Hebrews 5:11-6:20

What’s Happening?

The author of Hebrews tells his readers that they are immature (Hebrews 5:11-12). Since they have been saved by Jesus, they should look more like Jesus. But despite all the teaching they’ve received, they aren’t any more like God than when they first met him (Hebrews 5:13-14). The author wants to move past foundational truths about God—forgiveness, faith, and the resurrection—and on to more mature matters (Hebrews 6:1-3). But first, he warns his readers about the danger of refusing to grow and mature.

He tells them it’s impossible for people who aren’t becoming like Jesus after experiencing his goodness, power, and grace to become like him in any other way (Hebrews 6:4-5). Jesus’ death and resurreciton are the only and best way to change people. If that doesn’t change you, nothing can. To demand something more from God than his crucified Son is to disgrace the greatest gift ever offered—Jesus and his sacrifice (Hebrews 6:6). But to state it positively, it is impossible for those who have received Jesus to not become like him. There is no greater guarantee that we will mature than God giving us Jesus. 

The author uses an agricultural metaphor to illustrate this point. Imagine the greatest farmer in the world who cares for a plot of land. He fertilizes it, plants seeds, and waters it well. The land  should grow fruit (Hebrews 6:7). But, if under all the same care, the land doesn’t grow its crop, even the best farmer knows the only recourse is to burn the land (Hebrews 6:7-8). 

But the author doesn’t imagine his audience is actually guilty of this type of stubborn immaturity (Hebrews 6:9). He knows his readers have shown signs of growth in the past. And he’s seen firsthand their love for God and others (Hebrews 6:10). This warning isn’t meant make them despair, but to encourage them to persevere and endure in their efforts at maturity and becoming holy like Jesus (Hebrews 6:11). 

To encourage his audience to trust that God will mature them into Christlikeness, the author reminds them of Abraham, whom he tells his readers to imitate (Hebrews 6:12). God told Abraham that he would mature his family line into a lineage of descendants who would bless the world with his likeness. Even though his land looked fruitless for years, Abraham trusted that God would mature it to fruitfulness (Hebrews 6:13-15). To prove this, God gave Abraham a twofold promise. First, God is the one who made the promise—and God cannot lie. Second, even though he can’t lie, God swore by himself that his promise would come true. Abraham matured by persevering in his trust in the unchangeable promise of God (Hebrews 6:16-18). The Hebrews, too, as heirs of Abraham will mature in the same way—by holding on to the unbreakable promise that God will make us like him (Hebrews 6:19-20). 

Where is the Gospel?

Often when we read passages like this, they scare us. We question if we have matured enough to receive God’s blessings, or we nervously wonder if we’ve stubbornly refused maturity too many times and are now beyond God’s grace. But it is in these moments that we must hear the words of Hebrews. We have a sure, steadfast, and immovable hope (Hebrews 6:19). This hope is not wishful thinking or ignoring our failed attempts at maturity. Our hope is anchored in the promises, purposes, and actions of Jesus. 

As the author of Hebrews shows, there is no greater guarantee that God will mature you into Jesus’ image than Jesus himself. God promised it with an unbreakable oath to Abraham. He signed it in blood on the cross. And Jesus has taken that pledge to the throne of God in heaven (Hebrews 6:20). We know we will mature into Jesus’ image because of where he is right now. He is with God and so will we.  

So, with all the blessings of heaven guaranteed, we are invited to mature. We can rely on the promise of God to increasingly make us like him in his righteousness, goodness, holiness, and grace. The greatest farmer in the world is tending over the field of your life. Jesus is watering, sowing, and reaping a harvest in you. What Jesus plants in you is himself. So it is impossible for him not to grow in you as well. 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who make unbreakable promises. And may you see Jesus as the one who guarantees that promise with his life.