The Jews that the writer of Hebrews is addressing were living in fear, and fear shifts our hopes to new hopes and away from God. He issues a stiff warning. He says that they are still in need of milk (the law) when they should be teaching the gospel to others, adding that they should leave behind the shadows and images found in the Old Testament and embrace Jesus, the Messiah who is greater than any expectations found in the Old Testament. They need to leave their ethnic, traditional, ceremonial faith in God for a real faith in Jesus.