Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Heb. 6:4–6, Matt. 16:24, Rom. 6:6, Heb. 10:26–29, Heb. 6:9–13, Heb. 6:17–20.
Memory Text: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 6:19, 20
Hebrews 5:11-6:20 interrupts the theological exposition about Jesus’ priesthood in our behalf. Paul inserts there a severe warning about the danger of falling away from Christ.
5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
5:12 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.
5:13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
5:14 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.
Chapter 6
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,
6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
6:4 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,
6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6:6 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.
6:7 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:
6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.
6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
6:10 For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
6:11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation [is] to them an end of all strife.
6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath:
6:18 That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
6:19 Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Apparently, the people were in real danger of going down the slippery slope of self-pity and faithlessness. The apostle Paul is concerned that his readers and hearers may have had their spiritual senses dulled because of the difficult situations they were facing, and thus they had stopped growing in their understanding and experience of the gospel.
No, difficult situations are not the cause of faithlessness. It is because we do not look to Jesus for the help He wants to give. This is what we read in these verses. "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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." Hebrews 5:11,12.
If we continue reading we find what are the first principles that need to be taught again. We are a dull people being 6,000 years away from the holiness we were created in. Paul encourages us that we have a Helper at our side who wants to indwell the heart and mind if we will let Him. If we allow our minds to wander away from Jesus, then we have no power to resist the smallest temptation. Israel had lost sight of the meaning of the sacrifices. Paul is instructing the Hebrews so that they might rightly understand the foundation of the Christian religion. He understands the issues since he was ignorant of what the symbols in the sanctuary represented and had set about to persecute those who were following Jesus.
Is not this a potential danger for us all, getting discouraged because of trials, and thus falling away?
The severe warning culminates, however, in an affectionate encouragement. Paul expresses faith in his readers and exalts Jesus as the embodiment of God’s unbreakable promise of salvation to them (Heb. 6:9-20). This cycle of warning and encouragement is repeated in Hebrews 10:26-39.
We will study this cycle and focus on the strong words of encouragement that Jesus provides for us.
It is important that we understand where Jesus is. Has He taken possession of the heart, or is He on the outside knocking on the door wanting in? How can we tell where He is? It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin and righteousness. What is He saying to you today? Are you refusing Him or following Him. What are the results seen in our lives? Is it the fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh? This is what needs to be understood that we might understand our relationship to Jesus. The Laodicean believes all is well when it is not. Many are in danger of having their probation closed (spewing out). Jesus loves us and does not want to see us die. He suffered and died that we might live. He is working for us today. He is our High Priest working to save our souls.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 12.