We need to keep fresh in our minds, that just because a person disagrees with us on a Biblical conclusion does not necessarily make that person a bad person. That person may be very sincere in their stand, and very dedicated to God, His Person and plan. If a person disagrees with us on a Biblical matter, it may be that they do not have enough information, or have not harmonized what they do have, or they may have information we need to examine and compare with all Scripture, in order to make sure we didn't miss something very important.

In theological circles, we've made the matter of developing doctrines a sport not totally unlike the Olympic Games. In the games, if a person takes gold, that person is the best and can do no wrong. If a person takes silver, that person is a failure and a nobody. The TV commentators and the athletes, both have an apologetic attitude when talking about a silver winner.

You know, being second in the world by one 1/100 of a second ain't bad. Even missing the mark of being first in the world by 1 minute would be an achievement that not many could put on their resume.

Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

In similar manner as some in the races, many Believers do not have their technique refined, or their stride perfected. Some are not willing to become skillful in the Word of righteousness by means of practice, over and over again, and again. Some may not break the tape first. They may have even stumbled and fallen on the track. These things do not make them of less value. These things do show that they are less skillful in the Word of God.

Our task as runners, in the Christian race, is to continue to hone our skills, and help those who are weak or have stumbled. Please, do not allow the discovery of the deep things of God to become a matter of self-pride, or an occasion to discredit the character or value of some that may not have dug as deeply into God's truth.

1 Corinthians 9:19-27 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Discernment

This matter of digging into, and understanding the deeper things of God requires skills like other accomplishments in life. Every Believer is in the race, but only those who compete by the rules and have their senses exercised by reason of use (Hebrews 5:14) will win the prize. These references are not speaking about gaining salvation or the new birth through this manner. The Hebrews 5 passage has reference to the study of the Word of God, and the 1 Corinthians 9 passages is talking about living in and by the gospel after we have gained such knowledge.

Please notice that in both passages, the responsibility is on the Believer to learn, know and use properly the information of the Word of God by means of their own volition, and there is the possibility of disobedience. In Hebrews 5, the writer says that those who do not properly use the Word of God are babies, and have never matured spiritually. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul says if we do not live, run or fight properly in the spiritual life, we will be disqualified for the prize, even if we cross the finish line.

There is much more in these two passages. I trust you will see at least three facts. Two of these facts are stated here, and one elsewhere:

Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
discern (Greek)
judicial estimation not for the purpose of judgment but to establish the sequence of facts; to separate thoroughly (can be used in a negative sense by using facts in a questionable manner to deceive or distract, this Greek word is used one time in this manner in the NT)

This Greek word for discern is only used three times, and just one other time in a positive sense:1 Corinthians 12:10 & Hebrews 5:13.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The Greek word translated discerned in 1 Corinthians 2:12 is different, but very similar:

discern (Greek)
to scrutinize; to investigate; to interrogate; to determine

The discernment of spiritual truth in 1 Corinthians 2:14 and Hebrews 5:14 is the act and ability to investigate truth, scrutinizing it thoroughly by comparing Scripture with Scripture, and carefully interrogating the facts of each to determine the mind of God. In so doing, we have the wisdom of God taught to us by the Holy Spirit. This type of discernment involves the systematic and exhaustive searching of Biblical facts to establish the sequence of those facts. A little later in this study, we need to take up the subject of the sequence of facts. The sequence of facts show the progression of God's plan, and revelation of His Person .

good (Greek)
to be sound, hale or whole; constitutionally good without necessarily being benevolent; expression of beauty or truth as a harmonious completeness of balance and proportion
evil (Greek)
from a verb to back, recede, retire or retreat in battle when such action is not appropriate. Therefore, is evil and as such leads others into trouble

The English word evil is used 100+ times in the New Testament. However, this Greek word translated evil in Hebrews 5:14 is used only 46 times. Another Greek word translated to our English word evil has the meaning of:

Indicating badness or depraved,and willfully and deliberately leading others into harm or spiritual trouble.

The fact of willfully and deliberately acting is not the intent of the Greek word used in Hebrews 5:14. There is yet another Greek word for evil and is often used in the title of Satan.

Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Ephesians 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

This Greek word translated to evil and wicked in English means:

evil or wicked (Greek)
not content unless corrupting others, and drawing them into the same badness, depravity and spiritual destruction as the evil one

I realize that through this little investigation, we have looked at a number of things. However, we have only taken a glancing look at most of these subjects. From those many things, let's concentrate on a just a few that will be particularly beneficial for this study.

Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

If we are not skillful in the Word of Righteousness, and do not have our spiritual senses exercised by use in the same, we cannot discern both good and evil. It didn't say we couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong. There is a dissimilarity when it comes to telling the difference between two things, and discerning both of them.

This passage says we cannot discern both good and evil, unless we are skillful in the solid food of the Word of God. If we were to put that in our normal English, we would probable say we can discern either good and evil. I'm glad it's not written in normal English.

When we find an unusual structure such as this, we need to be very careful that we see what it is saying. We should not attempt to re-word it so it will read like we think it should.

Here again is one of the great weaknesses of the NIV showing up. Because the NIV was translated more by concepts instead of more word for word, they came to this passage and said, "That doesn't read well in English. Let's change it so it will be easier to read."

NIV Hebrews 5:13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
NKJ Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

I feel sorry for anyone reading this from the NIV and trying to make Biblical sense out of it. It sounds good in English, but it in no way parallels the Greek text. Therefore, we have lost much of what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell in this passage.

Because many of you use the NIV, let me correct some misconceptions resulting from the poor translation of this passage. Please don't go away from here saying that Clyde said the NIV is a bad translation. For the most part the NIV is a good translation. I use it often in my study. However, there are a number of areas where they have tried to make the text more readable in English, by trying to convey the thought of the passage, instead of the word for word meaning from Greek to English.

Translators aren't often notorious students of the entire plan of God in harmony. Their main concentration is word, syntax, etc. and it should be. Therefore, what they think the thought of the passage might be, may not be what the passage says at all. Translators should concentrate on getting the translation correct, and leave the interpretation to those comparing all Scripture with itself. This highlights another reason for the need to compare all Scripture for harmony when we study, no matter what translation we are using.

In v.13, the NIV totally ignores the Greek word apeiros, which means to be inexperienced by lack of use. That is quite a bit stronger than simply not acquainted with.

This problem of not being able to discern, is not simply a matter of never being introduced to or acquainted with the Word or God. The problem of not being able to discern stems from our refusal to develop the proper skills through using them in the study of the Word. The reason we do not have the proper Biblical skills, is because we have not used them over and over again. To read the NIV you would think this whole thing could be solved by someone simply introducing some teaching about righteousness. It is not a teaching about righteousness that is the focus of this passage. Instead, it is the whole context of the Word of Righteousness, not just the individual subject of righteousness.

In the first instance, presented by the NIV, it is some information we hear. In the Greek text, it is the total of God's revelation, called here the Word of Righteousness, not just some information. It is not a matter of simply hearing, but that of being immersed in the totality of that Word, and becoming skillful by the use of that Word.

Just a couple more corrections, and we can get down to the business that brought us to this passage. I'm sorry for the time spent in text corrections, but the only means we have of communicating the truth of God is through words. Take away those words or change their meaning, and there is no way to properly communicate the truth of God.

We do not train ourselves in the truest sense. I know it may be a small thing, but the implication is gigantic. The solid food of God's Word belongs to us not because we have taught ourselves to distinguish good from evil. Even if a person did not know the Bible, they would know that a statement of that nature just does not hold water.

You don't become skillful in anything, just by hearing about it. That is doubly true in being skillful in using the Solid Food of the Word of God. Just because you know the difference between good and evil does not make you skillful in the Word. Even an unsaved person can make that distinction.

The solid food of the Word of God is ours only by using that Word over and over again, and in so doing the Holy Spirit brings the needed sensitivity through comparing spiritual with spiritual. When we are skilled in the use of the solid food of the Word of God, then we can discern both good and evil, not distinguish between good from evil.

Sometimes you have to clear the track before you can start the race, because even a little foreign substance on the track can affect the results. I hope that helped to clear the way so we can see the next component needed to understand the sovereignty of God, and how Satan can control a Believer, etc.

Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
discern (Greek)
judicial estimation not for the purpose of judgment but to establish the sequence of facts; to separate thoroughly
good (Greek)
to be sound, hale or whole; constitutionally good without necessarily being benevolent; expression of beauty or truth as a harmonious completeness of balance and proportion
evil (Greek)
from a verb to back, recede, retire or retreat in battle when such action is not appropriate, therefore, it is evil and as such leads others into trouble

As we can see from these definitions of good and evil, they are not the typical words for naughty and nice. These Greek words go beyond the normal of the English words of right and wrong.

Our interest, for this lesson, is not so much the meaning of the word for evil, except to see that those who are not skillful in the Word of God will have a tendency to teach and do those things that are not appropriate according to the teaching of the Word, and will lead others into the same type of spiritual trouble.

These people may be as sincere as the day is long, but sincerity will not produce the proper teaching of the deep things of the Word of God. Therefore, we must be very careful what we accept or even listen to those who are not skillful in the meat of the Word of God.

Let's turn our attention to the meaning and implications of the Greek word for good in this passage. Then we can establish our thinking as to the proper concept of discern, and begin to do what is implied in the term discern as to the sovereignty of God or the solid food of the spiritual life.

This word translated good is not the Greek word for moral or upright. Instead, it is the word for something that is complete and in that completeness, it is the expression of harmony balance and proportion. That's what we are looking for. God, Himself, would be the one thing in His case, Person, that fits that definition perfectly. Likewise, the Word of God given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit is total and complete, and it too expresses harmony, balance and proportion in all it reveals of God and His plan.

Since that is what we are looking for, we need to find a way to acquire it. One of the nice things about the Bible is that it gives us the directions in order to acquire just such complete harmony and balance. The Bible tells us how to acquire complete harmonious and balanced understanding of God and His plan here in Hebrews 5, and 1 Corinthians 2 , and 2 Timothy 2, and, and, and so on.

The problem is that often we see these great passages and say to ourselves, "My! That is a nice verse. We should memorize it." So we do, and that is good. However, that is only a good start. Look again at the definition of the Greek word used for discern in Hebrews 5:14

discern (Greek)
judicial estimation not for the purpose of judgment but to establish the sequence of facts; to separate thoroughly

Once we know the words and facts of a verse, we must make a complete and thorough judicial examination to see where that information fits in the sequence of all the facts of Scripture.

Someone asked me the other day, something like, "Is it true that a 16 year old girl in the thirteenth century invented the idea of dispensations?" Statements of that nature would be humorous, if the situation were not so deadly serious.

Shakespeare said it quite well, when he said, "Because of lack of argument (facts), they unsheathed their swords." When people, especially in religion and politics, run out of defenses for what they are saying, they often turn to attacks and belittlement in order to protect their position.

2 Peter 2:12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

I'll admit that I'm fearful of the terms dispensations and dispensationalism. Not because there is anything wrong with the terms, but because of what some people have attached to those terms, that have nothing to do with the intent or meaning of the words.

The answer to that question, about did a 16 year old girl inventing dispensation in the thirteenth century, is no, God did. I don't know when it was first invented. However, it was recorded by Paul in the Bible during the first century, not the thirteenth.

Ephesians 1:7-12 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-- in Him, 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 3:1-5 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I wrote before in a few words, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
dispensation (Greek)
an administration or administrator (of a household or estate); a religious economy

Don't jump out of the boat. This all has to do with the sovereignty of God. Next lesson we will tie this altogether. For now, please see the facts, and tuck them away in your mind. Don't tuck them away too far, because we will need them for next lesson. Then we will be able to take the time to begin to harmonize the many facts we have discovered over the past 13 lessons.

For the moment, please put aside what you have heard about dispensations, whether good or bad. The fact is that God in His word talks about dispensations, and we need to note that fact and see where it fits in this order of God's plan and revelation.

Are there 7 dispensations? There may be 77. The Bible does not give us a definite number, it only states that there are some dispensations. Call them what you like. It is clear that there have been periods to time in which God revealed Himself and His plan to certain people, and in other periods of time God revealed Himself to some other group. It is clear that during certain periods of time, God dealt with mankind in one manner, while in another period of time the rules seem to be different. Just to illustrate this fact, look at a couple passages of Scripture.

Genesis 4:15 And the Lord said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

Cain was the first murderer. He killed his brother, and God proclaimed that no one should kill him. Yet, about five chapters later, it seems that God has changed His mind, and His manner of working with people.

Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

In the first chapter of Genesis, God gives instructions and restrictions as to what humans should eat.

Genesis 1:29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.

However, just a few chapters later, the rules are changed.

Genesis 9:1-3 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that moves on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.

This changing of the guard, or different rules for different times is evident throughout the Scriptures.

Does God change? Does He grow up, and change with time? Does God keep changing the rules?

The answer to that lies in another question. The rules for what? We'll look at that in a little while. To answer the first part, No, God does not change nor does His plan change.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Psalms 102:27 But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Hebrews 4:3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest," although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

These are only a few of the passages that state clearly that God does not change, nor does His plan change. If God is the same and His plan does not change, why all these changes?

Hebrews 1:10-12 And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; 11 They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail."

In this passage, we see a little of the answer as to the why things change. The earth and all that goes with it are part of a plan. The plan does not change, but the plan is progressive, and as that plan moves from start to finish, it progresses. That certainly necessitates changes within the plan, but the plan does not change.

The plan does not change, God does not change, but the conditions within that plan do change as God's plan progresses. If those conditions didn't change, there would be no progress.

You may call the many parts of that progressive plan anything you like. No matter what they are called, there are distinct periods of administration, different from other periods. There are also periods of time that transition from one of these major administration periods to another.

These periods of time, in which God's Eternal Plan moves towards completeness, can be called ages, dispensations, administration periods, etc,

But deny their existence, you can't, and be an honest Biblical student.
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
Ephesians 3:9 and to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
Colossians 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
Ephesians 3:5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
Hebrews 9:26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Ephesians 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

To deny that there are distinct progressive periods of time in which God administers His plan to and through mankind would be to deny the clear declarations of the Word of God stated over and over again.

God has made it clear that there are distinct administrative periods of time during his progressive plan for mankind. Our job, as students of the Word of God, is to harmonize the information given in a fragmented manner throughout God's revelation. Oh, yes, that is where we started in this lesson.

Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
discern (Greek)
judicial estimation not for the purpose of judgment but to establish the sequence of facts; to separate thoroughly
good (Greek)
to be sound, hale and whole; constitutionally good without necessarily being benevolent; expression of beauty or truth as a harmonious completeness of balance and proportion.

If we are not going to be an unskilled spiritual babies, then we must discern both the good and evil. To discern means to establish the sequence of the facts by means of a careful judicial examination of those facts. When we do so, we will see that the Word of God is good. It is a beautiful expression that is harmonious, complete, balanced and perfectly proportioned.

Will you be one who is skillful in the Word of Righteousness and can run the race and win the prize, 
or will you be that one who is disqualified for the prize even though you also ran?