1.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Verse 1
The principles; the first principles, the elements.--Unto perfection; to an advanced state of religious attainment, and to the higher truths appropriate to it.
2.
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Verse 2
Laying on of hands; the ceremony by which the Holy Spirit was conferred upon new converts. (Acts 8:14-17,Acts 19:6.)
3.
And this will we do, if God permit.
4.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Verse 4
For it is impossible, &c. This passage (Hebrews 6:4-6) seems intended to induce those addressed to press forward in their Christian course, according to the injunctions of the Hebrews 6:1-3, by urging the danger and the fatal effects of apostasy, to which those who were remiss in their efforts were specially exposed.--Who were once enlightened; who have once been enlightened.
5.
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6.
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Verse 6
If they shall fall away; apostatize, renounce Christ, and return again to unbelief and sin.--Put him to an open shame; expose his name and his cause to public reproach. The defection of one from any cause, who has been ranked as a friend to it, always tends to this result. There can be no doubt that this terrible warning against the guilt and the hopeless ruin attendant on apostasy, (Hebrews 6:4-6,) is well as many others of similar import, contained in the word of God, (Hebrews 10:26-29,) is addressed to real Christians. But they ought not to lead us to question the certainty of the final salvation of all who truly believe. Indeed, the moral influence which such warnings are designed to exert, is a part of the system of means by which God fulfils his design, very distinctly made known in other passages, Romans 8:29, Romans 8:30. 1 Peter 1:4; 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Peter 1:5,) effectually to keep those who once truly give themselves up to his care.
7.
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:
Verse 7
The earth, in this similitude, represents the Christian, and the rain the spiritual privileges which he enjoys.
8.
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Verse 8
Is nigh unto cursing; will certainly be condemned.
9.
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Verse 9
That accompany salvation; that lead to and attend salvation.
10.
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Verse 10
Have ministered to the saints, have been active in relieving them, and in supplying their wants.
11.
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Verse 11
Diligence to the full assurance of hope; diligence leading to the full assurance of hope.
12.
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13.
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14.
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Verse 15
He obtained the promise; that is, it was fulfilled in his posterity, according to the design of God.
16.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Verse 16
For confirmation; for confirming or establishing an agreement in respect to a subject of dispute.
17.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Verse 17
Wherein; in the same manner.
18.
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Verse 18
Two immutable things; the two things referred to are usually understood to be the promise and the oath. That is, he confirmed the promise by an oath, to double, as it were, the strength of his assurance that the promise should be fulfilled.--To lie; to be false or unfaithful.
19.
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Verse 19
The veil in the temple covered the inner sanctuary, which contained the special tokens of the divine presence, and which was accordingly a proper type or symbol of heaven. The hope which entereth into, &c., is a hope which lays hold on heaven.
20.
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Verse 20
The forerunner; the one who has gone before us to prepare the way.--After the order of Melchisedec; as is more fully explained in the next chapter.