(1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
I beg the Reader, at his entrance on this Chapter to observe, the faithfulness of Paul, as a minister of Christ. He had marked out in the preceding Chapter, the character of such as were taught of the Spirit: and had drawn the line of distinction, between the natural man, which receiveth not the things of God, and the spiritually taught believer. Here, therefore, he makes application, of what he had said on that subject, with an eye to them. Though they were regenerated, or he could not have considered them as brought into Church communion; yet they were but so weak in understanding, that he could not call them anything more than mere babes in Christ. And babes in Christ can only receive the first things of nutriment, and such as tender capacities find easy of digestion; as babes in nature, can relish scarce anything more than to be fed at the breast. Reader! do not overlook the very sweet instruction, which is given here, both to ministers and people. A minister, like Paul, taught of God the Holy Ghost, and sent forth by God the Holy Ghost, may here learn, how necessary a part in the exercise of the holy function it must be, to study the state, and circumstances, of the Lord's household. The different ages, and conditions, and characters of the Lord's people, are carefully to be considered. Paul, describing to Timothy, the outlines of a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, saith; that he should study to shew himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Timothy 2:15. And such a workman must learn from his Master, how to turn his hand to every branch of his employment, in that part of it more especially which concerns feeding and instructing the Lord's people. The babes in Christ must have the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. The more advanced in grace, and knowledge, may be brought acquainted, as their spiritual capacities are enlarged, in the stronger food of the soul. All are to have suited portions; and none of them to be overlooked, or forgotten. Hence the Lord Jesus himself describes the faithful servant, in his household, who thus administers in his name, to his family, and calls him blessed, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing, Luke 12:42-43. And the people, under such a charge, may learn, from what is here said, how necessary it is for them to receive the ministry of the Lord's servants, with the utmost affection and good will. Babes in Christ, and young men, and Father s, as John calls them, all come in for their separate, and distinct portions. And well are faithful ministers entitled to the love of their people, while they need their prayers, that in so arduous a work, one might be neglected; but, both minister and people together, be blessed of the Lord. It were well if the former had everlastingly in view the model of Christ's first sermon in the synagogue. when Jesus opened his commission in that place, and declared the prophecy Isaiah, to be that very day in his divine Person fulfilled; he immediately added, that his office was, to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that were bruised, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, Luke 4:18-19 with Isaiah 61:1-2. And it were well if the latter, I mean the people ministered unto, were to remember this feature in the character of Jesus, and to form their judgment of the servants, who stand up to minister in the Lord's name, by this plan of their Master. If a minister in following the steps of Christ in preaching, hath the Gospel to preach to the poor, and the blind, and the broken-hearted, the captive soul and the bruised, to speak to in the same sermon; various means must he adopt, so as to suit the various wants if such diversified characters. And how can a minister labor faithfully, amidst so many claims; or a people have their full and distinct portions, except the Lord directs both? The consciousness of this made Paul often cry out to the Church; Brethren, pray for us, 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Hebrews 13:18.