But solid food belongs 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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Clement Of Alexandria
AD 215
But it is not such as to be unattainable without it; but it is attainable only when they have learned, and have had their senses exercised.
"But strong meat belongeth to those that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.".
Ciple, and Beginning of existence"-the Son-from whom we are to learn the remoter Cause, the Father, of the universe, the most ancient and the most beneficent of all; not capable of expression by the voice, but to be reverenced with reverence, and silence, and holy wonder, and supremely venerated; declared by the Lord, as far as those who learned were capable of comprehending, and understood by those chosen by the Lord to acknowledge; "whose senses "says the apostle, "were exercised."
But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age [perfect], even them who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Those had not their senses exercised, nor did they know good and evil. He is not speaking now concerning life [conduct], when he says to discern good and evil, for this is possible and easy for every man to know, but concerning doctrines that are wholesome and sublime, and those that are corrupted and low. The babe knows not how to distinguish bad and good food. Oftentimes at least it even puts dirt into its mouth, and takes what is hurtful; and it does all things without judgment; but not [so] the full grown man. Such [babes] are they who lightly listen to everything, and give up their ears indiscriminately: which seems to me to blame these [Hebrews] also, as being lightly carried about, and now giving themselves to these, now to those. Which he also hinted near the end [of the Epistle], saying, Be not carried aside by various and st...
258. – Having listed three things which pertain to a high priest and showed that two of them were verified, namely, the office and the proper way of attaining it, the Apostle now considers the third thing which a high priest should have, namely, mercy and compassion. In regard to this he does two things: first, he shows what He suffered; secondly, what benefits accrued even to others (v. 9).
259. – He says, therefore: I have stated that a high priest should be such as to be able to have compassion. But Christ is such a high priest. For since He is the Son of God from all eternity, and, therefore, could not suffer or have compassion, He assumed a nature in which He would suffer and even have compassion. And this is what He says, namely, although he was a Son from all eternity, He learned obedience from time. But only the ignorant can learn; whereas Christ, being God from all eternity, had fullness of knowledge from the very instant of His conception as man. Therefore, He was not igno...
