Spiritual Progress / Falling Away
Hebrews 5:11 - of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
The writer is trying to prove that the sacrifice of Christ is superior, far better than the Levitical system. However they are dull of hearing.
- Become = Ginomai. It is in the perfect tense which means that it is an action that’s complete and finished / perfected. Hebrews 6:4-6 also helps to clarify this: For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Their inability to hear is a result of their neglect and gradual falling away from NT / gospel truth.
- Dull = Sluggish / Slow. They had become numb over time. They had deteriorated and their neglect was now complete and their hearts were hardened. Hebrews 2:1 says, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to do the things we have heard, lest we drift
- If God speaks to us we should not ignore Him or He may not continue speaking to us. If this happens then the word will not be alive within us.
- Hebrews 2:9 says that Jesus tasted death for everyone. He paid the full price. Hebrews 6:5 talks of those who have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come. It stands to reason that they also fully tasted and entered ALL the way into fellowship with Christ. Therefore, it seems the simple take away is for a believer. In this situation, we cannot renew ourselves again to repentance but in accordance with Mark 10:27 God can do what is impossible for us to do. But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
- Make Progress, keep growing in obedience because there can come a day when a heart becomes hardened to the point of no return. We know from Romans 8:38,39 that no outside force can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. However, if our inner man becomes hardened and over time “Ginomai’s” to reject God, that is a different outcome all together.