Dull of Hearing

The writer is frustrated with the immaturity of the Hebrews. The writer in this passage does three things:

I. Reprimands the Hebrews for their immaturity
A. The writer has a "holy frustration".
B. Points the realism and sincerity of God's communication in His word
C. Dullness of hearing is a spiritual handicap. The Hebrews "had become" dull of hearing because:
1.James 1:18 - too talkative and poor listeners
2.James 1:20 - anger
3.James 1:21 - "filthiness and wickedness"
4.1 Pe 2:1-2 - "malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy and slander"
D. In the parable of the sower, Jesus says that the devil, worldliness and the pursuit of riches and the vainglory of this world, will choke the Word.

II. Provides elementary principles - BY this time they should be teachers but had become dull of hearing
A. The writer borrows the term "oracles" to refer to the Word of God, probably from Philo. They still needed to learn the Alphabet of Religion.
B. The foundational truths of the Gospel are called "milk" -1 Co 3:1-2

III. Exhort them to grow
A. Contrasts the babies with the "mature".
B. The mature are those who have trained their spiritual senses - their organs of perceptions are trained (gymnasim) - taken in a spiritual sense.
C. The mature have spiritual discernment "diakrino" judging through deciding between good and evil. (Illustr. Pr 14:15 & Pr 22:3)
D. v6:1-3 The gospel is both milk and solid food
E. v4 - "a good promise"

Conclusion:
A. Are we teaching or being taught?
B. What am I doing with the teaching I receive? Are we consumers or active disciple-makers?