Hebrews 5:11

Advanced Teaching Hindered by Immaturity

11 Concerning this {we have much to say and it is difficult to explain}, since you have become sluggish in hearing.

Hebrews 5:11 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 5:11

Of whom we have many things to say
Either of Melchizedek, or of Christ, or of his priesthood or of all of these; since the apostle does largely treat of them in the following chapters: he says many things concerning Melchizedek in the seventh chapter, and many things of Christ, and his priesthood, in those that follow; Christ is a large and inexhaustible subject in the Gospel ministry, and what a Gospel minister delights to dwell on; and it is a fund and stock from whence he is furnished with things of the greatest usefulness, and of the utmost importance:

and hard to be uttered;
as were many things respecting Melchizedek, mentioned in ( Hebrews 7:3 ) and also concerning Christ, and his priesthood: abstruse and difficult things are to be looked into, considered, searched after, and insisted on: the whole Scripture is profitable, and the whole counsel of God is to be declared, and things hard to be explained should be attempted; this is the way to an increase of light and knowledge; though it becomes ministers to consult their own abilities, and the capacity of their hearers, that they do not go beyond them:

seeing ye are dull of hearing;
this dulness of hearing is thought by some to arise from their afflictions; or from their attachment to the law of Moses; or rather from their sluggishness, indocility, and want of industry; and often times this arises from pride and prejudice, and irreverence of the word of God; and frequently from the deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of this life.

Hebrews 5:11 In-Context

9 and being perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him,

10 being designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

11 Concerning this {we have much to say and it is difficult to explain}, since you have become sluggish in hearing.

12 For indeed, [although you] ought to be teachers {by this time}, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and {you have need of} milk, not solid food.

13 For everyone who partakes of milk [is] unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "which"
• [b] Literally "great for us the message and hard to explain to say"