Now we are getting into the “hard of hearingâ€? bookmark of Hebrews. I find that this describes many of those in Christ today that have had the heaviness of religious guides and religious examples [and training] present in their lives. Those who have been resting on a bunch of this training and maybe don’t even know it when they are suddenly confronted by the grace of God. Those who have lathered up this religious mentality for themselves because they were tricked into thinking that they needed something like this to satisfy their cravings [the wisdom of the world]. It is also worth noting that the Spirit that lives in us HAS cravings. That which is of the Spirit “cravesâ€? the things of the Spirit..no? Or maybe it could be a yearning of sorts.

“Lathered up,â€? I love that description, Adam. Yeah, I think we’ve come to isolate certain words like crave, desire, and even lust as if they only apply to sinful things. The reality, though, is that the same words were used to describe God himself. Consider Paul’s statement to the Galatians: For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. Galatians 5:17 (Holman)

Or how about how it’s translated in the KJV: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. The one lusts against the other.

When I first encountered that verse, I was thrown for a loop because my understanding of the word lust tripped me up! However, as you suggested, there is a yearning that applies to both the flesh as well as to the Spirit. Because of my training in the religious system, I was trying to fight against those fleshly lusts in hopes of eventually ridding myself of them. I probably would have had more success trying to change the tides! It took years for me to realize that I could not only not change the lusts of the flesh, but also that I hadn’t been asked to do so by God. As you already implied, our life is driven by cravings that are in opposition to the cravings we’ve tried so unsuccessfully to change, for our life is actually found in another: Christ.

Anyhow, Jim, here’s that passage in Hebrews chapter 5 I was referring to:

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

You know, while we’ve dug into the context of the letter of Hebrews in order to place its understanding within the scope of the original Jewish recipients — that is, to those who had been born and raised under the Law — it doesn’t mean that it might not also reflect what’s going on in the contemporary Christian world. For it most certainly does! It’s just that it’s not what most of us have learned to assume. For chances are that you have been taught to view the various messages from Hebrews — and these are messages that seem to rarely connect, mind you — but … you’ve come to accept these words as validations of the very things that were being challenged. In other words, many of the basic principles and so-called Bible doctrines that have been promoted through verses and passages from Hebrews are the same things the writer exposed as having come from a legal, fleshly mind.

That’s quite a turn around, isn’t it?
Can you give an example here for our listeners?

In fact, this is a perfect place to recognize the kind of turn around I’m referring to. You see, you’ve probably had it pounded into your head that you’re a baby Christian who needs to sit under a spiritual leader who knows how to teach the Bible so that you can grow up and mature. Hey, if you’re still having to ask your pastor how you’re supposed to live as a Christian, you probably assume that you’re too immature to determine it by yourself.

Are you saying that as believers we shouldn’t ask for insight or seek counsel from another, even a teacher or pastor?

No, not at all, for there can be much wisdom gained in the process. However if you’re seeking for answers or counsel based upon the assumption that you haven’t reached some elusive spiritual maturity level, you’re probably responding according to the religious propaganda you’ve bought into. Maybe you think I’m over-dramatizing it by calling it propaganda, but how else would you describe a setup where the members of a group respond according to the dictates of their so-called spiritual leader?

Yeah but, Jim isn’t this exactly what you are doing right now? I mean if I take hold of what you are saying won’t I, in a sense, be taking a hold of my maturity in the grace of God?

LOL! It could sure come across that way, couldn’t it? And it wouldn’t be the first time I have been confronted with this proposition, either. Of course, I could tell you, No, I’m not doing the same thing!, but those who hear me will have to decide that for themselves. I am well aware that there are those who have viewed me in this way. Some, to denounce me; others, to attach themselves to me. You see, it’s the religious mind that forces an either/or scenario, and it’s difficult to deal with either one. In truth, it’s more difficult to experience the latter.

Why is that?

Although it may stroke the ego to have someone hang upon your every word and promote you without reservation, unless that person actually hears what I’m saying and finds his confidence, not in me but in Christ, it all comes to naught. And chances are that all that positive energy will be turned into negative attacks.
I’m telling you right now that a truly spiritual leader won’t try to insert himself between you and God — not even using a Biblical-based premise like spiritual maturity. One who is truly spiritual would rather confront you in some way for having adopted the fleshly reasonings that keep you from seeing the simplicity of Christ.

We don’t often think of the act of taking hold of the grace in God as being â€œmaturityâ€?.

No, we often don’t, do we? In fact, the religious mind seems to regard grace as the slippery slope that leads to immaturity — you know, a little bit’s good for you, but too much leads to sin. The truth is that the fear of grace leads to immaturity.

Jim, it can easily seem that the writer had shamed those believers regarding their lack of Biblical understanding and was calling them baby Christians because of it. Can you offer any insight to counteract the usual viewpoint by which religious leaders often shame their congregations into a knowledged-based approach that consists of daily Bible reading and?

What needs to be taken into consideration has to do with how the writer moved from the priesthood of Christ into his claim that the Hebrews were dull of hearing. We tend to read this as if it was a change of subject, when, in fact, he had purposely paused to sharpen up the focus.

What do you mean by saying that he sharpened up the focus?

You see, by calling attention to how he couldn’t even discuss this Melchizedek character with them, it revealed how they had been led away from what it truly meant for Christ to have become a high priest. He didn’t confront them because of a lack of Biblical information, rather it was because they had fallen back into a fleshly perception of the Law.

Let me ask you all a question: How often have you been suckered into doing or believing something just because it was found in the authoritative record? The fact is that those who seemed to be spiritual leaders among them were banking on the Biblical understanding of the Hebrews, especially in relation to the high priesthood. Don’t forget, these people had grown up in submission to a high priest. So when the Scriptures were presented that spoke of the duties of a high priest, they were swayed by a sense of divine authority in the reestablishment of sacrifices … under the auspices of Jesus as being high priest.

Now, if you find this hard to imagine, all you have to do is observe how easily Christians are swayed by authoritative sounding preachers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had someone ask me about the Scriptural claims of some new Messianic teacher regarding certain laws or observances. The fear and intimidation just oozes from the person as they explain their concerns. I had someone write just a couple weeks ago asking about something that I’m sure wouldn’t have even phased her back when we were connecting through a discussion group, but having been under the influence of a man who supposedly knows the word of God and was showing her OT commands regarding certain things she had most likely violated, she simply came unglued out of fear. She had become dull of hearing.

And that’s exactly what was going on among the believing Jews in and around Jerusalem. You see, as long as one views Christ according to the flesh — and that how he was being preached at that time — those who view him this way cannot truly understand what it is for him to have been the end of the Law for righteousness. My friends, just because the name of Jesus might be emphasized and sung to … and his death, burial, and resurrection preached, it doesn’t mean that he can’t also be viewed according to the flesh.

So, let’s dig a little more into what’s behind what it means for the Hebrews to have become dull of hearing. Here’s that verse:

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:11

As I was thinking about the “dull of hearingâ€? comment he made, I immediately shot back to the letter to the Corinthians were Paul spoke of a “veilâ€? that remained over their hearts every time the law would be read to them [for in Christ, the veil is taken away!]

Let me read that:
Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

This dullness, this veil, this separation of flesh and Spirit is so key. They REALLY don’t mix do they?

No, my friend, they do not mix at all. And you are spot-on when you say that this separation between flesh and spirit is key. I just love that whole passage. In fact, Paul’s presentation to the Corinthians all the way throughout both letters is built entirely around this very same distinction. And you know what, it’s not that we need to fear the words written in the Law, or even those commands in the NT writings, but we sure need to realize that most of those who are so eager to tell us what we’re supposed to be doing are doing so from behind that same veil. Paul instructed Timothy to be careful regarding such men when he wrote:

For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 1 Timothy 1:6-7

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:11

Now, if we were to listen to these wannabe law-teachers, they would convince us that in order to understand the things of God we need to understand the intricacies of the Bible. Regarding the character Melchizedek, such men glory in the concept of the stated difficulty in explaining him, and they suggest that much more study and dedication is needed to understand him. That’s so bogus, for it’s totally backward. The difficulty in explaining Melchizedek comes from the very same distinction between flesh and spirit. You see, because the believing Hebrews were being swayed by Scriptural arguments they were not able to hear the simplicity that Jesus had been made a high priest NOT according to the earthly priesthood, but of a totally distinct and heavenly priesthood. Can you hear the very same separation being made here between flesh and spirit, between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. It’s not that we need to get into the technical details regarding this mysterious priest, but that we recognize that Jesus was not like the priests they had known.

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

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Why else do you think Biblical scholars keep promoting another OT law or priniciple or sacrifice? Why else do religious leaders keep prompting their people in the following regards:
Getting saved again?
Going forward at every altar call?
Becoming sold-out Christians?
Dedicated Christians?
Rededication? etc

What is an “oracle�?
a. A shrine consecrated to the worship and consultation of a prophetic deity, as that of Apollo at Delphi.
b. A person, such as a priestess, through whom a deity is held to respond when consulted.
c. The response given through such a medium, often in the form of an enigmatic statement or allegory.
2.
a. A person considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinions.
b. An authoritative or wise statement or prediction.
3. A command or revelation from God.
4. In the Bible, the sanctuary of the Temple