Fathers

Hebrews 5

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For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 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.

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What the Fathers say

Hebrews 5:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For every one that partaketh of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." What is "the Word of righteousness"? He seems to me here to hint at conduct also. That which Christ also said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees", this he says likewise, "unskilled in the word of righteousness," that is, he that is unskilled in the philosophy that is above, is unable to embrace a perfect and exact life. …

Homily on Hebrews 8 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

By "righteousness" here he means either a manner of life that is entirely upright, speaking as if to say that the "unskilled" person is not experienced in heavenly wisdom and cannot lead a higher life; Christ also demanded this, saying: "unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" (Matt. 5:20). …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

To those who are still infants, faith is seen in humble words, (for milk is suitable for infants), but to the perfect, faith is in solid food and the high thinking concerning Christ. "For everyone who lives on milk." For everyone, he says, who partakes of humble words, concerning the humanity of the Lord, (for these are the milk), is unskilled and lacks the word of righteousness.

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

268. – Then (v. 13) he explains the simile: first he explains what he said about milk; secondly, about solid food: (v. 14). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he gives the explanation; secondly, the reason behind the explanation (v. 13b). 269. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗