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Bible Study/Commentary
Hebrews 6: Let Us Go On To Spiritual Maturity
Hebrews Chapter 6 continues the call to spiritual maturity from the previous chapter, encouraging believers to continue growing beyond the foundational teachings.
The author issues a serious warning about the consequences of falling away from faith after experiencing the gifts of the Spirit.
The chapter concludes on a note of hope and assurance, affirming God's unchanging nature and promises.
Bible Study/Commentary & Verses
Verses 1-3: Our Call to Spiritual Maturity
The author begins by encouraging believers to move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ, and to go on to Spiritual maturity.
He lists the foundational teachings, which are:
1) Repentance from Dead Works,
2) Faith towards God,
3) Baptisms,
4) Laying on of Hands,
5) the Resurrection of the Dead, and
6) the Eternal Judgment.
Verses 4-8: The Warning against Falling Away
This is a stern passage that warns about the impossibility of restoring to repentance, those who have fallen away - if they have been enlightened, and have understood the gospel, experienced the heavenly gift of salvation, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the goodness of God's Word, and the powers of the age to come.
The metaphor of land drinking in the rain and producing a useful crop, and then develops thorns and thistles, is used to illustrate the expectation of fruitfulness from those who have experienced God's grace.
Verses 9-12: Encouragement and Desire for Believers to be Diligent
Despite the strong warning, the author expresses confidence that the believers will do what accompanies salvation and not fall away.
They are encouraged to show diligence, so as not to be sluggish but to imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.
Verses 13-20: God's Unchanging Promise
The chapter concludes by reflecting on the certainty of God's promise. Abraham's story is referenced, where God swore by Himself (since there was no one greater) to reassure Abraham. God's oath gives believers strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before them, Jesus, the High Priest, who entered the inner sanctuary on their behalf.
Overall Summary
Hebrews Chapter 6 challenges believers to strive for spiritual maturity, progressing beyond the elementary principles of faith.
The author delivers a stern warning about the severe consequences of apostasy, emphasizing the expectation of spiritual fruitfulness.
However, the chapter also provides hope and encouragement, reminding believers of the unchanging nature of God's promise, embodied in the hope we have in Jesus, our High Priest.
This chapter stresses the gravity of commitment in our faith and the steadfast assurance that lies in God's promise.
Hebrews 6
The Peril of Not Progressing
6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The Certainty of God's Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Q & A
Hebrews 6:1-3
Q1: What does the author encourage the readers to do regarding the elementary doctrine of Christ?
A1: The author encourages the readers to leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and move on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, and also leaving behind teachings about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. This is to be done if God permits.
Hebrews 6:4-6
Q2: According to verses 4-6, what is described as impossible, and why is it impossible?
A2: It is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the goodness of the word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance. This is because they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Hebrews 6:7-8
Q3: What analogy is used in verses 7-8 to describe the situation of those who have fallen away?
A3: The analogy used is that of land that has drunk the rain and produces a useful crop receives a blessing, but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless, near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Hebrews 6:9-12
Q4: Despite the warning, what assurance does the author express for the readers in verses 9-12?
A4: The author expresses confidence in the readers, believing in better things related to salvation. He acknowledges their work, the love shown for God's name in serving the saints, and encourages them to show earnestness, have full assurance of hope until the end, and be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:13-20
Q5: What is highlighted about God's promise to Abraham, and how does the author describe hope in verses 13-20?
A5: God's promise to Abraham is emphasized, where God, having no one greater to swear by, swore by himself, guaranteeing the unchangeable character of his purpose with an oath. The author describes hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, entering into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus, as a forerunner on our behalf, has become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.