Hebrews 6:8

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. THAT WHICH rather (Greek, no article), 'but if it (the "land," Hebrews 6:7) bear' [ ekferousa (G1627), not so good as tiktousa (G5088)]; "bringeth forth," Hebrews 6:7; said of the good soil. BRIERS, [ tribolous (G5146)] - 'thistles.' REJECTED - by God, after having been tested [ adokimos (G96)]. Reprobate. Nigh unto...

1-8 Every part of the truth and will of God should be set before all who profess the gospel, and be urged on their hearts and consciences. We should not be always speaking about outward things; these have their places and use, but often take up too much attention and time, which might be better employed. The humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have no ground from this passage to be discouraged, whatever his conscience may accuse him of. Nor does it prove that any one who is made a new creature in Christ, ever becomes a final apostate from him. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or hypocritical profession. Neither is he speaking of partial declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as Christians fall into through the streng...

Verse Hebrews 6:8. _THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIERS IS REJECTED_] That is: The land which, notwithstanding the most careful cultivation, receiving also in due times the early and latter rain, produces nothing but thorns and briers, or noxious weeds of different kinds, is rejected, αδοκιμος, is given up as unimprovable; _its briers, thorns, and brushwood burnt down_; and then _left to be pastured on by the beasts of the field_. This seems to be the custom in _husbandry_ to which the apostle alludes. The nature of the case prevents us from supposing that he alludes to the custom of _pushing and burning_, in order to farther _fertilization_. This practice has been common from very early times: - _Saepe etiam_ steriles incendere profuit agros; Atque levem stipulam crepitantibus

BUT THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIARS IS REJECTED - That is, by the farmer or owner. It is abandoned as worthless. The force of the comparison here is, that God would thus deal with those who professed to be renewed if they should be like such a worthless field. AND IS NIGH UNTO CURSING - Is given over to execration, or is abandoned as useless. The word “cursing” means devoting to destruction. The sense is not that the owner would curse it “in words,” or imprecate a curse on it, as a man does who uses profane language, but the language is taken here from the more common use of the word “curse” - as meaning to devote to destruction. So the land would be regarded by the farmer. It would be valueless, and would be given up to be overrun with fire. WHOSE END IS TO BE BURNED - Referring to the land. The allusion here is to the common practice among the Oriental

EXPOSITION HEBREWS 6:1, HEBREWS 6:2 WHEREFORE (since it is so incumbent on us to advance out of the state of milk-fed infants), LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, LET US PRESS ON UNTO PERFECTION (τελειότητα_, _continuing the image of maturity). The proper translation of τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον is doubtful, the question being whether τῆς αρχῆς_ _is to be connected with λόγον as an adjective genitive (so taken, as above, in the A.V; cf. Hebrews 5:12, στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς)_, _or with τοῦ Χριστοῦ_, the word of the beginning of Christ, _meaning discourse concerning

BUT THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIERS,.... To which wicked men answer; who are unfruitful and unprofitable, and are hurtful, pricking and grieving, by their wicked lives and conversations, by their bitter and reproachful words, and by their violent and cruel persecutions; and particularly carnal professors, and especially apostates, such as before described; for to such earth, professors of religion may be compared, who are worldly, slothful, defrauding and overreaching, carnal and wanton; as also heretical men, and such as turn from the faith, deny it, and persecute the saints: and the things or actions produced by them are aptly expressed by "thorns and briers"; such as errors, heresies, and evil works of all kinds; and which show that the seed of the word was never sown in their hearts, and that that which they bear, or throw out, is natural to them: and such earth is REJECTED; as...

In the previous chapter, Paul was writing to some who ought to have been teachers, but who needed still to be taught the first principles of the gospel; they were such babes in grace that they needed the milk of the Word, the very simplest elements of gospel truth, and not the strong meat of solid doctrine. The apostle, however, desires that the Hebrew believers should understand the sublimer doctrines of the gospel, and so be like men of full age who can eat strong meat. In this chapter he exhorts them to seek to attain to this standard. Hebrews 6:1. _Therefore leaving the principles_ The rudiments, the elementary truths, Hebrews 6:1. _Of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;_ Let us go from the school to the university, let us have done with

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. Return to Judaism the crucifixion of the Son of God afresh (Hebrews 6:1)_ 2. Persuaded of better things: Comfort and hope (Hebrews 6:9) Hebrews 6:1 A solemn warning follows, addressed to these Hebrews who were halting and in danger of turning back to Judaism, and doing so would crucify the Son of God afresh. “Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to full growth; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, of a teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” It is of much importance to see that these things are not “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” (as the

Though not without misgiving the writer has resolved to advance to perfection_ i.e._ to the exposition of Christian truth in its higher development, and to take for granted the knowledge of the bare elements. But he thinks it well at the outset to remind his readers of those elements, apart from which there can be no progress in religion. The subjects which he regards as primary are arranged in three pairs: (_a)_ Repentance and faith; men must learn the meaning of these before they can even enter on the Christian life. (_b_) Baptisms and the laying on of hands; for by these rites the new spiritual gifts are imparted. The plural baptisms may refer to the double consecration by water and the Spirit, or it may suggest that Christians have to learn the difference between their own rite and heathen or Jewish baptisms. (_c_) Resurrection and judgment: the two great facts which gave meaning to...

THE NECESSITY OF PROGRESS (Hebrews 6:1-3)...