I HAVE FED YOU WITH MILK, AND NOT WITH MEAT

In the assembly at Corinth there were many problems and the cause of them was a low spiritual condition. Prior to conversion they had been ‘natural’ men. At conversion they had received the Holy Spirit and became ‘spiritual’ men; a point from which they should have progressed. However, it seems that many of them did not do so and fleshly things dominated their desires and lives; they had become ‘carnal’ men. Paul describes them as ‘babes’. Hitherto, this was acceptable and so Paul fed them with milk, determined to know nothing among them ‘save Jesus Christ, and him crucified’, 2. 2. But they had not developed and this was displayed in their envying, strife and division, 3. 3. They were, of course, still believers; Paul refers to them as ‘brethren’, and as ‘in Christ’, but they were immature. But, ‘neither yet now’, or ‘even now’, they must still be fed milk rather than meat which would have been more appropriate for them.

Paul was used to coping with growing spiritual children and had described himself to the Thessalonians as a ‘father’ and a ‘nursing mother’, but the growth of these children was being hindered. Still, Paul was prepared to persevere and to feed them milk in the hope that eventually they could assimilate meat. So, he chastises them for not developing as believers should and encourages them by continuing to feed them milk, though he would have loved to have been able to further compare ‘spiritual things with spiritual’, 2. 13. Equally, the Lord Jesus once told His disciples that He had many things to say to them, but they could not bear them now, John 16. 12.

Now, there are not some truths that are milk and others that are meat. This letter contains many great truths, so what is the difference between milk and meat? Milk can be taken instantly and enjoyed instantly, but meat needs to be digested and that takes time. Milk is something that can be enjoyed immediately but spiritual growth is seen when the saints not only hear but meditate on the word. They think about it, pray and discuss it with others, then do it. The difference is not so much in the truths, nor how they are presented, but more in how they are heard. We must be doers and not hearers only!