Highlights From HebrewsSample

It’s Time to Grow Up

In Hebrews 5:1, the author begins a discussion of the high priestly work of Jesus, who was not just a high priest in the Aaronic sense but was the Great High Priest in the sense of the priesthood of Melchizedek. But he interrupts himself, writing, “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn” (Hebrews 5:11).

Now, how much do you know about the Aaronic and Melchizedekian priesthoods? Do you know why the latter is superior to the former? If not, don’t feel too bad. We are living in an age of great Bible ignorance. Let me ask you to open yourself up to the message of Hebrews 5:11–14. Let these verses address you.

The author says that discussing the Aaronic and Melchizedekian priesthoods will be hard because the first audience was slow to learn. Basically, he is saying to the original readers: “You have been a Christian for several years, and by now, you ought to be able to teach anyone about something as fundamental as this. But you are ignorant. You need someone to teach you the basics all over again. You want milk because you are a baby. You have refused to grow up. You just want fellowship and warm, fuzzy Christianity. Even baby food like ground-up bananas is too much for you. You insist on milk.

When are you going to grow up? Do we have to go over the infant doctrines of baptism, manual imposition, and eternal judgment again (6:1–2)? It’s time to go to nursery school and learn about Aaron and Melchizedek. Too bad we won’t have time to get into the more mature stuff (see 9:5).”

The author’s language is striking. Most of us would regard Hebrews as one of the most complex and profound books in the New Testament, but the author is saying that the book of Hebrews is elementary.

Sadly, the condition pointed to in Hebrews 5:11–13 is today's most obvious characteristic of the evangelical world. Evangelicals talk about the Bible, but they know very little of it. Real Bible knowledge is rare in the evangelical world. This is a situation that desperately needs to be changed.

CORAM DEO Living before the face of God

Sadly, those who refuse to learn the Word of God have been allowed to dominate church life in many places. This will change only as believers rise up and begin serious, in-depth study of the Bible and when they pray for church leaders to teach the unvarnished Scriptures, standing with pastors and elders as they do so.