Bible Commentaries
Hebrews 6

Verse 1

Hebrews 6:1

Doctrine of Christ -- (See notes on Hebrews by R.W. Gould in my files.) All these ideas refer to doctrine about the Christ in Judaist.

Repentance from dead works -- the works and ordinations of the law of Moses, the sacrifices, sabbaths, etc.

Repentance -- and faith.. and washing (v. 2)

Verse 2

Hebrews 6:2

Baptisms -- washings of priests before going into the temple (like NT baptism)

[Unger’s Bible Dictionary parallel acts that require washing; 1. touching the dead; 2. things that defiled the body, etc]

John 13’s foot washing -- more than an act of hospitality, but in connections with Passover cleansing, ??

Laying on of hands -- on the scape goat (like reception of the H.S., blessings and ordinations).

Resurrection -- John 1:1-29, eschatology.

Verse 3

Hebrews 6:3

Verse 4

Hebrews 6:4

Impossible -- Note vs. 6, (Hebrews 6:6) this "impossibility" is "while" (or seeing) they crucify the Son of God afresh. The writer is saying that salvation is ONLY found in Christ, for the Hebrews to go back to the Law is to forfeit God’s salvation. There is NO WAY outside of Christ to be saved!

[Baptist say -- see The Arminian view has it if you loose your salvation you cannot get it back, according to this passage.]

Enlightened -- how?

Tasted -- As contrasted in Christ tasting the bitterness of death for every man -- Hebrews 2:9.

Heavenly gifts -- forgiveness of sins, salvation, Ephesians 2:8.

Partakers -- sharers

Holy Ghost -- spiritual gifts

Hebrew Writer is saying:

1. You can’t be renewed by the Jewish system

2. Can’t be renewed while they are re-crucifying Christ who is their only hope.

Verse 5

Hebrews 6:5

Tasted -- contrasting 2.9 with Christ tasting the bitterness of death.

World to come -- age, the age after Judaism, the Gospel age. [Warning to Jewish Christians who were returning, or on verge of returning, to Judaism.]

Verse 6

Hebrews 6:6

cf. Luke 8:13, [Warning to Jewish Christians who were returning, or on verge of returning, to Judaism.]

Fall away -- Note difference between "fall" and "fall away."

Renew -- "Renew" & "recrucify" is a play on words by the writer.

Renew -- The O.T. system of atonement which renewed them to repentance. It no only brought atonement after Christ’s death.

*seeing -- "since" or "while" See ASV footnote. See Expositor Greek New Testament, vol 4, p. 298.

cf. Hebrews 10:26

Verse 7

Hebrews 6:7

Lessons in v.7-8.

Blessed alike some:

1) bring fruit and are blessed,

2) and some don’t (Hebrews 6:8) and are rejected.

The Land must be "worked" to bring forth fruit. Left to itself it brings thorns and that field is burned. The Word must be accompanied by faith and obedience to bring salvation!

Verse 8

Hebrews 6:8

See note on v.7 for lesson point.

Picture of a farmer burning a worthless field of weeds.

Verse 9

Hebrews 6:9

Beloved -- token of affection, a word of encouragement.

Persuaded better things -- #2. Hebrews 7:7 conclusion.

Verse 10

Hebrews 6:10

v. 10, 11, 12 we see Love, Hope, Faith.

Labor of love -- Here is Christian works! Works that accompany salvation! James however speaks of works of obedience, James 2:17

God -- not forget -- God will not forget!

Verse 11

Hebrews 6:11

Know that God will not forget your works! You will be blessed, just keep on unto the end.

Verse 12

Hebrews 6:12

V. 12, *** key to ch. 6.

Followers of them -- reference to Abraham, v. 15 Hebrews 6:15.

Verse 13

Hebrews 6:13

Because -- since

Verse 14

Hebrews 6:14

Verse 15

Hebrews 6:15

Verse 16

Hebrews 6:16

strife -- disputant

Verse 17

Hebrews 6:17

Oath -- Why an oath?

1) There would be a long delay to fulfill it, and a sever testing of faith

2) So an oath so there would be no misunderstanding, it would not be forgotten, there should be no doubt.

Verse 18

Hebrews 6:18

Immutable -- unchangeable; 1) the Promise, v. 13; 2) the oath, v. 16, that confirmed it.

Fled for refuge -- [Three metaphors]

1) metaphor of cities of Refuge. Exodus 21:14, Numbers 3:25 ff, Deuteronomy 4:42; Deuteronomy 19:5; Joshua 20:8.

2) v. 19 metaphor - storm tossed sailors at sea.

3) v. 20 travelers preceded by forerunner.

Verse 19

Hebrews 6:19

2) v. 19 metaphor - storm tossed sailors at sea.

3) v. 20 travelers proceeded by forerunner.

Veil -- Early Christians saw anchor passing through veil (water) to grapple and stay fixed in the unseen depths. So the hope of the Christians reached like an anchor thru the veil that separates us from the infinite.

Verse 20

Hebrews 6:20

2) v. 19 metaphor - storm tossed sailors at sea.

3) v. 20 travelers proceeded by forerunner.

Jesus is the forerunner, going before us, into heaven itself, preparing the way, John 14:2-3.

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The last phrase of a paragraph suggests the thought for the next paragraph, cf. Hebrews 6:12 Abraham, and Hebrews 6:20 Melchisedek for ch. 7.