1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
We must not only begin well but finish well. "Our goal must be to persevere in the faith and to grow in holiness. True happiness comes in serving God faithfully until the end. " (Charles Box)
"Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, as a builder leaves the foundation to complete the superstructure, let us go on to perfection, which he calls here, teleióteta, perfection in knowledge and grace, a growing perfection in faith and love, progressing to the measure of the fulness of Christ, and the glorious liberty of the children of God. It is a principle constantly maintained, that our progress in grace should be associated with our knowledge of the truth. The lips of a christian should be fountains of wisdom and grace; he should not, as in the verses above, be always fed with milk, when he ought to be a teacher of others." (Sutcliffe's Commentary)
"not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (1b-2) “The six points are given in three pairs of two each. We might speak of these pairs under the headings of preparation, initiation and motivation or direction.” (Edward Fudge) "These are the six principles of Christian religion, that must be laid as a foundation. Fundamentals are but few; few they are in number, but many in virtue; in sight small, but great in weight." (John Trapp)
"Now the Spirit will not stop at this point with Christians, but will go on to that full revelation of His glory which belongs to them that are of full age and indeed forms us for that state..." (Darby's Synopsis) by His Spirit. "And this will we do," (3a), "that is, '... go on to teach those doctrines." (Thomas Coke) "if God permit." (3b) The apostle looked to the Divine enablement… were He to withdraw His assistance the teacher would be helpless...” (A. W. Pink)
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
If they did not go on to perfection, they were in danger of turning back to Judaism which would be an abandonment of "the whole Christian system, and its author, the Lord Jesus." (Adam Clarke) So, yes a man, Jew or Gentile, can abandon the faith- apostatize. If he does so, he will lose his salvation "and have his dispositions to sin seven times more inflamed than before, Matthew 12:44." (John Trapp) "Of these wilful total apostates he declares, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. (though they were renewed once,) either to the foundation, or anything built thereon, seeing they crucify the Son of God afresh. They use Him with the utmost indignity. And put Him to an open shame, causing His glorious name to be blasphemed." (John Wesley)
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
"'For the earth which drinks in the rain...' The ‘rain’ here signifies the Word … which the Lord sent unto Israel: ‘My doctrine shall drop as the rain’ (Deut. 32:2 and cf. Isaiah 55:10, 11)… Note how when Ezekiel was to prophesy or preach, his message would ‘drop’ as the rain does (Ezek. 21:2 and cf. Amos 7:16)… The rain is something which no man can manufacture, nor is the Word of human origin. Rain comes down from above, so is the Gospel a heavenly gift. The rain refreshes vegetation, and causes it to grow, so too the Doctrine of God revives His people and makes them fruitful. The rain quickens living seeds in the ground...; so the Word is the Spirit’s instrument for quickening...
'...that often comes upon it…' The reference is to the repeated and frequent ministerial showers with which God visited Israel. To them He had called, ‘O earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of the Lord!’ (Jer. 22:29)...
'and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated.' The apostle’s design here is to show the importance of making a proper use of receiving God’s Word: a [useful or] suitable response should be forthcoming… As it is in nature, so it is in grace; the more frequently the rain falls, and the more the ground be cultivated, the better and heavier should be the yield. Thus it is with [us]. The more [we] sit under the ministry of the Word, and the more [we] seek grace to improve what [we] hear, the more fruit will [we] yield unto God. Thus it had been with the godly in Israel.” (A. W. Pink)
8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
“As we have seen, the one part brought forth ‘herbs’ meet for the dresser or owner: a suitable response was made to the rain given and the care expended upon it. The other, which we are now to look at, is the very reverse…. As God said of His Israelitish vineyard, ‘He looks that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes’ (Isa. 5:2). The Greek for ‘thorns and briers’ is identical with the… rendering of Genesis 3:18, which, in our Bibles, is rendered, ‘thorns and thistles’... which tell us that all which is brought forth by the natural man is under the curse of God: Gen 3:18, 4:11, 12... 'it is rejected and near to being cursed…' This is in sharp contrast from what was said of the good ground: 'receives blessing from God’. The word ‘cursing’ here, means, ‘given over to execration’, or ‘devoted to destruction’… Israel had become a barren tree, a cumberer of the ground, and the Word had gone forth, ‘Cut it down’ (Luke 12:7, 9). Further proof that Israel as a nation was given over to ‘execration’, is found in the solemn incident of Christ’s cursing of the ‘fig tree’ (Matt 21:19), figure of the [unconverted] Jews, see Matthew 24:32. True, a short respite had been granted—another ‘year’ (Luke 13:8)—hence the ‘nigh unto cursing’-- '… whose end is to be burned.' In Eastern lands, when a husbandman discovers that a piece of ground is worthless, he neglects it, abandons it. Next, he breaks down its fences, that it may be known it is outside the bounds of his possession. Finally, he sets fire to its weeds, to prevent their seeds being blown on to his good ground.” (A. W. Pink) Thus it would be for all those who begin well but do not press on in the faith, rejecting Christ. "He showed that those who did not grow and become more Christ-like would eventually be destroyed." (Charles Box)
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
"But beloved...." "Several of your brethren have already apostatized, and the whole nation is in a state of rebellion against God; and, in consequence of their final rejection of Christ and his Gospel, are about to be finally rejected by God. They must meet with destruction; they have the things that are suitable to, and indicative of, a state of reprobation; the wrath of God will come upon them to the uttermost. But, while they meet with destruction, you shall meet with salvation." (Adam Clarke)
"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (10) "From the things said here, it is plain, as Milligan pointed out, that ‘the Hebrew brethren had been culpably negligent in the study of God's Word; but notwithstanding this, they had been diligent in the works of benevolence.’ The warning from this is pointed indeed. Wonderful as works of benevolence assuredly are, pure benevolence, however lavish, is no substitute for faithful adherence to the word and doctrine of Christ. In the present society, wherein social and charitable programs of every conceivable description are held to be the first priority of Christian faith, it is sobering to observe that the true piety lies with the word and doctrine. This was not a new principle introduced by the author of Hebrews, because all of the apostles held that it was ‘not fit’ that they ‘should forsake the Word of God and serve tables’ (Acts 6:2).” (Burton Coffman)
"And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end," (11) "Many are very ‘diligent’ in their worldly business… but there are very few indeed who exercise a godly concern for their souls.… They may be regular attenders of ‘church’ from force of custom; they may perform certain acts of charity for the sake of their reputation; but to be really exercised in heart as to how they may please and honor God in the details of their lives, they know nothing and care still less. Such are destitute of those things which ‘accompany salvation’; they are deluded and lost souls. Make no mistake, my reader, unless there is in you a work of faith in keeping God’s commandments, and a labor of love toward His saints as such, then ‘the root of the matter’ (Job 19:28) is not in you… Nor can this work of faith and labor of love be persisted in without studious diligence and earnest endeavor. It calls for the daily searching of the Scriptures, and that, not for intellectual gratification, but to learn God’s will for my walk. It calls for watchfulness and prayer against every temptation which would turn me aside from following Christ…no furloughs are granted to those called upon to ‘fight the good fight of faith.’… there is no discharge from that warfare as long as we are left upon the field of battle. 'that you do not become sluggish.' (12a) [This is ] an exhortation against lethargy and laziness, a trait they had sadly demonstrated in their neglect of studies in the Word and teaching of the Master.” (A. W. Pink)
Do not imitate the apostate- those who have gone back to shadows, but rather the apostles and the brethren- "those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (12b)
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” [Genesis 22:17] 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Because of Abraham's heart- shown in his willingness to offer his son Isaac, the son of promise as a burnt offering for sin, as Yahweh had requested, God declared, “By Myself I have sworn, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (Genesis 22:16-18)
The sacrifice of Abraham's seed "was suspended till the latter end of the world and in the mean time the sacrifice of beasts was accepted, as a pledge of that expiation which should be made by that great Sacrifice. And it is observable, that the temple, the place of sacrifice, was afterward built upon this mount Moriah, 2 Chronicles 3:1; and mount Calvary, where Christ was crucified, was not far off.” (Benson Commentary)
God swore by Himself - “He pledged His eternal power and Godhead for the fulfillment of the promise; there was no being superior to Himself to whom He could make appeal, or by whom He could be bound, therefore He appeals to and pledges His immutable truth and Godhead." (Adam Clarke) "For ye have abundant encouragement, seeing no stronger promise could be made than that great promise which God made to Abraham, and in him to us." (John Wesley)
He swore by Himself, saying, “Blessing I will bless you…”
"The phrase is a Hebrew mode of expression, denoting emphasis and certainty. Such reduplication is a vehement affirmation, partaking of the nature of an oath: where such is used, it was that men might know God is in earnest in that which He expressed . It also respects and extends the thing promised or threatened: I will do without fail… It is indeed solemn to note the first occurrence in Scripture of this mode of expression. We find it in the awful threat which the Lord God made unto Adam: ‘But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof dying you die’ (Gen 2:17). (A. W. Pink) This verse- Genesis 2-17- “supplies the first key that unlocks the meaning of Genesis 22:17. These are the first two occurrences in Holy Writ of this unusual form of speech. They stand in direct antithesis the one to the other. The first concerned the curse, the second respected the blessing.” (A. W. Pink)
In Christ, it is not “dying you die” (Gen 2:17), but rather “blessing I will bless.” (Gen 22:17) Jesus said: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ‘To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.’” (Rev 2:7)
“and multiplying I will multiply you.” I will grant thee an exceedingly numerous posterity.” (Albert Barnes) “In the most literal manner God continues to fulfill this promise; genuine Christians are Abraham's seed, and God is increasing their number daily.” (Adam Clarke) God is multiplying Abraham’s descendants “as the stars of the heaven “ — spiritual seed— “and as the sand which is on the seashore “ — physical seed.” (Gen 22:17a) God finishes the promise: “and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.” (17b)— “both their strength and governement.” (John Trapp)Then Yahweh finishes: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” (Genesis 22:18a) “that is, in his one and principal seed, the Messiah, that should spring from him, Galatians 3:16, in whom all the elect of God, of all nations under the heavens, are blessed with all spiritual blessings, with peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life, with grace here and glory hereafter;…” (John Gill) — “because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:18b)
Again, we are called to endure for after he had patiently waited, "thirty years, 'he obtained the promise' (15), Isaac, the pledge of all the promises." (John Wesley) After we have patiently waited, we shall obtain Christ – the only begotten Son of the Father.
16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
"Men generally swear by him who is infinitely greater than themselves, and an oath for confirmation, to confirm what is promised or asserted, usually puts an end to all contradiction." (John Wesley) Thus weaker tribes sought an oath or treaty with the stronger ones to ensure their survival. "Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath…" (17) “God condescended to man’s own level of understanding and confirmed His promise to Abraham by an oath... an oath gives certainty among men unto the point sworn to, God has graciously deigned that the heirs of promise shall have the comfort of a Divine dual certainty...” (A. W. Pink) “God’s promise was made twice sure by two immutable things: His Word (it is impossible for God to lie), and His oath (taken in His own name). As man views the situation, he may have full confidence in the promise of God.” (Edward Fudge) But beware for consolation and hope only belong to those "…who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us" (18b)- by fleeing to the Messian of Israel. “Under the Law, God made merciful provision for the man who had unintentionally slain another: that provision was certain cities appointed for refuge for such. Those cities are spoken of in Num 35, Deut19, Josh 20. Those cities were built on high hills (Josh. 20:7) that those seeking asylum there, might have no difficulty in keeping them in sight. So the servants of Christ who hold Him up, are likened unto ‘a city which is set upon a hill’ (Matt 5:14).” (A.W. Pink)
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
But there is more than the two immutable proofs of His Word and His oath. Here is the solid food that they had been unable to eat because they were dull of hearing. Christ our High Priest has entered in the holy of holies in the tabernacle in heaven of which the earthly one is but a type. He thus entered as an anchor for our very souls or beings, both sure and steadfast. “Now an anchor is used for securing a ship, particularly in times of storm, to prevent it from drifting. It is an invisible thing, sinking down beneath the waters and gripping firmly the ground beneath. The winds may roar and the waves lash the ship, but it rides them steadily… It was for us Christ has gone on High! A ‘forerunner’ is one who has already traversed every step of the race which is set before us (Heb 12:1-2), and who has entered into possession of that toward which he ran. Because Christ has been where we now are, we shall soon be where He now is… Having warned us of our danger (Heb 5:11–6:8), having exhorted us to continue pressing forward (Heb. 6:11-15), having assured our hearts of infallible preservation (Heb 6:16-19), the apostle now returns to the very point he had dropped at Hebrews 5:10…” (A. W. Pink)