Sermon Tone Analysis
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We are in the Middle of the Main Focus of the Letter:
The High Priesthood of Jesus
Hebrews 5:1–10 (NIV)
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest.
But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
A High Priest Must Be Human and Know What it is Like to Be Clothed in Weakness
And He Must Be Chosen By God
Jesus is Human and Knows What it is Like to Be Clothed in Weakness
And He was Chosen By God
And He Named Our High Priest By God in the Order of Melchizedek
The Author of Hebrews Has a Lot to Say About Melchizedek…
And How Jesus Relates to This King and Priest of the OT
He Even Tells Us that He Has a Lot to Say About Him in the Next Verse (11)
But There is Another Issue that Needs to Be Dealt With First
Hebrews 5:11–14 (NIV)
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.
You need milk, not solid food!
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
The Author is Now Beginning the 3rd of the 5 Warning Passages in Hebrews
This Warning Will Span From Hebrews 5:11-6:12
He is Going to Warn Against Spiritual Immaturity…
And the Eternal Danger of Spiritual Immaturity
Hebrews 5:11 (NASB95)
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
The Author Wants to Say More About Jesus’ High Priesthood Through the Shadow of Melchizedek
But He Knows Some of His Audience Won’t Be Able to Handle it
All Throughout the Book So Far, the Author Has Been Urging His Audience with Commands Like:
“Pay Much Closer Attention”
“Consider Jesus”
“Do Not Harden Your Hearts”
“Take Care/Pay Close Attention”
“Let Us Fear”
“Be Diligent”
“Let Us Hold Fast Our Confession”
They Were in Need of Constant Urging to Stay Faithful to Jesus
But, Until Now, We Haven’t Been Given a Very Clear Indication…
As to What was Specifically Going On with These Hebrew Christians
They Had Become “Dull of Hearing”
With All the Other Warnings in the Book…
They are Warned About Possible Future Outcomes of Unfaithfulness
But Here They are Directly Accused of Wrongdoing
“Dull” = Lazy, Sluggish
They Had Become Lazy and Sluggish in Their Hearing and Understanding of the Word
They Weren’t Paying Attention to the Reading and Teaching of God’s Word
They Lacked Any Desire to Put Forth the Effort to Learn More
Have You Ever Been in a Conversation with Someone…
Who Likes to Talk a Lot About Things You Don’t Find Interesting or Important?
If You Have, You Know What it’s Like to Be Dull of Hearing
You Become Lazy in Your Listening and Seeking to Understand
The Author Wants to Share with Them the Importance of Jesus’ High Priesthood
But They Have Become Lazy and Uninterested Listeners
So Trying to Explain These Things to Them is Difficult
Not Because it’s Too Difficult of a Topic…
But Because They Haven’t Cared Enough to Learn and Grow
It Makes Sense Why So Many of Them Were Thinking About Abandoning Christianity
They Had Stopped Learning and Weren’t Putting Any Effort Toward Changing
Hebrews 5:12 (NASB95)
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.
The Purpose of a Christian is to Learn and Grow so that We Can/Will Teach Others
Remember the Words of the Great Commission?
“Make Disciples”
How?
By Going, Baptizing, and Teaching
We All Have Been Given that Mission
How are We Doing in the Disciple-Making Department?
These Christians Were Not Growing Because of Their Laziness and Lack of Interest
But They Weren’t Just Dull, Lazy, Sluggish, Stagnant
What Happens When You Become Lazy/Sluggish/Stagnant with Exercising?
Your Body Doesn’t Just Stay in the Shape it was in When You Were Exercising
It Begins to Revert to a State of Being Unhealthy
When You Stop Listening, Learning, and Growing…
You Start Reverting/Regressing
“Use it or Lose it”
These Christians Should Have Been Teachers, But They Needed to Be Taught Again
They Didn’t Need the Deep, Difficult Teachings
They Needed the Elementary Principles of the Word of God
“Elementary Principles” = The Basic Components
The ABCs of God’s Word
Some of Those Will Be Listed in 6:1-2
They Should Have Been Grown Adult Christians…
But They Were Still Needing Milk as Their Nourishment Instead of Solid Food
A Child Who Never Moves From Milk to Solid Food is Going to Be in Bad Shape
Milk Offers an Infant Initial Immunity and Provides the Nutrients for Growth
But After a While, It’s No Longer Enough to Provide What They Need to Continue Growing
Solid Food is Eventually Needed to Grow and Survive
We Push Children to Transition From Milk to Solid Food
We Encourage Them and Help Them Transition
And We Expect Them to One Day Make the Transition
But Do We Push Immature Christians to Continue Growing and Maturing?
Do We Encourage Them and Help Them Grow and Mature?
Do We Expect Our Brothers and Siblings to Grow and Mature?
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