Hebrews 5:11-6:10 Lesson 421

Hebrews 5:11-6:10
Lesson 421

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

We continue with the segment, Christ as the "Great High Priest," begun in lesson 420.

Milk versus meat. Immature verses mature (5:11-14).

Keep your faith growing and moving forward (6:1-3).

The danger of Apostasy (6:4-8).

Jesus, the Great High Priest.
(A Greek Orthodox icon)

Study Tip:

Don't forget to read the margin notes in blue and to click on the links.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Hebrews

The King James Bible

Hebrews 5:11-6:10
Slow learners

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1-10
A warning

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Margin notes:

"Of whom we have many things to say." (5:11) - The "whom" refers to King Melchizedek, discussed in the last lesson. Hebrews will have more to say about Melchizedek in lesson 423.

"Hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." (5:11) - "Hard to explain, because you are slow to understand."

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers." (5:12) - "It's time that you should be teaching." As believers grow in knowledge, they should be able to explain their faith to others (1 Peter 3:15).

"The oracles of God." (5:12) - "The word of God."

"Milk." (5:12) - Milk is a metaphor for the basic fundamentals of Scriptural teachings (1 Corinthians 3:2).

"Strong meat." (5:12) - A metaphor for advanced Scriptural teachings.

"Useth milk." (5:13) - "Lives on milk." To understand the dangers of being an immature Christian, read Ephesians 4:14-15).

"Them that are of full age." (5:14) - "Those who are mature, knowledgeable Christians."

"Those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (5:14) - "Those who through experience are trained to distinguish good from evil." In other words, they recognize temptation when they see it.

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection." (6:1) - "Therefore, lets leave the fundamental principles of Christ's doctrine and move on to a deeper understanding and become mature, knowledgeable Christians."

"Not laying again." (6:1) - "Not replaying again."

"Laying on of hands." (6:2) - Laying hands on a believer showed that they had been set aside by God for a special assignment or had received a spiritual gift or blessing.

"Heavenly gift." (6:4) - The gift of salvation.

"Partakers of the Holy Ghost." (6:4) - "Partners with the Holy Ghost." This theme of partnership is reinforced from Hebrews 3:14.

"The world to come." (6:5) - The world to come is the eternal afterlife (Mark 10:30).

"If they shall fall away." (6:6) - "If they should reject Christ."

"Renew them again." (6:6) - "Revive them again."

"Open shame." (6:6) - "Public shame."

"For the earth which drinketh in the rain... (6:7-8) - Verses 6:7-8 are a parable comparing a successful and unsuccessful farmer to mature and backsliding Christians.

"We are persuaded better things of you." (6:9) - "We are confident of better things for you."

"God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love." (6:10) - "God is fair and will remember (and reward) your work and labor or love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

"Ye have ministered to the saints." (6:10) - "You have helped Christians."

New Living Translation

Hebrews 5:11-6:10
A Call to Spiritual Growth

11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen.

12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.

13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right.

14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Hebrews 6:1-10

1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.

2 You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened-those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,

5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come-

6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing.

8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.

10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. Why admonish the Jewish Christians in verses 5:11-14?

Study the Bible every day.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. These Jewish Christians were admonished because they were immature believers. Instead of spreading the good news of salvation and helping others, this group had forgotten the tenets of Christianity (5:12). They were not applying the basic teachings of Christ to their own lives.




Application thought for the day:

At what stage is your spiritual maturity?

Spend the next few days thinking of ways you can grow in faith.
Hint, there are several ways found in this segment; verse 6:10 is one.

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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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