| Geneva Study Bible But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their {m} senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (m) All their power by which they understand and judge. People's New Testament 5:14 Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age. When one has reached manhood we do not expect him to live on the food of babes. So a church member, as time goes on, ought to feed on solid food (Revised Version), the higher teaching of religion. There should be growth in knowledge. Have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. The reference here is to the faculties of the soul. A Christian ought to study, to gain a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and especially of the New Testament to become able to teach others, and to explain the higher principles of our religion. In addition he ought to be able to discern the moral character of the environments of life, to know not only what to accept and what to reject, but how to warn his less instructed brethren. Wesley's Notes 5:14 But strong meat - These sublimer truths relating to perfection, Heb 6:1. Belong to them of full age, who by habit - Habit here signifies strength of spiritual understanding, arising from maturity of spiritual age. By, or in consequence of, this habit they exercise themselves in these things with ease, readiness, cheerfulness, and profit. King James Translators' Notes of full age: or, perfect use: or, an habit, or, perfection Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 14. strong meat-"solid food." them . of full age-literally, "perfect": akin to "perfection" (Heb 6:1). by reason of use-Greek, "habit." senses-organs of sense. exercised-similarly connected with "righteousness" in Heb 12:11. to discern both good and evil-as a child no longer an infant (Isa 7:16): so able to distinguish between sound and unsound doctrine. The mere child puts into its mouth things hurtful and things nutritious, without discrimination: but not so the adult. Paul again alludes to their tendency not to discriminate, but to be carried about by strange doctrines, in Heb 13:9. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 5:11-14 Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult, and even those who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow to believe. Much is looked for from those to whom much is given. To be unskilful, denotes want of experience in the things of the gospel. Christian experience is a spiritual sense, taste, or relish of the goodness, sweetness, and excellence of the truths of the gospel. And no tongue can express the satisfaction which the soul receives, from a sense of Divine goodness, grace, and love to it in Christ. | 
