Hebrews 6:1-8

¹ “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, if God permits. ⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”

Verse 1: The author of Hebrews urges the readers to move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and the New Covenant, and strive for maturity in their faith. This maturity is a life living in light of Christ’s finished work and an embracing of their identity in him. They are encouraged not to keep going back to the basics, such as repentance from dead works and faith in God, but to build upon that foundation and grow in their understanding and application of the gospel.

Verse 2: This is referencing the practices of the temple. Specifically, cleansing through washing with water and placing hands on the scapegoat is in focus. The author wanted them to move on from these practices and other elementary teachings such as the resurrection from the dead and the concept of eternal judgment. In the opinion of the author, the audience ought to have understood these basic aspects of Christianity by now.

Verse 3: The author acknowledges that the ability to move on to maturity in their faith is dependent on God’s permission and guidance. It is through God’s grace and leading that they can continue to grow and understand the deeper truths of the gospel. God is always leading but we are not always allowing him to teach us.

Verse 4: Here, the author introduces a warning, stating that it is impossible for those who have experienced certain spiritual blessings to be renewed to repentance if they fall away. The language used suggests that these individuals have had a genuine encounter with the truth of the gospel, experiencing enlightenment, tasting the heavenly gift, and sharing in the Holy Spirit through participation with the body of believers in life. They have not, however, truly consumed the gospel.

Verse 5: The author continues to describe the spiritual experiences of those who have fallen away, mentioning that they have also tasted the goodness of the word of God and witnessed the powers of the age to come. But they have not genuinely received this goodness expressed in Christ.

Verse 6: The author warns that if these individuals, who have experienced such spiritual blessings, fall away and reject the gospel, it is impossible to restore them to repentance because Jesus is the only path to salvation. If they reject him, there remains no other sacrifice for sins through that can save them.

Verse 7: The author uses an analogy of land that receives rain and produces a useful crop. Just as the land that benefits from the rain receives a blessing from God, those who respond positively to the gospel and bear fruit in their lives receive God’s blessing. But the gospel must be consumed and trusted.

Verse 8: On the other hand, if the land produces thorns and thistles instead of a fruitful crop, it is considered worthless and near to being cursed. Its ultimate fate is destruction by fire. This verse describes the fruit of rejecting the gospel. However, those who receive the gospel yield a spiritual crop that is bountiful and healthy.