To
regain confidence in my own preaching, and perhaps also build a defense against
possible future criticism, I decided to probe a little deeper. The metaphor
of meat and milk occurs several times in the New Testament. In addition to Hebrews
5:11-6:2., 1 Peter 2:2 says, "Like newborn babes, crave pure spiritual
milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." And Paul in 1 Corinthians
3:1, 2, says "I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere
infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for
it." In 1 Peter 2:2 the apostle states that milk is of great value, but
only for babes. He encourages believers to "grow up," implying that
they would eventually move away from milk. Hebrews 5:13, 14 similarly states
that solid food is of greater value than milk. This author indicates that solid
food is characterized by the ability to distinguish between good and evil. While
these verses shed light on the real meaning of milk and meat, the most helpful
and extensive reference is 1 Corinthians 3. The entire chapter centers on Paul's
desire for the Corinthians to move from milk to meat.
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Paul's
explanation of milk and meat
The
context of 1 Corinthians 3 clarifies Paul's meaning. The difference between
meat and milk is the difference in one's motivation for obedience to God. The
new Christian is motivated toward obedience with milk, and the mature Christian
with meat.
This
is shown by Paul's statement that he hoped to address the Corinthians as spiritual,
but he could not because they were still worldly (3:1). The church was still
plagued by several areas of sin: sexual immorality (5:1), division over loyalty
to apostles (3:4), lawsuits (6:7), improper behavior in worship, including drunkenness
(11:21), subversion of authority (11:10), and spiritual pride (5:6).
Paul's
explanation is further amplified by his approach to the Corinthian church. He
had hoped to give them meat. But since they were worldly he first had to give
them milk. For instance, in regard to sexual immorality he gave them a specific
list of forbidden practices: don't let that young man sleep with his mother
(5:1-5); and fornicators, adulterers, prostitutes, and homosexuals will not
enter the kingdom of God (6:9). Paul didn't like addressing Corinthians in this
manner because these commands are milk for a baby Christian. Instead, he wanted
to address them as spiritual. So immediately after giving them milk he offered
them meat, for example by saying, "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit"
(6:19), and "Honor God with your body" (6:20). This is meat; not a
simple command, but a principle for Christians to live by.
