Hebrews Chapter 6
By
Jim Bomkamp
1. VS 6:1-3 - “6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let
us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead
works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings, and laying on
of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we
shall do, if God permits.” - The author tells the reader that he is going
to leave speaking of elementary points of doctrine and teaching and press on to
speak of things for the mature believer
1.1.
In verse 1 the
"therefore" seems to be prospective instead of retrospective and used
because of the context being to address those who had once been enlightened and
then sunk into such a state of spiritual apathy described in the preceding verses. These ones were not worth the wasting of time
since only God could change their heart.
Rather, for those who were growing in Christ, the author would prefer to
unfold the higher principles of Christianity.
1.2.
The author says "let us
press on to maturity." The
"elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ" which he says he is
going to avoid teaching refers to those elementary basics of Christianity which
babies in Christ would be instructed in, those principles essential to a
knowledge of salvation. This list of the
basic principles of the Christian walk is not complete but just a partial
list:
1.2.1. "Repentance from dead works."
1.2.1.1. This simply means to repent from sins (see ch. 9:14), and these sins
are dead works because they produce death or misery, or because they are the
works of men who in a spiritual sense are dead.
1.2.1.2. To repent of these is to have a change of mind, which is necessary to
salvation. It’s a 180° turn from committing sins that repentance implies. Its turning away from serving self and selfish
interests to serving the Lord.
1.2.2. "Faith toward God."
1.2.2.1. This probably means not just a belief in God, but a belief in the
Savior Jesus Christ through which we can be saved after having repented.
1.2.3. “Instruction about washings and laying on of hands.”
1.2.3.1. In verse 2, the list has been a cause of a great deal of critical
discussion. It is important in regard to
this part of the list to remember that the direct recipients of this epistle
are Hebrew Christians who have been instructed about Christianity in their
Jewish context and heritage, therefore “the doctrine of baptisms or washings,”
must refer to that proper depiction of the practices of the church of Christ
over against the teachings of the Pharisees and Jewish priests of the law, and
perhaps even against the teachings of John the Baptist since many had been his
disciples prior to joining Christ.
1.2.3.2. It seems that probably the best interpretation of the
"baptisms" and "laying on of hands" refers to that time in
new Hebrew Christians’ lives when they were baptized in water according to the
tradition of the apostles and hands were then laid on them to receive the Holy
Spirit.
1.2.4. "Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."
1.2.4.1. These were certainly the elements of any gospel preaching message and
subsequent invitation to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
1.3.
Verse 3 admits of two
interpretations.
1.3.1. The author is either saying that he will not insist on teaching these
fundamental principles, but proceed to something more meaty and deep, depending
on the assistance of God.
1.3.2. Or, he is saying he is going to leave the principles, etc., just now,
yet on another occasion he will readily enter on these subjects on which many
of them need much instruction. But he
will do this if God does allow, and if their apostasy does not unfortunately
make that discourse unnecessary.
1.3.2.1. I think the former interpretation is more likely.
1.4.
We Christians need to get
into the deeper truths of the Word of God and not be satisfied to have just a
cursory understanding of the principles of Christianity. If we truly love God, we should want to know
all the depths of knowledge He has revealed of Himself to mankind. Plus, we should press on to be strong in the
Word so that we can help others through skillful use of it. Our effectiveness in being used by God in
peoples’ lives is limited by our knowledge of God’s word!
2. VS 6:4-6 - “4 For in
the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the
heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have
tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have
fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they
again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.” - The author tells us that for
those who have once been enlightened and then fall away from the Lord that it
will be impossible to renew them to repentance
2.1.
Martin Luther had a
difficult time accepting the inspiration of this epistle since to him it seemed
to contradict what the Bible teaches about salvation being by faith and not
works. Thus, initially in his German
Bible the epistle was not included. The
epistle however does not in any way contradict the teaching of salvation by
faith in Christ not on the basis of works.
2.2.
Those who have believed
staunchly in the doctrine of eternal security have thought that verse 6 should
be translated "if they fall away" instead of “and then fall away,”
with the intimation that it is impossible for true Christians to fall away. This would make the statement merely
hypothetical since the action would be an impossibility, however, virtually
every scholar these days would say that would be just a poor translation and a
stretch of the imagination. The verse
should be translated "and then have fallen away."
2.3.
The persons depicted here
have fallen away from Christ and possibly even deny Him now. In these verses it must be considered whether
the persons being considered were true Christians or the spurious (fake,
shallow, insincere) type. In this regard
it is good to note what the apostle does “not” say concerning these
persons:
2.3.1. He does not say that they were saved, no, rather they were
"enlightened."
2.3.2. He does not say that they were regenerated though they were
"partakers of the Holy Spirit" as well as people who had "tasted
of the holy gift," to whatever that may refer (probably just salvation
itself?).
2.3.3. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20-25 that many would say to Him on that day of
judgment that they had done many great things in His name even such as casting
out demons, yet, Jesus said that He will tell them to depart from Him because
He never knew them.
2.3.4. I must ask the question here of whether or not God ever answers
non-Christian’s prayers? Could God work
through a non-Christian’s life?
2.3.4.1. In the book of Numbers, He seems to have worked through the life of
Balaam in the Old Testament.
2.3.4.2. In 1 Samuel, King Saul prophesied with the prophets of
2.3.4.3. In the gospels, Judas Iscariot was selected one of the twelve, and, had
apparently cast out demons and exercised much authority in the spiritual realm
(perhaps to effecting miracles, etc.), yet Jesus called him a son of perdition
(Hell) whom would have been better off never to have been born. This indicates
that he will spend eternity in hell.
2.4.
It is possible to have the
emotions touched and the will affected without the heart being truly
renewed. The gifts of the Spirit could
also possibly be received without His graces, or the recipient even having
receiving salvation. The joy of light in
the mind may be mistaken for life in the soul.
2.5.
In the Parable of the Sower
there are different types of seed into which the word of God is sown, and all
but the beaten path produce fruit initially, however, in time the true nature
of the soil is revealed and then some of the plants will die since they had no
"firm root within themselves."
2.6.
Are those who fall
completely away from Jesus truly saved or just wooed by the Spirit, even to the
point of His allowing these persons a fair measure of spiritual authority? This is the question each person must ask
themselves when they study these verses.
2.7.
When a particular scripture
seems to contradict what the Bible teaches there is a principle you should
follow. You must go with the "lake
of truth" concerning any biblical doctrine, and if a verse or two seems to
contradict what the lake of truth clearly teaches, then the verse or two must
be so interpreted as to explain their meaning in a non-conflicting manner. This is because the "God-inspired"
scripture cannot contradict itself. For
this, and many other reasons, most Christian scholars these days believe that
the persons referred to here were not in reality true Christians, but of the
temporary, self-deceived type.
2.8.
So then, these people
described in verses 4-6 have fallen away and it says they cannot be renewed to
repentance.
2.8.1. However, in what way (or why) then is it impossible for them to be
renewed to repentance?
2.8.1.1. God promises to turn no one away who truly repents, and in fact His
word says He cannot do that: "He is
able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by Him"; and, "him that cometh to Him, He will in
no wise cast out."
2.8.1.2. And, we also know "nothing is impossible with God."
2.8.2. My conclusion is that it is impossible for "men" to renew
these ones who had considerable spiritual privileges and enlightenment, and
then have turned away. As a result it is
for the most part profitless for us to spend much time explaining basic
principles which they once knew, but now they can't seem to come to a knowledge
of the truth. So, the path of explaining
once again the basic principles to these who had become dull of hearing will
not be taken. These ones will best be
dealt with by God alone in the school of trials and hard knocks. It is in that school that they shall find
repentance, if at all.
2.9.
In verse 6 the phrase "they
crucify to themselves afresh the son of God" describes the heinousness of
the crime of rejecting Christ after learning of His precious blood and even
experiencing some of heaven's delights of the Lord’s presence and blessing.
2.10.
Truly, people who turn away
from Christ after having once been in the church, heard the gospel preached,
and even been enlightened by the Lord are one in spirit with the men who
crucified Christ on a cross 2,000 years ago.
2.11.
These verses ought to give
all professing Christians a reality check.
If they have truly received salvation then they will persevere faithful
unto the end, and if they are backslidden then they are close to being in that
place where “it is impossible to renew them again to repentance”?
2.11.1.
How could one who once
professed to know the glorious Christ and the salvation He offers turn away
from Him?
2.11.2.
What could God use to woo a
backslider back again since he has seen firsthand the glories of Christ and of
the gospel?
2.11.3.
To be given over by God is a
scary thing to contemplate!
3. VS 6:7-8 - “7 For
ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth
vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a
blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and
close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.” - Ground that produces a good
crop yield receives a blessing from God
3.1.
The picture painted here
then is that of a field often rained on, and drinking in the rain. This is a very significant analogy here then
of a person who has long enjoyed the means of Christianity, and who has made
such a use of these means as to obtain a knowledge of that religion sufficient
to induce him to make a profession of it.
3.2.
The ground which drinks the
rain which often falls on it, is descriptive of those who have long enjoyed the
means of instruction, and who have often experienced the common influences of
the Holy Spirit. They "have been
enlightened," and tasted the heavenly gift," "the good word, and
the powers of the world to come."
3.3.
Theses verses are figurative
of two different classes of professing Hebrew Christians who are depicted as
two different fields, both of which have been subjected to the same culture,
but producing two different crops.
3.3.1. One has produced a crop of good grain.
3.3.1.1. This shows that it is blessed by God with fruitfulness.
3.3.1.2. The good vegetation produced is meant to go to the proprietor of the
field, and shows that the field is blessed of God. It is divine blessing on the field which makes
that field fertile.
3.3.1.3. This shows that the one field (class of Hebrews) is the object of the
kind regard of God.
3.3.2. The other has produced a crop of briars and thorns
3.3.2.1. This shows that it is cursed by the Lord with barrenness.
3.3.2.2. This field, though it drinks in the rain that often falls upon it, yet
it brings forth nothing profitable.
These persons have the same means of improvement as their
neighbors. They have the scriptures, and
divine ordinances, and the common influences of the Holy Spirit.
3.3.2.3. The persons here described are not those who continue utterly ignorant
and openly infidel: the emblem of such
persons is the rock, into which the rain cannot at all find its way. They seem to attend to some measure to
instruction- to understand to a certain degree the truth, and they make a
profession of believing it.
3.3.2.4. But these persons lives are useless and noxious to God. Instead of bringing forth the fruit of the
Spirit in their lives, they bring forth the fruit of the flesh.
3.3.2.5. This ground which produces only briars and thorns, is
"rejected," a word which signifies "disapproved of after
trial." It is in opposition to
being acceptable or "well pleasing."
3.3.2.6. These people are near to being cursed, and their end is to be
burned. Are these ones going to be
"saved" by Jesus? Only God
knows their individual hearts? He
doesn't say these ones are cursed, rather they are near to being cursed. And, if they continue on the path to which
they are heading, the "end" of that path is to be burned. The "unprofitable servant" is
"cast into outer darkness."
3.4.
What does the fruit in your
life look like?
3.4.1. Is it healthy and ripe and found in abundance?
3.4.2. On the other extreme, is it non-existent and instead of resembling
fruit it looks more like thorns?
3.4.3. Jesus said that ‘by their fruits you would know them,’ so is there
enough fruit in your life to show the reality of your faith in Christ?
3.5.
Do you really love
Christ? If so, then show your love by
obeying Him. Repent of that which displeases
Him and begin to bear good fruit.
4. VS 6:9-10 - “9 But,
beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that
accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not
unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His
name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” - The author states that he has
better hopes for his readers than that they be considered the worthless field
producing no good fruit
4.1.
The meaning of these verses
has been stated by one author as, "The reason why I have made these
awful statements about apostates, is not that I consider you whom I am
addressing as apostates; for your
conduct proves that this is not your character, and the promise of God secures
that their doom shall not be yours; but
that you may be stirred up to persevering steadiness in the faith, and hope,
and obedience of the truth, by a constant continuance in which alone you can,
like those who have gone before you obtain, in all their perfection, the
promised blessings of the Christian salvation."
4.2.
The "better
things" which these Hebrews are characterized by (symbolized by the
fruitful field in verse 7) are the fruits of the Spirit working in their lives,
which show the blessing of God working upon them (that field was fruitful for
it was blessed of God), and that as opposed to the curse of God over those who
are unfruitful.
4.3.
Likewise, perseverance in a
state of grace, even unto the end is evidenced in them.
4.4.
The author’s expectation of
his readers is that they would "continue rooted and ground in love,"
"established in the faith wherein they had been taught," instead of
turning back unto perdition.
4.5.
The labor of love toward the
saints that the readers had demonstrated was actually toward the Name of God,
as all of our ministry, is unto Jesus.
Whatever we do unto others, we have done unto Him.
4.6.
Their labor of love may have
included giving of advice, comfort, and encouragement; but, it seems primarily to refer to the relief
of bodily needs- relief given to them in their poverty and persecution. God will bring His blessings to those who
practice true religion and minister to those who are despised and rejected,
never forgetting their labor, for, "what they have done to the least of
these," they have done to Him.
4.7.
These ones written to have
demonstrated that their works of love to their brethren, are the result of
their love of God: "He that loves
is born of God and knows God," and these works demonstrate that these recipients
of this letter are heirs of salvation.
4.8.
Would there be enough
evidence in your life for an outsider to be convinced that you are truly
saved? If not, repent and start
producing good works...
5. VS 5:11 - “11 And we
desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full
assurance of hope until the end,” - The author tells us that his desire is that
his readers should ‘realize the full assurance of hope’ they had in Christ unto
the end
5.1.
In this verse Paul states
that he hopes that each one of the Hebrew Christians shows the same diligence
in labors of love, since in doing so they will obtain for themselves the
realization of the full assurance of hope unto the end. That assurance is possessed by those who are
producing the fruits of God's Spirit, of which love is primary.
5.2.
2 Peter 1:5-11 exhort us to
grow up, adding virtue to virtue in our walk in the Lord, and in this way we
shall make certain of our obtaining eternal salvation and of not stumbling in
our walk.
5.3.
We Christians must realize
that conversion is but a beginning, a first step, an entrance on a path; day by day its surrender must be
renewed; every day faith must afresh
accept Christ, and find its strength in Him.
5.4.
It is through faith and
longsuffering we Christians inherit, enter on the possession of the
promises. Salvation consists in what
Christ Jesus is to us and does in us.
There must, each day, be personal intercourse with Him, distinct
personal surrender to His teaching and working, if He is indeed to be our life.
5.5.
It is much easier to steer a
car that is moving, and if we are seeking Him and being faithful to Him He will
more easily be able to bless, use, and direct us.
6. VS 5:12 - “12 that you
may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience
inherit the promises.” - The author tells his readers that he desires
that they be not sluggish in their faith but rather imitate the faithful mature
Christians who are pressing on in their faith and walk with Christ
6.1.
As the author has just
exhorted these Hebrews to show diligence in their labors and thus obtain full
assurance of their salvation, he now warns them to persevere in showing
diligence, not to be sluggish or slothful.
6.2.
The word
"slothful" used here is the same word used previously and rendered
"dull of hearing."
6.3.
The author says to his
readers that they should patiently continue steadfast in their faith amidst all
the trials to which they were exposed, as did Moses, Abraham, and all their
forefathers, who along with them were inheriting the promises, which are i.e.
the promised blessings in heaven.
6.4.
We Christians must always
evaluate whether or not we are becoming sluggish in our walk with Christ. It is so easy for us to get into a rut in our
Christian walk. If we must fast and pray
in order to be delivered out of the rut we are in now, then we should do so.
7. VS 6:13-14 - “13 For
when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater,
He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you, and I will surely
multiply you.” 15 And thus, having
patiently waited, he obtained the promise.” - The author reminds his readers of God’s
promise to Abraham swearing that he would multiply his descendants
7.1.
The author reflects upon
Gen. 22:16-18 and the promises made to Abraham.
7.2.
Paul challenges the Hebrews
to imitate the faith of their father Abraham, who believed God when He spoke to
him and gave promises. Abraham, as our
example, waited patiently for these promises, exhibiting diligence and
perseverance.
7.3.
The particular promise to
Abraham which is referenced is one of blessing, and seems to be the blessing
conferred to Abraham after he went to offer up his son Isaac to God as a
sacrifice. The Hebrew in these verses doubly
states each clause for emphasis, and can be translated "in blessing I
will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply you."
7.4.
God made a number of
promises to Abraham, some of them referring to the temporal, and others of them
to spiritual blessings - some of them relating to himself personally, and
others relating to his posterity, either natural or spiritual. The promise referred to here is for his
posterity, and is confirmed with God's oath.
7.5.
An oath is the highest form
of assurance a man can give for his testimony, and, God gave His oath to
Abraham to increase Abraham's trust in His promise. This "blessing" includes the
promise of the Messiah, and the spiritual multiplying of descendants, namely,
us today in the church who are Abraham's children.
7.6.
As God swore to Abraham to bless
him if he followed the Lord, He also promises us with blessing if we follow in
Abraham's spiritual footsteps, walking by faith in obedience to the Lord.
7.7.
I believe also that God's
oath applies to us as Abraham's descendants.
God swears by Himself, since He can swear by no one higher, that He will
bring His blessing to our lives if we walk as Abraham walked. This, is one of the highest rewards one of
God's children can have, to have God's blessing upon their lives and
ministries, His multiplying them with spiritual descendants, as He did
Abraham.
7.8.
God considers you a
multiplier. When we begin to realize
there is something beyond the mere being saved from wrath, that there is a
becoming the recipient, and the channel, and the dispenser, of life and
blessing to others, then we will be willing to sacrifice everything in
longsuffering to endure until we obtain the promise of being in God’s calling
for our lives and being used greatly by Him.
8. VS 6:16-18 - “16 For
men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as
confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 In the same way God, desiring even
more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose,
interposed with an oath, 18 in order that by two unchangeable things, in which
it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have
fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.” - The author describes the
nature of God’s oaths, those which we can place our hope in as believers in
Christ
8.1.
In these verses we see Paul
beginning to unfold that God wants to bless the heirs of His promise, the
spiritual descendants of Abraham, with His promise of blessing, that which we
discussed in the previous section of scripture.
8.2.
The two unchangeable things
here are God's promise and His oath.
8.3.
The author encourages his
readers to faith by saying that it is impossible for God to tell a lie.
8.4.
Which of God’s oaths is
being referenced in these verses:
8.4.1. Some have said that the promise referred to here, which also has an
oath, is actually the promise that Christ shall forever be a priest according
to the order of Melchizedek, and this is because verses 19-20 describe our hope
as being based upon Christ's priesthood, which is before the throne of God.
8.4.2. Others have said that the two unchangeable things are the two oaths,
the one to Abraham and his descendants, and the other concerning Christ being a
priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
8.5.
Both promises and oaths are
valid for us, as Abraham's descendants, so I think any of these interpretations
are adequate, and provide the obviously intended encouragement to believe God
and to be patient in our diligence of the faith, persevering faithfully unto
the end.
8.6.
God’s oath to us which we inherit
as spiritual children of Abraham plainly proves that the thing He seeks above
everything is our faith. The Lord wants
us to trust Him. Faith is nothing but
depending on God to do for us what we cannot do - what He has undertaken to
do.
8.7.
God's purpose concerning us
is something of infinite and inconceivable blessedness. He is ready, He longs, as God, Himself to
work in us all that He has promised.
However, He cannot do this except as we open our hearts to Him, and
yield ourselves in stillness and surrender for Him to do His work.
8.8.
Faith opens our whole heart
and life in expectation and hope. When
we first believe His promises the Lord is free to work; faith gives Him His place as God, and honors
Him; and He fulfills the promise, "him
that honors Me, will I honor."
8.9.
The first and the last, the
one thing, God asks is that we trust Him to do His work. God wills to show us how unchangeable His
purpose to bless us is, if we will but let Him, if we will but trust Him, and
by trusting Him let Him work. He wills
to show us this more abundantly, and to waken and to shame us out of our
unbelief. He comes, and, as if it were
possible for God to lie, calls us to listen as He takes an oath in our presence
that He will do what He has said: "Blessing
I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."
8.10.
In the Christian life if
there is a lack of steadfastness, of diligence, of perseverance, of all the
cause is simply - lack of faith.
9. VS 6:19-20 - “19 This
hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one
which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for
us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” - The hope we have in the Lord
and His promises to us is an anchor to our soul
9.1.
In these verses Jesus as the
high priest is man’s hope since He appears before the throne of God for man,
"within the veil" in heaven, "ever living to make intercession
for him."
9.2.
Scripture says, "His
blood cleanses us from all sin."
This is what is at the foundation of human hope. This hope enters into the veil in heaven
where Jesus has entered for men, and is eternal life itself.
9.3.
This hope is an anchor of
the soul, as it preserves the mind firm in the profession and obedience of the
truth. He who lays hold of this hope
will not be "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine," but will
be "rooted and grounded in love," and "established in the faith."
9.4.
In chapter 5, speaking of
the priesthood of Jesus, the writer had twice cited the words of Psalm 110,
with its prophecy of a priest after the order of Melchizedek. But, he feared that the Hebrews were, by
reason of sloth, too far back in the Christian life to be able to receive this
higher teaching. It was on this account
he interposed his words of reproof and warning.
From these he had passed on to giving exhortation and encouragement, and
is now he is ready to address himself to what is the central teaching of the
epistle.
9.5.
There are two great heavenly
mysteries the author is preparing to unfold to us:
9.5.1. The one, that of the heavenly priesthood of Christ.
9.5.2. The heavenly sanctuary in which Christ ministers, and into which He
grants men access.
9.6.
As the anchor which holds
the ship from drifting, so if we will have faith in the hope in the unseen
within the veil in heaven, which God has given us, He will hold us fast.
9.7.
We need to hold fast to all
of the faithful promises which God has given to us in Christ. We need to read and memorize God’s Word so
that those promises will be fresh in our minds.