Page 49 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

This is a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE, which emphasizes a settled state of being. The term "dull" is used only
twice in the New Testament/,,k, here and in 6:12. The author was having difficulty explaining, not
because of the subject matter, but because of the immaturity of the readers. They had become hard of
hearing and lazy in spiritual matters.

5:12 "For though by this time you ought to be teachers" Although these believers had been Christians
for a long period they had not matured. Length of time is not directly related to maturity. It seems they
were continuing to fellowship with unbelieving Jews on the basis of non-controversial Jewish subjects
(cf. 6:1-2). This was possibly (1) to avoid governmental persecution and/or (2) to avoid the "great
commission" commitment required of Christians.

5:14 "the mature" This term is from the same Greek root translated "perfect" in 5:9. Telos means
mature, fully equipped for an assigned task. Jesus' humanity is an example of faithfulness and growth to
maturity (cf. vv. 8-9), just as the readers' lives must be. These believing Jews had experienced some
persecution (cf. 12:4), but they tended to pull back (cf. ‘"shrink back," 10:38) into the relative safety of
Judaism.

"because of practice have their senses trained" This is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE, which speaks of
repeated action that has become consolidated into a settled state of being—practice makes perfect! The
same VERB is used of God's disciples in 12:11.

8.4 Let’s Practice…

1. How is suffering related to maturity, both of Jesus and believers?

2-4. In Hebrews 5:11-6:20 we have three key PRONOUNS which reflect three groups, list them:

5. In the OT what kind of sins were forgivable through sacrifice?

6. What kind of sins were unpardonable through sacrifice?

7. When it came to the cross experience, what was Jesus’s ultimate fear?

8. What factors had caused these readers not to mature?

9. Define the NT word "perfect" (telos).

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