⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[a]”^(A)

Invitation to the Thirsty

2 Therefore, rid yourselves^(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander^(B) of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,^(C) so that by it you may grow up^(D) in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.^(E)

¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths^(A) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!^{(B) 13} Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,^(C) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature,^(D) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.^(E)

6 Therefore let us move beyond^(F) the elementary teachings^(G) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^[a](H) and of faith in God, ² instruction about cleansing rites,^[b](I) the laying on of hands,^(J) the resurrection of the dead,^(K) and eternal judgment. ³ And God permitting,^(L) we will do so.