Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Commentaries
The Bible Study New Testament Bible Study NT
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
These files are public domain.
Bibliographical Information
Ice, Rhoderick D. "Commentary on Hebrews 6". "The Bible Study New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ice/hebrews-6.html. College Press, Joplin, MO. 1974.
Ice, Rhoderick D. "Commentary on Hebrews 6". "The Bible Study New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/
Whole Bible (54)New Testament (19)Individual Books (13)
Verse 1
1.
Let us go forward. “You lay the foundation for the purpose of building on it!” To mature teaching. “You do not progress away from God’s act in Christ to set men free. You progress into it!” And leave behind us. “Let us leave behind the ABC’s of the Good News and get into the deeper meanings of these things, and of the symbolism and prophecies of the Law.” This is a call to advance to perfectness in Christ! This is our goal (Ephesians 4:13-15; Romans 12:1-2), even though we must still fight our weak human nature (Romans 7:14-25; Philippians 3:12-14). The human element requires our cooperation! We should not lay again. “You have already laid the foundation. Now you must build on it!” Turning away. Repent means to turn away from useless works of sin that lead to death, and turn to God. Believing in God. See Acts 16:31-33.
Verse 2
2.
About baptisms. The Law had many baptisms or immersions of the body in water. Jewish Christians would connect these with Christian baptism in their thinking (see notes on Acts 19:3). The basic idea in them is purity. Compare Hebrews 10:22. The laying on of hands. Johnson sees in this the gifts from the Spirit by the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:17). But Jewish Christians might also connect it with the ritual of laying hands on the sacrifice being offered in the Temple. Of the raising. One of the first lessons of the Good News. It formed an important part of preaching the message (Acts 17:18). The eternal judgment. This went along with the raising of the dead. Compare Jude 1:14-15.
Verse 3
3.
Let us go forward. This is the point they must learn! If God allows. This does not imply any doubt that God will allow it, but rather being aware that success depends upon God’s will (compare 1 Corinthians 16:7).
Verse 4
4.
For how can. “Here is what you face if you do not go forward! God’s mercy does not fail, and we are sure of that! But there is a sin that cannot be forgiven, not because God would not forgive it, but because the one who does it does not believe he has sinned.” (See notes on Matthew 12:31-32). To repent again? These are not inactive members (backsliders], but apostates who have repudiated Jesus. They Have destroyed their moral ability to repent! They were once. These had been genuine Christians. They had seen God’s light (John 8:12) and reached out through faith to seize it and make themselves part of it! They tasted. They had experienced in their own lives the effect of this newness in Christ. And received their share. Every Christian is a Spirit-filled Christian. Compare Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. But it is possible to restrain the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). God does not save you against your will!
Verse 5
5.
From experience. They had studied the teachings and promises of the Good News, and believed them! Of the coming age. Remember this was written to Jews. They called the age of the Messiah: the coming age. They would understand this to be speaking of the Christian age. Since the Holy Spirit was mentioned in Hebrews 6:4, MacKnight thinks the powers are the ability of the Good News to convert people to Christ. Compare Romans 1:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 1:9 and notes.
Verse 6
6.
And then they fell away! Beza in his Latin version made it read: “If they fall away,” because he did not believe it possible for Chosen People to fall away. But a warning about something which could not happen would be meaningless! Johnson says the phrase means: “Apostatize from the faith.” To bring them back. These people have now decided in their own minds that Jesus was an impostor, a phony, who deserved the death that he died. For this reason, they have renounced the gospel, and there is no way to reach them! Because they are nailing. By renouncing Christ, they place themselves with those who nailed Christ to the cross! And exposing him. “It is a fatal step to renounce Christ! Men who left the church of Christ (the messianic community) and went back to the synagogue, became companions of people who thought they were doing God honor by cursing the name of Jesus.” This is an eternal sin. See note on Matthew 12:32. Note that this can result from FAILING to go forward!!!
Verse 7
7.
God blesses the ground. “I will show you this example from nature which teaches the doom of those who do not go forward.” Plants that are useful. If the ground produces good fruit, more time is spent on it. Compare John 15:1-10.
Verse 8
8.
Thorns and weeds. If the ground will only grow thorns and weeds, it has no real value to the farmer. If your life produces only thorns and weeds, God cannot use you!
Verse 9
9.
We feel sure about you. “We speak, like this to warn you of the dangers, but this does not mean that we think you have failed.” We know. We can see in your actions the evidence that you are following Christ.”
Verse 10
10.
God is not unfair. God will bless the ground that has already grown good plants. Their Christian activities and practical charities will not be forgotten. In the help. MacKnight thinks this points especially to helping the persecuted Christians in Judea.
Verse 11
11.
Our great desire. “We want you to keep up the eagerness you have already demonstrated by your actions. This is why you must go forward! The prize comes at the end of the race!”
Verse 12
12.
We do not want. There was a real danger that they would become lazy and allow themselves to drift away from the Truth, But to be like those. (1) Like the Christian Gentiles; (2) Like those mentioned in chapter 11. And so receive. God requires people to trust and obey. Those who receive the promise are those who believe and are patient.
Verse 13
13.
He made a vow. “When I say to be like the Christian Gentiles, it is because they will receive what God has promised equally with the Jews. In fact, God’s sure promise is illustrated by Abraham.”
Verse 14
14.
He said. Genesis 22:17. I will bless you by accepting your faith as righteousness (Romans 4:22). And give you many descendants who will be your spiritual children and also be accepted as righteous through their faith. Compare Galatians 3:26-29.
Verse 15
15.
Abraham was patient. ‘Patience is obedient endurance. Even though things did not happen immediately (as Abraham might have expected), he was patient because he EXPECTED God to keep his promise. His actions showed that he did believe God!!! At the right time, God made his promise come true.
Verse 16
16.
When a man makes a vow. A vow is a promise made while calling on (invoking) a person, place, or thing as witness (attestant) to the fact that you will fulfill your promise or commitment. This is also called swearing an oath (compare Matthew 5:33-37; Matthew 23:16-22; James 5:12). Settles all arguments. The vow is accepted as a guarantee.
Verse 17
17.
God wanted. “To show us in a way we could understand, God added his vow to the promise. This means he would never change his purpose in which he promises to accept men as righteous because of their faith, and to give them the heavenly country.
Verse 18
18.
These two things. God’s promise and his vow. Neither of these could ever be broken. Are greatly encouraged. “We have escaped from the guilt and fear of punishment which makes the Law a curse. We have found safety with Him as we hold firmly to the hope of forgiveness which God promised us and confirmed by His vow.”
Verse 19
19.
Hope as an anchor. “As the storms howl around the ship, the anchor holds firm in the unseen world below the surface. Just so, hope reaches through the curtain into the inner sanctuary (the true Most Holy Place) and takes hold in the presence of God himself! Our Christian hope is anchored in Eternity!”
Verse 20
20.
Jesus has gone in. As the Jewish high priest went through the curtain into the Most Holy Place in the earthly temple, Jesus has gone into heaven itself and sits at God’s right side! By doing this, he has anchored our hope of forgiveness and eternal life, and we hold firmly to it! See Hebrews 10:20.” He has become. Unlike the Jewish high priest, Jesus is a high priest forever!! This is explained in the next chapter.