Letter to the Hebrews Volume 50

 The Danger of Not Advancing in the Faith Part 5

Hebrews 6:7-8 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. KJV

In these next two verses the writer of Hebrews uses an example of nature to characterize those who grow up into spiritual maturity and those who remain babes in Christ their entire life on the eartrh. The analysis the writer uses here of nature begins as such with these words, "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:" (Hebrews 6:7) (KJV). Everyone that has ever cultivated a garden (small or large) depends heavily on the gift of rain that comes from God the Father to feed the seeds planted in the earth that they might cause those seeds to grow into the tree or shrub they are meant to become and then produce the fruit or vegetables or flowers that they are supposed to produce. So is it in the spiritual realm, for the Gospel of Grace sown into the inner man or inner woman by way of drinking in the Word of God will sprout up into fruitfulness to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Note: "Again let us be reminded that the writer of Hebrews is writing to Hebrew converts to Christ, and that the entire context of the writers subject matter again is spiritual growth from immaturity into spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:11-12), therefore, he wants to shake, startle, and even shock them into recognition of their true horrid spiritual condition in order that they may be moved into action and surrender to Jesus Christ our Lord that He may facilitate their growth into spiritual maturity."

Some ground, that is, some soil is unwatered and these are they which remain as 'babes in Christ' not growing up into spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:13). Therefore, we read these words from the writer of Hebrews next, "But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned." (Hebrews 6:8) (KJV). The Hebrews that were born again and came out of Judaism into the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ were rescued from the useless rites, rituals, and religious ceremonies that were of no effect in their getting closer to God and the tragic end that was to come upon the city of Jerusalem by Titus in A.D. 70 and this also was what our Lord Jesus Christ spoke of when He said this to those Hebrew women who were weeping for Him as He was being led to His Crucifixion for our sins at Calvary, "And as they led Him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck." (Luke 23:27-29) (KJV).

The contrast in verse 7 and 8 is that of those 'in Christ' who drink in the Word of God and by virtue of persistent prayer grow up from the elementary principles of the Doctrines of Christ (Hebrews 6:1-2) into spiritual maturity and are able then to be taught (by God the Holy Spirit) the deeper mysteries of Christ Jesus our Lord, that is, like unto what the Apostle Paul writes of in many of his epistles, which are hard to understand and as the Apostle Peter declares many unlearned people twist to their own destruction, as it is written here by Peter in his final letter and his final words to the Church, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:14-18) (KJV).

Likewise, those who do not drink in the Word of God become like dried up briers and thorns no longer good for anything spiritual at all and not able to teach others any of the deeper mysteries of Christ, but themselves still in need of teaching or instruction (Hebrews 5:12). Let us remember these words of Christ written or documented for us by the Apostle John, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:1-6) (KJV). Note: "In John 15:2 our Lord Jesus says that every branch 'in Him' and you cannot be 'in Him' without being born again by Him, so the taking away must mean by way of physical death to those who persist in rebellion, disobedience, and sin, despite His chastening Hand."

Here is what Vincent's Word Studies says of this verse Hebrews 6:8, "It puts the contrast as between two kinds of soil, the one well-watered and fertile, the other unwatered and sterile. This would illustrate the contrast between those who have and those who have not enjoyed Gospel privileges. On the contrary the contrast is between two classes of Christians under equally favorable conditions, out of which they develop opposite results. Rend. but if it (the ground that receives the rain) bear thorns and thistles, etc. thorns, from a point from three and a dart; having three darts or points. A ball with sharp iron spikes, on three of which it rested, while the fourth projected upward, was called tribulus or tribolus, or caltrop. These were scattered over the ground by Roman soldiers in order to impede the enemy's cavalry. A kind of thorn or thistle, a land-caltrop, was called tribulus. Is unapproved and enhancing the idea of rejected. It is exposed to the peril of abandonment to perpetual barrenness. The end of which cursing: but better to the main subject, the consummation of the cursed land is burning. The field of thorns and thistles is burned over and abandoned to barrenness."
 
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…