his desire and love of God unless God has sealed him with the blood of Christ for all eternity. Each and every servant who is called by the Spirit of Christ to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is responsible and bears the burden of the blood of all the souls who he is preaching to. All those within the sound of the preacher are also responsible for either accepting or denying the words of God. The preacher is not required to believe for them, but is responsible to give the truth of God so that hearts and souls might have the opportunity to come to God’s marvelous grace. The apostle Paul declared that he would wish himself accursed for his kinsmen. He bore the burden of all of Israel, like Moses, upon his heart. The gospel preacher, therefore, must share the tears of McCheyne (M’Cheyne), and others who have wept over precious souls. (These are not only tears of the eyes, but the tears of the heart: the tears of Jeremiah). Paul desired that the Hebrew believers would go on to perfection, but Paul also understood, as Ezekiel understood, that God speaks to every man while he is in his own blood.
The Two Realms Separated
The Spirit of God in Hebrews Chapter 5 uses the words‘milk’ and ‘unskillful in the word of righteousness as a point of emphasis and division. Can there be any understanding of God’s righteousness without the Spirit of Christ working in the heart? This is a line of division or separation, for no one can know the righteousness of God except it be revealed by the divine One who holds the scepter of righteousness, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have in these Hebrews believers and professors a realm of fantasy, and a realm of reality. What separates these realms is the righteousness of God. For if one has not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9) In this verse we have another note of the Spirit of Christ to every Roman believer. As the warning was given in Chapter 5 to the Hebrews that they were dull of hearing, also in Romans 8:9, it is the absence of the Spirit of Christ that divided the Roman believers (and us) between those who walk after the Spirit, and those who walk after the flesh.
Broadcasting the Seed
Again, we refer back to the parable of the sower in Matthew, Chapter 13: the first ‘word’ or ‘seed’ is hearing the word of God, we are shown that the wicked one takes away the word that was sown in the heart leaving a seed without life. Out of all four seeds, only one seed has life: this is the seed that was cast on good ground. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5 :39) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45)
In the sowing of the ‘seed,’ which is the ‘word’ of God there must be the divine voice and the mind of Christ in the preaching of the gospel. The responsibility of presenting the Lord Jesus as the only means of redemption, and the only provider of redemption is to see Him as both the sacrifice and the Sacrificer, both being confirmed by His shed blood.
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2)
Once again, through the Old Testament Scriptures, we see the responsibility to the word of God. In Hebrews Chapter 5 we have the responsibility of the apostle as well as the responsibility of those who heard him, or of all those who have read this letter to the Hebrews. It is evident that it is the word of God preached by men that scatters the seed of God which is the word of God. The seed, however, must fall on good ground that has been prepared by the Spirit of Christ. In the continuation of the thought of the Lord in the sowing of the seed in Matthew 13, the Lord now describes the seed as ‘good seed’, and presents to us the next parable in Matthew 13:24-30.
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: (Matthew 13:24)
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (Matthew 13:25)
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (Matthew 13:26)
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? (Matthew 13:27)
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (Matthew 13:28)
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. (Matthew 13:29)
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13:30)
The good seed is presented to us: this is the truth bound by the word of God sent into the world. It is the watchman’s responsibility to proclaim this truth, and only this truth, for the scriptures cannot be broken. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. (Ezekiel 33:6) So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. (Ezekiel 33:7)
Satan’s Riddle: Is it a Tare or is it Wheat?
In the second parable of Matthew 13:24-30, we have the Lord sewing the seed, it is good seed going into good ground, however, we have the intrusion of the wicked one sewing tares among the wheat. No matter how many tares exist the watchman is required to warn them of what is to come in the relationship to their souls: the judgment and the salvation of God Almighty. As the wheat grows among the tares, the tares try to overshadow the wheat. The tares also want to look like the wheat, they are in the same field as the wheat, they try to block the sun (the Son) from the wheat, and trouble comes from beneath when the tares tangle their roots among the roots of the wheat. We have this grand truth, however, the Lord knows those who are His.
In this parable man is left out of the reaping, it is the angels of God who gather the tares and cast them into the furnace. It is the same angels of God (the ministering spirits) that gather the wheat into the Father’s house. The angels cannot be fooled by the tares as the wheat is fully recognized by them. The riddle of Satan, or the mystery of iniquity, is that the deceiver does not want man to discern between good and evil. He does not want man to recognize those who have the Spirit of Christ. The hidden message in the parable of the wheat and the tares is the intrusion of Satan into the house of God! It is the environment of the world that presents to us the result of the fall in the sin of Adam, and the knowledge of good and evil.
In Hebrews, Chapter 5, it is not the knowledge of good and evil, but discernment between good and evil. This discernment, as the apostle said, can only be accomplished by those who have the mind of Christ. Going back to Israel, we have the example of the mingling of the tares and the wheat. The children of Israel, the sons of Jacob, mingled with the Egyptians for over 400 years. They had taken on all the characteristics of the Egyptians, yet, God in His eyes had them separated to Himself in the promises and prophecies that He gave to Abraham. It was difficult for man to tell the difference between the Egyptian and the Israelite, however, the Israelites were in bondage to the Egyptians. In studying the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt it was all the divine hand of God. Every time Pharaoh, or man, tried to interrupt God’s process they were put aside, judged, and destroyed. Pharaoh was raised up to show the power and glory of God in God’s judgment of Pharaoh. In Hebrews, Chapter 5, the word ‘babe’ is used. The Spirit of God, however, does not use the words ‘newborn babes,’ this shows the lack of any spiritual power within these babes.
In 1st Peter 2:2-5, we have the mind of the Spirit of Christ, it is the Spirit of Christ that complements and completes the growth of new life. (1Peter 2:2) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1Peter 2:3) ¶ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1Peter 2:4) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1Peter 2:5)
In verses 2 thru 5 we see the extended growth and understanding of these new born creatures in Christ. In Hebrews there is no evidence of any spiritual life, or life at all. It is the Spirit of grace that moves the new born to a position of meat, or knowledge of the glories of Christ. In meat, you must work, you must chew, you must digest, the very food becomes a part of you, but it requires work or effort and submission to both the Spirit of Christ, and the mind of Christ. A tare can try to mask himself, he might even call himself a Bible scholar, however, I doubt that God would ever have a true Bible scholar on prime time news. (Years ago I heard a very prominent popular prime time television news commentator arrogantly refer to himself as a Bible scholar.) Many have disguised themselves and graduated from the dark halls of seminaries (cemeteries). The apostle is clear when he tells us that meat belongs to them who are of full age. Not only have they studied the Scriptures to be approved unto God, but they have applied those Scriptures in their walk of faith. Why use the term ‘full age’? There is a progression in the believer. The Spirit of God reveals a truth in the heart, the believer applies it to his heart, and goes on to further truth. He is growing in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. What the world declares is that there is only a need of the knowledge of Christ and any growth is not necessary and sometimes if they see growth they want to hinder it and keep it from growing further. The true soul to the Lord Jesus Christ, however, thirsts after the water brook, after his Savior. The believer wants to know everything in the relationship of God in his own being. He learns to have complete trust in the word of God. He learns that the Scriptures cannot be broken. He learns, for himself, by delving through the pages of Scripture and by the discernment of the mind of Christ, and thus, the believer is able to discern both good and evil. Here is the enigma of this closing phrase: in the garden it was the knowledge of good and evil without the Spirit of Christ. In Hebrews, it is the discernment between both the knowledge of good and the knowledge of evil.
We have the code in our hands, the Bible, the word of God; we have the code in our hearts: the Spirit of Christ and the mind of Christ. The present evil world would take our eyes off the word of God, they would insert ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged.’ They would tell us, that we as children of God have no right to discern between good and evil. (I suggest that you type ‘discern,’ or ‘discern between good and evil,’ in the Search tab on the right of this post to broaden your understanding).
The prophet Jeremiah was called of God even before he was in his mother’s womb, from the womb he was given by God as a prophet to Israel, and as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah was a first hand recipient of the words of the Lord. Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. (Jeremiah 36:18) Even the writer (Baruch) stated to the Jews that he had copies with ink on paper containing the exact words that the Lord had spoken to Jeremiah. This was an attempt of the Almighty God to return the people of Israel unto Himself. These words of Jeremiah brought a great struggle to the prophet. His nation rejected him, imprisoned him, and he continually suffered at their hands. You would think that this would result in his heart turning against Israel, this was not the case. Jeremiah’s heart was continually burdened for his nation, he continually wept pools of tears in the desert. Like Paul, God had given Jeremiah a heart for his brethren, and both Jeremiah and Paul in all their sorrows and distress, and in all their persecutions could exclaim in their state of isolation and loneliness, Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; Jeremiah lived under the firm hand of God, and the word of God, consequently, Jeremiah suffered under the evil rod of man. So the Spirit of Christ closes Chapter 5 of the book of Hebrews with a message to discern between good and evil. In the day of Jeremiah the good figs were very good, and the bad figs were very bad (Jeremiah 24). A very important lesson for every child of God is that they need to learn the difference between the wheat and the tares, to know the difference between the good and the evil, between the crooked and the straight, between what is true and what is not.
In the book of codes, we have the mystery of iniquity already working. There is a time frame established for us when the Spirit of God tells us that it is already working. The wheat and the tares are a reality. The good seed and the bad seed are of the divine truth in both the Cains and the Abels; and on and on, the Spirit of God through the Scriptures unfolds to us the evil heart of man, and looks into our eyes and tell us that not every one who proclaims salvation, who professes Christianity, and who says, Lord, Lord, is of God! Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)
He (who is of the Spirit) knows the mind of the Spirit, he that is of the world has the mind of the world, but we have the mind of Christ. We are being prepared by this last statement in Hebrews (5:14) for what is coming next in Hebrews. The apostle is going to reveal to us the revelation and the fullness of Melchisedec. We will journey through Chapter 6 so that we will be standing on firm ground for Chapter 7. But now, the apostle wants to leave us with the thoughts of his mind that the Spirit of Christ cries out to each and every one of us, Make your salvation sure, know the Spirit and mind of Christ, and you will be able to discern between good and evil. Amen.
© Copyright 2017, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)