Hebrews 6.3
October 20th 2013
Let’s pray.
Welcome welcome. We are in Hebrews chapter 5 and will read into chapter 6 today – Lord willing.
Prior to this let’s hear (and yes, even sing) the Word of God put to music, then we’ll pause for a few moments for personal prayer before coming back and picking it up at Hebrews 5:10.
Alright, last week we talked about through the suffering of Jesus He became the author and finisher of faith for those who – remember? – that’s right, those who “obey Him” . . . and we talked about this at length.
Now, at verse six of chapter five (which we covered three weeks ago) the writer reminded us of a concept – that the Old Testament (Psalm 110:4) said of the promised Messiah:
“Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Well this is such an important promise that the writer of Hebrews repeats it over and over again – once again in verse 10, then in chapter 6 at verse 20, then in chapter 7 in verses 11, 17 and 21.
That’s SIX times the writer quotes and requites that Jesus is a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek – so it means something very important.
So after talking about Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith, the writer kicks of his next thought regarding Jesus with . . . that’s right (verse 10)
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedec.
I’m gonna stop here before we continue reading because his bringing this prophecy up here (again) is in preparation of talking about this fact specifically – which he will do in chapter seven.
But in mentioning Melchizedek, the writer appears to be reminded that these Jewish converts to Christ have been negligent in pursuing Christ, and have allowed themselves to remain babes, and so from verse 11 (here in chapter 5) through to the end of chapter 6 he spends sort of reproving them for this.
In other words, we might look at the information presented beginning with verse 11 in chapter five all the way through to the end of chapter six as a long parenthetical reference.
In verse 10 he brings up Melchizedek then at verse 11 he addresses these believers failure to grow in grace and knowledge all the way through the last verse of chapter six, and then he picks the topic of Melchizedek up again at chapter seven.
So, he says, (in verse 10), speaking of Jesus:
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedec.
And then he embarks on chiding the reader by now saying as if in a parenthesis:
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.
His chide continues into chapter six, where he says:
Hebrew 6:1 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.
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Now the Greek term for high priest here is Arche Hierous (arche-yuroos)
Arche – the first, the primary, the top
Hiera – priest
“An-arche yuroos” would be someone who accepts no high priest but a “Christi- arche-yuroos” would be someone who accepts no high priest but Christ.
In other words, anyone who is a believer in the New Testament of all priesthood being fulfilled in Christ is “Christi-anarchy-yuroos.”
The Catholics cannot be considered such.
Neither the LDS, as both receive priests and high priests who rule over them.
Now referring to this mysterious being named Melchizedek, the writer goes on and says (verse 11)
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
There are a lot of things which seem strange to say about this character, many of them are hard to understand,” the writer says.
If the writer of Hebrews was Paul (I personally don’t think it was but I could be wrong) but if it was, he (or whoever the writer was) seems to know that bringing Melchizedek up was going to be a difficult concept for those who would read this epistle to understand.
In light of this many people believe the writer of Hebrews to be Paul because he was known to teach and write things that were not so simple.
I mean, even Peter, speaking of Paul said (in II Peter 3:16):
“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
Whoever wrote Hebrews he is saying that when it comes to the subject of Melchizedek, there are many things to say (which he will say in chapter seven, by the way) but they are hard to bring up because the readers this epistle was aimed at were “dull of hearing.”
Their souls have not kept up with the doctrines delivered to them.
It seems the best imagery is someone who plods along sluggishly picking up on what lays before them.
What in particular is being referred to here but it appears that the general idea is “you have settled backward into your walk rather than pushing forward – and therefore the already difficult topic of Melchizedek is made all the more cumbersome by the fact that you have not matured in the faith.
If you are a new Christian what I am about to say may sting a bit if you don’t take it in context. If you are a long time Christian who is still dabbling in milk what I am about to say will certainly offend you.
There seems to be this odd inverse appeal to gospel topics present in new and immature believers.
I have witnessed this time and time again.
What I mean by this is babes in Christ often want to only talk about the most difficult topics (what is called the Trinity, end times, can a demon invade a baby and stuff like this – who Melchizedek is) while long time but still immature believers want to stay talking about salvation, repentance, water baptism, and whether the resurrection occurs pretrib or post.
Here, the writer of Hebrews is chiding the Jewish reader for not growing in the Word, but instead only being able to still consume (understand) milk (things easy to spiritually) understand. And so he says (verse 12)
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.
Considering the time which has elapsed since you were converted you ought to be teaching others but instead you are still needing to be taught!
This passage proves that the writer was not writing to new Christians but believers who had been around long enough to be expected to understand such doctrines as Melchizedek and/or other topics hard to comprehend.
I know I am speaking to the choir here but they way this happens, the way we become the teacher instead of the pupil as Christians is through the very means we go from being pupils to teachers in ANYTHING – it takes work, study, and experience.
Spiritual knowledge is not acquired through osmosis, or imagination, or just really wanting to know or love the Lord.
It comes by hearing the word, by reading the word, in association with the presence of His Holy Spirit.
I met a young man the other day – 25 years my junior –who in many ways is presently at 27 where I am now.
How? A devotion to seeking truth, to studying the word.
The writer here tells his immediate audience that they ought to be teachers by now. But they have been sluggish in their walk.
I’ve gotta tell you frankly, I’ve seen a lot of people who are truly churched – they know the songs, they know the culture, they know how to throw themselves on the ground and to speak in tongues who are babes in Christ.
Rich in experience, poor in understanding, unable to teach but needing to be taught.
The writer says this is not the first time, but uses the word “again,” meaning they have once received the milk of the word but so much time has gone by they need to be reminded of its meaning and content.
And what is it the writer says they need to be re-taught?
“The first principles of the oracles of God.”
The basic elements of the scriptures. What’s interesting is they had now New Testament so was he talking about the first principles of the Old Testament word of God.
Maybe.
The Greek word for oracles is loge-on and it means the utterances of God. This being said, if we can trust the basic chronologies in which we think the New Testament gospels, epistles, and Revelation were written (and these are not certain) the following New Testament writings seem to have existed among the body of believers prior to the writer producing Hebrews:
James – 50 A.D.
First Thessalonians – 52-53.
Second Thessalonians – 52-53.
Galatians – 55.
First Corinthians – 57.
Second Corinthians – 57.
Romans – 57-58.
Philippians – 62-63.
Colossians – 62-63.
Philemon – 62-63.
Ephesians – 62-63.
Luke – 63.
Acts – 64.
First Timothy – 65.
Titus – 65.
Second Timothy – 66.
Mark – 66.
Matthew – 67.
Hebrews – 67.
In other words, most of the epistles were available somewhere between 17 and 4 years before Hebrews was written so I think the writer was talking about them.
As a side note it is thought that . . . .
First and second Peter – 67-68.
and Jude and Revelation being written in 68 AD.
And only the Gospel of John coming in 85 and his Epistles in 90-95.
So, again, the writer says:
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.
This line, “and are become such,” means much more than these believers were just these type of believers.
” . . .are become” is taken from the Greek ginomai and means they have passed from one state into another, or in this case, they had passed from a condition of hope back to needing the most simple form of instruction.
This little Greek insight fits well with the general direction of the epistle which, in my opinion, is aimed at keeping them from apostasy.
It appears that whomever the writer was addressing they were verging towards it, and had come to that state where, if they were going to be recovered it would come by them relearning the basics of the Good News.
Remember, if Hebrews was written in 67 AD, some of those reading these warnings could, if they were converted at Pentecost, for example, been Christians for some 34 years.
And it appears that they had gone backward – to the point of being like newborns – incapable of gnoshing on anything of substance and therefore could only take milk, and not strong spiritual nourishment (or meat, as the word says).
We see this sometimes – people who have had the Jesus experience and who remain in the Jesus experience.
It’s a wonderful time, when we first come to know the Lord and receive Him. For some it is almost magical as God, like the parent of a newborn, is ever present feeding us with His Spirit, opening our eyes, applauding our every advancement.
As a means to keep this moment alive, many return, week end and week out, seeking to renew it and like Pan, don’t wanna grow up.
In the physical maturation process we expect our children to mature – to take on new responsibilities, to overcome childish outbursts, and to grow in both stature and abilities.
Since abilities are enhanced and perfected through experience, and practice, and pain, the best parents are not afraid to let their children grow through work, pain, and difficulty.
Spiritual maturation is NOT one bit different.
It seems these believers didn’t want to grow or mature and in the end I will go out on a limb and suggest they just didn’t want to experience the pain, do the work, or have to process through the difficulty of overcoming spiritual issues as a means to mature in Christ.
John the Beloved says something interesting in 3rd John 1:4. Speaking of believers he has had an influence over he said:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Paradoxically, while the truth will always set us free, the demands to obtain it can be trying.
In the first chapter of James he penned:
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations . . .
The Greek, translated temptations here in the King James is better understood as trials. We are talking about any trial or test or tempering of our faith or stances of faith. James goes on . . .
“knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
In our aims at walking in truth, it is one thing to intellectual believe an idea, it is a whole other issue to have it tried, and tested, and to come out on the other end of the trial stronger in the belief.
We intellectually know we are to love – as Christ loved. We talk about it, read about it, conceptually agree to the premise.
As babes in Christ God often surround us with people to love – mentors who take time with us, Christian friends who talk all about Jesus and welcome you as a true sister or brother, parents to our faith there to encourage us along.
They are easy to love because they are so dedicated to “us” and our person.
As time passes, we begin to learn the true meaning of love, as God allows us to run into those who are not so doting, into people who claim Christ but are what we might call “high maintenance,” into supposed believers who despitefully use and abuse us.
Each interaction, when met with His love, culminates in our not only believing in love but mastering it to the glory of God.
The writer of Hebrews continues, saying in (verse 13)
13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
This passage does not mean they are not Christian, but that they are like babes and therefore unskilled, inexperienced, and incapable of understanding or teaching heavier things just as infants are incapable, inexperienced, and unable to chomp down a thick piece of steak.
Don’t take this wrong – the time for spiritual milk is as vital a time as it is for a baby to have mother’s milk.
In fact, an infant won’t survive without it since it cannot eat solids from birth.
The apostle Peter wrote in 1st Peter 2:2
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
But Paul adds in 1st Corinthians 13:11
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
In other words, put the milk away – have some pasta, have some almonds, have some fillet . . . of soul.
Ephesians 4:14 talks about the importance of this maturity, saying:
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
He goes on laying out a tremendous description of what it looks like to have matured spiritually, saying (verse 14)
14 But “strong meat”
“belongeth to them that are”
A. of full age
“who “by reason of use”
have their “senses exercised”
“to discern both good and evil.”
“Strong meat” (solid spiritual food) “belongs to” (is for) “them that are of full age” (who are mature in the faith NOT in years but in exposure to the “word of Righteousness”).
“Who by reason of use,” (who are in the practice of using, applying, implementing the Word of Righteousness and working through the trials to their faith).
“Who by reason of use . . .”have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Now, we need to take a moment and make something really clear here.
This passage is describing a person who, over time and a lot of attention to the Word of Righteousness is equipped with the ability to discern (by and through their spiritual sensitivities) “what is both good” (that which is beneficial to hear and learn and understand) . . . “and that which is evil” (and ought to be avoided).
The ability of mature Christians to possess such skill is greatly needed as a means to expose heresy, can detect false prophecy, and help protect the flock from wolves.
Notice that the maturity level of the Christian is based on their understanding of the Word of Righteousness.
It is not based on their time in the body nor is it based on any (beat) other factor.
This ability is NOT (I repeat, not) based on religious traditions nor is it based on teleological aims (meaning what works best or will produce the greatest results).
It is based on Deuotological objectives (meaning doing and believing what God says in His Word).
Now listed, it does not matter if ten million people believe and teach something – including scholars, mature Christians, and the most prominent preachers of the Word – if it is not supported soundly and contextually in the Word, it can (and will here at CAMPUS, at least) be challenged.
This is what the passage is saying, my friends –
That strong meat belongs to them that are of full age who “by reason of use” have their “senses exercised” to discern both good and evil.
It is easy to be imaginative when it comes to Christian issues – just ask Joseph Smith.
It is easy to stand on dogmatic traditions set forth and propagated by well meaning (and lazy or power-hungry) men and women – just observe the rites and practices of Roman Catholicism.
And it is easy – so very easy – to believe that popular opinion and sway rules the day – especially in religious doctrine, theology, and praxis – just look at the ubiquitous misuse of the term tithing.
No matter how persuasive or influential, IF such things are NOT supported by the Word they are meaningless – no matter how effective they are at ruling the masses.
Another point to consider relative to what is being said here is to closely examine, from a biblical perspective, what it really looks like to discern what is good and what is evil.
We have a tendency to think of evil and good in superficial terms – it denies complexity and permits us to nourish prejudice – even distain – in the name of God.
This faulty mindset (which appears good but in reality operates by darkness) allows us to operate by principles and methods which “appear good” in our self appointed wars against what “appears to be evil.”
Looking back 500 years to the days of the Reformation unconscionable terrors were done to people who truly loved and professed Christ by some of the most tenured Christians in the name of good to eradicate evil.
People who questioned Catholicism were burned at the stake, drown, and tortured in the name of preserving “good over evil.”
It was this very same spirit, which existed among the most knowledgeable and religious men of Jesus day, that had Him delivered up to the Romans.
Sitting and teaching His disciples in John 16 Jesus give them insight into the mindset of their enemies, saying
John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
In the Gospel of Luke, beginning at 9:51, we read an interesting story which says:
“And it came to pass, when the time was come that He (Jesus) should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”
But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”
I think this situation helps provide us with a good working definition for us of what it looks like to be a mature Christian that is of full age and “who by reason of use” have their “senses exercised to discern both good and evil –
We use our knowledge of the Bible NOT to destroy lives, but to save them.”
This takes us into chapter six where the writer continues on with what he has been saying about his readers progressing in the faith, and becoming stronger in the Word of Righteousness, as a means to avoid apostasy. He says some frankly radical stuff (ready, verse 1-3):
Hebrew 6:1 Therefore, (“as a result of everything I have said” – and he gives a laundry list of items that belong in what we might call the Milk department . . .
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,”
“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.
“Since,” the writer seems to be saying, “since you ought to be capable of comprehending deeper doctrines” leave the basic elements of Christianity and start swimming in the deep end of the pool.
Such things, such mysteries, such conversations are as appropriate for you to pursue as steak and sushi are for the adult.
Sometimes we hear people complaining that others are making the Gospel to hard, that we should get back to the fundamentals and basics of the faith and stop making Christianity so difficult.
The writer of Hebrews shuts such thinking down.
How come? Why does God want us to become meat eaters of the Word?
I can think of a few reasons – many of which are not necessarily understood by newer Christians (or babes in Christ) who promote “staying with the basics.”
First, in terms of nutritional values, adults need to consumer foods with more complex nutrients than milk to remain healthy and strong.
Biologically an adult human body that only consumes milk could get a condition called hypercalcemia – too much calcium in the blood. If untreated it will lead to peptic ulcers, high blood pressure, kidney stones and depression.
At the risk of being too “on the nose about these comparisons” our spiritual lives and walk, if only exposed to milk over and over again will lead to the same.
We are not created to exist in stasis but to grow and expand in dynamic Christian forms – especially in matter of the Spirit. Incorporating spiritual meat into our daily diet allows for this.
Another reason the writer is promoting meat over milk is that the presence of meat will equip us for the spiritual battles that increase for us over time.
Milk drinkers are sort of like martial artists who only have one move – like a throat punch. It will suffice (due to God’s providence) for a time as the enemies allowed to attack us can be readily disarmed by it.
But in time our enemies learn the move, and we need to learn more advanced approaches to meet (and defeat) their advancing assaults.
Finally, I think we make a tremendous error in judgment when we think the sole ambition of God is to merely redeem us and then leave us as infants, babes, or even children.
We are to become sons and daughters. More on this another time – it’s meaty.
Finally, to remain languishing in the valley of our initial redemption forever never gives us a view of what God would have us see as fully mature Christians.
Far, far too many “Christians” think and believe that the fulfilled Christian walk is physically based – that it’s all about fellowship, activities, worship services, and Christian events.
These things have their place. But God is Spirit and we are to worship Him in Spirit and Truth. The deeper the truths, the deeper the worship.
In my opinion appealing and promoting these “physical elements” of Christianity is akin to someone enrolling in college, paying the tuition, receiving the blessed opportunities to learn but they have done all of this for the parties.
Hey, it happens both in college and in church.
So the writer says something completely :
“Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.”
(LONG BEAT – LOOKING AT THE AUDIENCE)
We’ll see exactly what this means . . . next week.
MONDAY
THURSDAY
LOAVES AND FISHES PROGRAM
