Hebrews 5:14

Hebrews 5:14

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.

a. NLT: Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

b. NIV: But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

c. YLT: And of perfect men is the strong food, who because of the use are having the senses exercised, unto the discernment both of good and of evil.

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

e. Worrell Translation: But solid food is for full-grown men, who by practice have their senses trained for the discernment both of good and evil.

f. Wuest Translation: But solid food belongs to those who are spiritually mature, to those who on account of long usage have their powers of perception exercised to the point where they are able to discriminate between both that which is good in character and that which is evil.

1. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. strong [Strong: 4731 stereos ster-eh-os' from 2476; stiff, i.e. solid, stable (literally or figuratively):--stedfast, strong, sure.]

c. meat [Strong: 5160 trophe trof-ay' from 5142; nourishment (literally or figuratively); by implication, rations (wages):--food, meat.]

d. belongeth to them that are [Strong: 2076: esti es-tee' third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

e. of full age [Strong: 5046 teleios tel’-i-os from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.] [Zodhiates: Finished, that which has reached its end, term, limit.]

1). Eating strong meat is doing the will of the Father.

a). John 4:31-34 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said his disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

b). John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

2). The definition of a mature or full age Christian is given in the rest of the verse.

2. “…even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

a. [even] those who [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

b. by reason [Strong: 1223: dia dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

c. of  use [1838 * hexis] [Zodhiates: Habit. Used usually of life or body, therefore, practice or exercise.]

d. have [Strong: 2192 echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

e. their [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

f. senses [Strong: 145 aistheterion ahee-sthay-tay'-ree-on from a derivative of 143; properly, an organ of perception, i.e. (figuratively) judgment:--senses.]

g. exercised [Strong: 1128 gumnazo goom-nad'-zo from 1131; to practise naked (in the games), i.e. train (figuratively):--exercise.]

1). To understand the phrase “senses exercised” we need to look at a couple of verses.

a). 2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart have they exercised with coveteous practices; cursed children:

2). To exercise the heart in a bad example, that is “with coveteous practices” would be to as Ephesians 2:3 says: “fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind…”

3). A good example of the term such as what Hebrews 5:14 is referring to having “their senses excercised to discern good and evil”, would be in 1 Timothy.

a). 1 Timothy 4:7, “…exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

b). It would be to meditate the word, developing a hunger and thirst for it, then walk in obedience to it. Eating and drinking the word by being obedient to it. Remember Isaiah 55:2. “…hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

 h. to [Strong: 4314 pros pros a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

i. discern [Strong: 1253 diakrisis dee-ak'-ree-sis from 1252; judicial estimation:--discern(-ing), disputation.]

j. both [Strong: 5037 te teh a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of 2532):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.]

k. good [Strong: 2570 kalos kal-os' of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.]

l. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

m. evil [Strong: 2556 kakos kak-os' apparently a primary word; worthless (intrinsically, such; whereas 4190 properly refers to effects), i.e. (subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious:--bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome, wicked.]

1). The senses he is speaking of are not our 5 physical senses. In verse 11 the sense of hearing he was referring to was spiritual. The spiritual senses of taste, hearing, seeing, touch, and smell are what he is referring to. We cannot sense good or evil with our physical senses.

a). Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling…”

b). 2 Peter 1:9 “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off…”

 2). One of the rewards of such disciplined godly living is having sharpened spiritual senses. Having spiritual ears in order to hear the voice of the Spirit when he speaks to us: In John 10:27 Jesus said “my sheep hear my voice”. Many times during his earthly ministry Jesus exhorted, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” Matthew 11:15.  Spiritual eyes to see revelation, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”. And the spiritual sense of hunger so that we may hunger and thirst for God. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” Matthew 5:6.