Bible Commentaries

Hebrews 5:8

God had but one Son free from sin; but none of all His sonnes free from correction.

—Herrick.

Contrast the erroneous view of the Theologia Germanica (xxx), which affirms that Christ's "words and works and ways, His doings and refrainings, His speech and silence, His sufferings, and whatsoever happened to Him, were not forced upon Him, neither did He need them, neither were they of any profit to Himself".

References.—V:8.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xlvii. No2722. G. Body, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xlv. p193. Archbishop Cosmo Lang, ibid. vol. lv. p235. V:8 , 9.—A. T. Guttery, ibid. vol. lvi. p317. Expositor (4th Series), vol. i. p34; ibid. vol. ii. p16. V:9.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xx. No1172. Expositor (6th Series), vol. ii. p74. V:9 , 10.—R. M. Benson, Redemption, p152.

Christian Growth

Hebrews 5:11

This writer addresses the Hebrews in very plain language. He calls them babes. He upbraids them with being content with a milk diet. They had been some time alive, but they had not grown; and no wonder, for they had never discovered that they had teeth. They ate no solid food; they preferred what others had digested for them; they preferred being dandled in the arms of others, and shrank from using their own limbs. That is to say, they were content with rudimentary knowledge of Christian truth and with traditional teaching, and made no effort to think for themselves and to advance into the infinite of spiritual realities.

I. In correction of this common fault of backwardness and indisposition to learn, this writer bids us observe two facts: (1) That growth is expected in the Christian. In fact, he tells us that if we are not growing we are dying. There is no third condition: he has in view only the alternative, either we are going on to perfection, or we are falling away. "Let us go on unto perfection, for it is impossible to renew those who fall away." This is the law of all life. Nothing is born mature. It passes through a period of growth, and it must grow or die. The parent who is delighted with the innocent helplessness of his child, and rejoices in its efforts at speech, becomes seriously alarmed if this lisping, tottering, help-requiring state threatens to become permanent.

II. The second fact regarding the Christian life which this writer wishes us to observe is that this growth, which is essential, depends on the truth we receive. He compares Christian truth to food; that Hebrews 5:11

"I am at present," says James Smetham in his Letters (p170), "on the Epistle to the Hebrews. The great difference of such a subject from all others is that all the interests of Time and Eternity are wrapped up in it. The scrutiny of a title-deed to 100 ,000 a year is nothing to it How should it be? Is there a Christ? Is He the heir of all things? Was He made flesh? Did He offer an all perfect sacrifice? Did He supersede the old order of priests? Is He the Mediator of a new and better Covenant? What are the terms of that Covenant? There are no questions like these. They raise, in their very investigation, the whole soul into the Empyrean. All other interests seem low, trivial, petty, momentary.... I am astonished at the imperative tone of this Epistle, and the element of holy scorn against those who refuse to go into those great questions carefully."

References.—V:11 , 12.—Marcus Dods, Christian World Pulpit, vol. lv. p139. V:11-14.—Expositor (4th Series), vol. viii. p119.

Hebrews 5:12

"The wisdom from above has not ceased for us," says Coleridge in the introduction to his Lay Sermon; ""the principles of the oracles of God" are still uttered from before the altar! Oracles, which we may consult without cost! Before an altar, where no sacrifice is required, but of the vices which unman us! no victims demanded, but the unclean and animal passions, which we may have suffered to house within us, forgetful of our baptismal dedication—no victim, but the spiritual sloth, or goat, or fox, or hog, which lay waste the vineyard that the Lord had fenced and planted for Himself."

References.—V:12-14.—Archbishop Temple, Christian World Pulpit, vol. lvi. p148. Expositor (5th Series), vol. v. p31. V:13 , 14.—Bishop Bethell, Sermons, vol. i. p386. V:14.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. ix. No506. Expositor (4th Series), vol. i. p268.