College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 6:9-12
D.
Encouragement. Hebrews 6:9-20.
1.
The apostle's hope for them. Hebrews 6:9-12.
Text
Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak: Hebrews 6:10 for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward His name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister. Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: Hebrews 6:12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 6:9But, beloved, we are persuaded better fruits than those of apostasy will be produced by you, even such a firm adherence to the Gospel as is connected with salvation, though we thus speak to put you on your guard.
Hebrews 6:10 For God, who hath promised to assist His sincere servants in time of temptation, is not unrighteous to forget, either His Own promise of the laborious and dangerous work by which ye showed your love to Him, when ye assisted and comforted the persecuted disciples of Christ in Judea, and do still assist them.
Hebrews 6:11 Yet I earnestly desire every one of you to show the same diligence as formerly in assisting and comforting your brethren, in order that my hope concerning your perseverance in the faith of the Gospel may continue to the end of your lives.
Hebrews 6:12 This I desire, that ye may not be sluggards, but imitators of the believing Gentiles in their good works, who through faith in Christ, and patience under persecution, are, as Abraham's spiritual seed, now inheriting the promises in the gospel church.
Comment
But beloved we are persuaded better things of you
This is a word of encouragement to a people for whom Paul had affection. The better things would be the herbs, rather than the thorns and thistles.
The word persuaded indicates hopefulness on the part of the author.
a.
Vincent: It is a past hesitation overcome.
b.
Westcott: The form implies that the writer had felt misgivings and had overcome them.
The word beloved is one frequently applied to saints. See Romans 1:7; Romans 11:28; 1 John 3:2; 1 John 4:1; 3 John 1:1-2; 3 John 1:5; 3 John 1:11.
and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak
What are the things that accompanied the saved as seen in the Word of God?
a.
Pentecostal brethren: fairer things. Acts 2:42.
b.
Stephen: forgiveness. Acts 7:58-60. No retaliation.
c.
Ethiopian eunuch: Rejoicing. Acts 8:39.
d.
Paul: Straightway proclaimed Jesus. Acts 9:36-39.
e.
Dorcas: Benevolent spirit. Acts 9:36-37.
f.
Bereans: Examining hearts. Acts 17:11.
Though he has warned against backsliding and apostasy, he is hopeful that Christian fruit will be produced by them.
for God is not unrighteous to forget your work
God's character is at stake in relationship to memory.
a.
A person who forgets leaves himself open for accusations.
b.
He may be accused of intentional forgetting or carelessness if he forgets.
An honest person is obligated to remember to keep his promise.
a.
These people had worked, and God is under obligation to honor faithful work.
b.
We see the brethren, (Hebrews 5:12) had been neglectful of Bible study but they were to be commended for their work.
and the love which ye showed toward His name in that ye ministered unto the saints and still do minister
We serve God by serving our fellow man.
a.
Ministering to saints is showing love to God.
b.
Jesus emphasized this, Matthew 25:40.
c.
John approaches the subject, 1 John 4:20.
These people seem to have been strong on the social gospel.
a.
It seems strange that neglected Bible reading would accompany this virtue.
b.
A national love, nurtured by persecution, may account for it in some measure.
c.
The Jew has always looked out for the Jew.
And we desire that each one may show the same diligence
Desire for each individual to be faithful is expressed.
a.
God is interested in each individual. Matthew 10:30: Hairs of your head are numbered, Hebrews 4:13: There is no creature that is not manifest in His sight.
b.
As individuals, we must stand before God, and not rest on the virtue of a group.
The Hebrews were benevolent in spirit, but each one was to be praised for this.
unto the fulness of hope
It may also be translated, to the full assurance of hope. Fulness of hope refers to future glory intensified. Hope is an emotion, longing, fervent expectation.
even to the end;
Stedfastness is an exhortation oft repeated. Revelation 2:10: Be thou faithful unto death. Matthew 10:22 and Colossians 1:22-23. The end refers to their pilgrimage on earth.
that ye be not sluggish,
Some Christians lack fervor, and show sluggishness when fervency is needed.
a.
James 5:16: Fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
b.
Romans 12:11: Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
A sluggard condition is awful in the sight of God.
a.
It is conceited. Proverbs 26:16: The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit.
b.
It is sleepy, Proverbs 6:9: How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
c.
It stands condemned. Revelation 3:16: so because thou art lukewarm.
but imitators (from Greek mimic, translated followed)
This is a characteristic of people, for most people imitate.
Observe passages on imitator. 1 Corinthians 11:1: Be ye imitators of me even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 4:16: I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me. 1 Thessalonians 1:6: And ye become imitators of us, and of the Lord. Hebrews 2:14: For ye brethren become imitators of the churches. We are also to imitate God, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:1: Be ye therefore imitators of God as beloved children.
who through faith and patience inherit the promises
Stedfastness is a characteristic of a strong faith. The backslider will not inherit the blessing, and should not be imitated. This passage does not sound as though salvation is a gift without works.
Study Questions
1022.
Is the apostle hopeful for the Hebrews? (Hebrews 6:9)
1023.
Does the text suggest any affection?
1024.
What would the expression better things refer to, thorns or herbs?
1025.
What things accompany salvation?
1026.
Name the conversions in Acts and point out things that could be considered fruit or better things.
1027.
Are the better things a return to repentance, or general good works? Is the conjunction and significant in Hebrews 6:9?
1028.
How is God's character involved in Hebrews 6:10?
1029.
What charges may be brought against a forgetter?
1030.
Is God duty-bound to honor good works? Always? Cf. Matt.
1031.
What is the work of the Hebrews which is deserving of honor?
1032.
How is service to our fellow man an evidence of love for God?
1033.
Is this always true?
1034.
Is service to our fellow man service to God?
1035.
What did Jesus say? Matthew 25:40.
1036.
What did Jesus say? 1 John 4:20.
1037.
What does Hebrews 5:12 give as a clue to their trouble?
1038.
How may we account for the fact that they were strong on the social gospel?
1039.
What is Paul's desire for individuals in Hebrews 6:11?
1040.
Is he saying that, as a group, they could be commended for works, but, individually, they could not?
1041.
What is meant by fulness of hope?
1042.
How long is it to be maintained?
1043.
Does this verse teach that there is no hope for people who lack diligence?
1044.
Describe a sluggish spiritual condition.
1045.
Compare James 5:16 and Romans 12:11 with regard to sluggishness.
1046.
Could sluggishness and the lukewarmness of Revelation 3:16 be the same?
1047.
What is meant by the exhortation to be imitators?
1048.
Whose examples are we to follow?
1049.
Could this be an allusion to the persons of Chapter Eleven?
1050.
Why is he not urging us to imitate God as in Ephesians 5:1?
1051.
How do we know that he is not doing this?
1052.
What two companionate virtues are linked with the receiving of promise?
1053.
Is it possible to see the faith alone doctrine in this verse?