About this we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, for you have become sluggish in hearing. 12 Although you should be teachers by this time, you need to have someone teach you again the basic elements of the utterances of God. You need milk, [and] not solid food. 13 Everyone who lives on milk lacks experience of the word of righteousness, for he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties are trained by practice to discern good and evil.
1 Therefore, let us leave behind the basic teaching about Christ and advance to maturity, without laying the foundation all over again: repentance from dead works and faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And we shall do this, if only God permits. 4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy Spirit 5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt. 7 Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned.
Jesus through his suffering and death was “declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:10)”. Paul wants to explain this further to the Hebrews but reprimands them because they “have become sluggish” and have no zeal for progress in the Christian faith. They were catechized in the Gospel of Christ many years ago and should be more advanced and on solid spiritual food. Instead, they have become dull in spirit and need to be instructed in the basics of the faith again like babies who need milk (cf.1 Cor. 3:1-3). They do not understand the deeper meaning of the faith and are therefore not skilled in the practice of the Christian life. Solid food is for those who through the habitual exercise of their faculties can discern what is morally good.
The Hebrews must make progress, “advance to maturity” in their understanding of the teachings of Jesus in order to reach moral perfection because they cannot return to a pre-conversion stage. Paul mentions six fundamental teachings: repentance from dead works, faith in God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. These were most likely the important catechetical teachings at that time and they are fundamental to the Church today. Repentance from dead works means turning away from sin which leads to spiritual death. Instruction about Baptism is not Jewish ritual washings (the baptisms of John) but doctrine about the new Christian Baptism. Laying on of Hands is the imparting of the Holy Spirit (Confirmation) in connection with a ministry or mission. Catechesis on the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:12-19). The eternal judgment concerns the end times and man’s final judgment and destination after the resurrection of the body.
It is impossible to re-convert Apostates, those who have turned away from Christ, those who are ‘recrucifying’ Christ. They are no longer willing to accept God’s grace and be reconciled with Him and therefore will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Fertile land receives blessings from God but land that produces thorns and thistles is cursed and burned.
Almighty God,
strengthen our faith that we may persevere in your ways and never turn away
from the teachings of your Son. Our
salvation was paid for by His body and blood, a spotless lamb who was obedient
unto death and willingly paid the price for our sins. Grant us sanctifying grace that we may be
steadfast in our service to you and constant in our love for your Son. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments