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A
5:1 -6.
Melchisedec.
Priest.
B
5:6 -10.
The Priest.
Perfected.
C
5:11 to 6:1.
Dull (nothros) versus the Perfect.
B
6:1 -10.
The saints.
Perfection.
C
6:11 -19.
Slothful (nothros) versus the Overcomers.
A
6:20.
Melchisedec.
Priest.
It will be seen that the condition, `dull of hearing', repeated in 6:11 -19,
and `slothful', is an integral part of the argument.
The LXX uses the word nothros in Proverbs 22:29 to translate `mean' in
the expression `mean men' and the verse speaks of one diligent in his
business. In Proverbs 12:8 it is used for `perverse'. It would appear from
the usage of the word that the A.V. `dull' is hardly strong enough. The
Hebrew word in Proverbs 22:29 is chashok -- `obscure' or `darkened' and the
cognate choshek is translated scores of times `darkness'.
The spiritual ear and eye are of the first importance. Peter in his
second epistle uses the word muopazo (`cannot see afar off') of those who had
become forgetful of the purification of old sins. We trust our readers
will immediately remember the strong emphasis upon `purification for sins'
found in Hebrews, especially the fact that in the opening summary this alone
is written of the Lord's work on earth, `when He had made purification for
sins' (Heb. 1:3). Peter speaks of `adding' to the faith, a parallel
expression to the words of Hebrews 6, `things that accompany salvation'.
These added things have in view the rich furnishing of the entry into the
aionian kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:11). So in
Hebrews the perfecting is connected with the aionion salvation.
This reference to the dullness of hearing is further a gathering up of
the words of the great historic type of chapters 3 and 4. `To -day if ye
will Hear His voice'. Some, when they had Heard, did provoke. `The word
preached did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with them
that Heard'. Dullness of hearing, moreover, is another mode of expressing
the truth of chapter 2:1:
`Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which
we have heard, lest at any time we drift away' (Heb. 2:1 author's
translation).
`Hearing' together with `seeing' may be reckoned as the chiefest of the
senses. How sad to allow any precious sense, even in the physical realm, to
be atrophied through lack of use. How doubly sad to have the precious gift
of hearing spiritually, and then through not having `the senses Exercised'
(Heb. 5:14) to fail, to come short, to drift! Over against this drifting and
dullness the apostle places endurance, obedience, suffering, steadfastness
unto the end. Surely we, too, need the exhortation of the Lord, `Take heed
how you hear'.
The apostle in Hebrews 5:12 -14 proceeds to expand what lies in the
expression `dull of hearing'.
(1)
It indicates lack of progress.
`For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have
need that one teach you'.