Press On to Maturity

Hebrews

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

HEB_008

NET Bible Text

5:11 On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing. 5:12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God's utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 5:13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil. 6:1 Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God, 6:2 teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 6:3 And this is what we intend to do, if God permits. 6:4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 6:5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, 6:6 and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt. 6:7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God. 6:8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned. 6:9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation. 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. 6:11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end, 6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

Simple Summary

Hebrews warns that spiritual dullness is dangerous. The readers should have grown beyond the basics, but they still need milk. The warning is severe. Apostasy after real sharing in God’s gifts brings terrible judgment. Yet the writer urges them to keep going in faith, hope, and perseverance.

What This Passage Means

The writer pauses his teaching to rebuke the readers for being slow to hear. They should have been ready to teach others. Instead, they still need someone to teach them the basics again. This is like living on milk instead of solid food. Milk is for infants. Solid food is for mature people whose minds and habits have been trained to tell good from evil.

So he urges them to move beyond the elementary teaching about Christ and press on to maturity. He is not rejecting the foundation. He is saying they must not stay stuck at the beginning. He names basic truths such as repentance from dead works, faith in God, baptisms or washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. He says this progress depends on God’s permission.

Then he gives a serious warning. Some people have truly experienced great blessings: they have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God, and seen the powers of the coming age. If such people then fall away from Christ, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance while they remain in that apostate state. Their falling away is like crucifying the Son of God all over again for themselves and holding him up to contempt.

He explains this with an image of land. Rain falls on both good ground and bad ground. Good ground produces useful crops and receives blessing from God. Bad ground produces thorns and thistles, becomes worthless, and is in danger of being cursed and burned. The point is clear. God’s gifts must produce fruit.

But the writer does not end in despair. He says he is convinced of better things in their case, things that belong to salvation. God is not unjust. He will not forget their work and the love they have shown by serving the saints. Still, they must keep showing the same eagerness until the end. They must not be sluggish. They should imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

Important Truths

• Spiritual dullness is serious, not harmless.
• Believers should move beyond the basics and grow to maturity.
• Maturity means trained discernment and steady obedience.
• The warning in 6:4-6 is severe and speaks of real apostasy.
• God’s gifts are meant to bear fruit.
• Final inheritance belongs to those who continue in faith and perseverance.

Warnings, Promises, or Commands

• Warnings: Do not remain spiritually sluggish. Do not treat apostasy as a small matter. The passage warns that turning away from Christ after real exposure to his gifts brings severe judgment.
• Promises: God is not unjust. He remembers the work and love shown for his name. He will not forget faithful service to the saints.
• Commands: Press on to maturity. Keep showing eagerness for the full hope to the end. Do not be sluggish. Imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

How This Fits in God's Plan

Hebrews ties this warning to God’s saving purpose in Christ. The same God who gives light, grace, and spiritual gifts also calls his people to endure in faith. The passage fits the letter’s larger call to cling to Christ and persevere.

Simple Application

Take spiritual growth seriously. Do not stay at the level of basics if you have had time to grow. Keep trusting Christ, keep serving others, and keep going until the end.