Ang Lakad ni Enoch

"Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away." (Genesis 5:24, NET Bible)

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:5-6, NET Bible)

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"Huwag na huwag mong kakainin ang bungang iyon, sapagkat sa araw na kainin mo iyon ay MAMAMATAY KA" (Gen. 2:17), babala ng Diyos sa ating mga unang magulang sa hardin. Binale-wala nila ang babala at mas pinaniwalaan ang panlilinlang ng ahas. Kaya naman ipinataw sa tao ang parusang ito: "Dahil sa alabok, doon ka nanggaling, sa lupang alabok ay babalik ka rin." (Gen. 3:19). Pagdating sa ikalimang kabanata ng Genesis, naroon ang talaan ng mga pangalan nina Adan at ng mga inapong sumunod sa kanya:

• Sa gulang na 930, si Adan ay bumalik sa alabok.
• Sa gulang na 912, si Seth ay bumalik sa alabok.
• Sa gulang na 905, si Enosh ay bumalik sa alabok.
• Sa gulang na 910, si Cainan ay bumalik sa alabok.
• Sa edad na 895, si Mahalalel ay bumalik sa alabok.

Wala tayong oras at espasyo para isa-isahin ang mga pangalan. Sapat na ang sabihin na mula sa unang pangalang nabanggit hanggang sa huli, silang lahat ay bumalik sa alabok--- MALIBAN SA ISA!!! Si Enoch ay umabot sa gulang na 365 at ang pagkakasabi sa talata 25, sa gulang na iyon siya ay nawala (wala nang nakasulyap pa sa kanya) dahil kinuha siya ng Diyos. 

Sa pagbuklat natin sa Bagong Tipan, mas nabigyang linaw ang nangyari sa kanya: "... si Enoch ay hindi nakaranas ng kamatayan. Hindi na siya nakita sapagkat kinuha siya ng Diyos." (Heb. 11:5).

Ito ang unang pahiwatig ng Bibliya na ang parusang kamatayan na ipinataw sa sangkatauhan ay maaaring matakasan. Ang tao na bihag sa kuko ng kamatayan ay maaaring makaalpas. Ngayon at kumpleto na ang kapahayagan ng Diyos na nakasulat sa Bibliya, unawa natin na ang pagbabalik sa alabok ay hindi ang ating huling hantungan. Ang huling patutunguhan natin ay sa presensya ng Diyos upang makapiling siya araw at gabi at mamangha sa kanyang kadakilaan magpakailanman.

Kung paano nalampasan ni Enoch ang parusang kamatayan ay nandun rin sa Gen 5:24. Sa buong buhay niya, siya ay naglakad kasama ang Diyos o sa talasalitaan (vocabulary) ng sumulat ng aklat ng Hebreo, ang buhay niya ay kalugod-lugod sa Diyos (Heb. 11:5). Sa buong buhay niya, wala siyang ibang inisip kundi kung ano ang magbibigay-lugod sa Diyos. Naging maingat siya sa paglayo sa mga bagay at mga gawaing kinamumuhian ng Diyos. Ang lumakad sa tuwid na daan at mabuhay ng may takot sa Diyos ang nasa puso at isipan niya. Iyan ang ikinatuwa ng Diyos kaya't siya ay kinuha nang hindi dumadaan sa kamatayan.

Maaaring magtanong ang ilan, "Akala ko ba sa pananampalataya naliligtas ang tao at hindi sa gawa? Bakit tila ang kanyang matuwid na buhay ang siyang nagbigay-lugod sa Diyos at naging daan kung bakit siya nakalaya sa parusang kamatayan? Akala ko ba salvation by grace through faith alone?” 

Sinagot 'yan ng may akda ng aklat ng Hebreo. Aniya, ang dahilan kung bakit ganun na lamang kaganda ang lakad ni Enoch na siya namang ikinalugod ng Diyos ay dahil sa pananampalataya. Sa teolohiya ng sumulat, imposible para sa sinuman ang makapagbigay-lugod sa Diyos kung siya ay walang pananampalataya (Heb 11:6). Kaya naman sa konklusyon niya, ang ugat ng pagkalugod ng Diyos kay Enoch ay hindi dahil sa likas siyang matuwid, kundi dahil sa may pananampalataya siya-- pananampalatayang ang dulot ay matuwid na pamumuhay.

Ito ay isang nakakagalak na katotohanan: tayo na may pananampalataya sa Diyos ay kinalulugdan niya. Hindi na bale kung hindi man malugod ang mga tao sa atin sa tuwing naninindigan tayo sa katotohan. Ang tanging may halaga, nalulugod sa atin ang Diyos.

Huling punto: ang Diyos ay nagbibigay gantimpala sa mga masigasig humahanap sa kanya (Heb. 11:6). Kung wala tayong mapapala sa paglilingkod sa Diyos, kung wala tayong mapapala sa pamumuhay nang matuwid, kung wala tayong pakinabang sa pagsunod sa Diyos--- kawawa naman tayo. Mauuwi lang pala sa wala ang lahat. Ganito rin ang saloobin ni Apostol Pablo (1 Corinto 15:19). Mabuti na lang may pakinabang tayo sa pananampalataya ayon sa Heb.11:6. Ang Diyos ay nagbibigay gantimpala sa mga humahanap sa kanya.

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Like Enoch, walk with God, and you cannot mistake your road. You have infallible wisdom to direct you, immutable love to comfort you, and eternal power to defend you."
Charles H. Spurgeon
Morning and Evening

Ang Simpatya ng Ating Pari sa Langit

 Hebrews 4:14-16

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (NIV 1984)

"Huwag kayong tatalikod!" 'Yan ang pangunahing bilin ng manunulat para sa mga orihinal na tumanggap ng liham na ito. Mangyari kasi, matindi ang pag-uusig laban sa kanila kaya naman malakas ang hatak ng tukso na sila'y bumalik na lamang sa dati nilang relihiyong Judaismo.

Isa sa mga argumento ng manunulat upang hikayatin silang manatili sa Kristiyanismo ay ang paghahambing sa pagkapari ni Hesus sa pagkapari ng mga naglilingkod sa templo ng Judaismo.

Nasaan ang mga pari ng Judaismo? Nasa ibabaw ng lupa.
Nasaan ang punong pari ng Kristiyanismo? Nasa langit.

"... we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God... "

Sinu-sino ang mga pari ng Judaismo? Mga taong mortal.
Sino ang punong pari ng Kristiyanismo? Ang Anak ng Diyos.

"... we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God... " (Hebrews 4:14)

Sa pagkakasulat ng talata 15, tila lumalabas na tumutugon ang manunulat sa isang pagtutol o di kaya ay inuunahan na niya ang isang posibleng pagtutol sa kanyang itinuturo. Komentaryo ni Homer Kent, Jr., "The negative way in which this statement is introduced suggests that rebuttal is being made to an objection."¹ At ang pagtutol na ito ay sa punto ng simpatya. Ano yung simpatya? Ito yung nakaka-relate ka sa nararamdaman ng kapwa mo. Kayong mga mapuputi, malamang ay wala kayong simpatya sa mga taong maiitim na pinipintasan ay inaalaska. Diyan ako lamang sa inyo, nakakasimpatya ako sa kanila.

Ang pagtutol ay ganito:

    "Kung siya ay nasa langit at kami ay nasa lupa, hindi kaya mas maigi na ang lalapitan naming mga pari ay ang mga kapwa namin taga-lupa? Sila ang makakasimpatya sila sa amin."
     "Kung siya ay Anak ng Diyos at kami ay mga tao lamang, hindi kaya mas maigi na ang lalapitan naming mga pari ay ang mga kapwa namin mga tao rin? Sila ang makakasimpatya sila sa amin."

Heto ang sagot ng manunulat sa pagtutol na iyan: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." (v.15)

Ang punto ng manunulat, si Hesus bagamat siya ay Impeccable, ibig sabihin bilang Diyos ay hindi siya nagkakasala, ang pinagdaanan niyang mga tukso ay mga tunay na tukso. Ang mga tagumpay niya laban sa kasalanan ay pinaghirapan at pinagsikapan. Komentaryo ni Leon Morris:"... though Jesus did not sin, we must not infer that life was easy for him. His sinlessness was, at least in part, an earned sinlessness as he gained victory after victory in the constant battle with temptation that life in this world entails."² Mas matindi pa nga ang mga pinagdaanan niya kasi tayo, konting effort lang ni Satanas, bumibigay na tayo sa kasalanan samantalang siya, hindi bumibigay. Ibig sabihin, todo-effort si Satanas sa pagtukso sa kanya. Dahil naranasan niya ang hirap ng pakikipagtunggali laban sa kasalanan, nakakasimpatya siya sa ating mga kahinaan.

Mahirap bang magpakabanal sa mga oras na...
    ... ikaw ay gutom at walang maisaing? Dinaanan ni Hesus 'yan at nanatiling banal (Mateo 4:2)
    ... ikaw ay mawalan ng mahal sa buhay? Dinaanan ni Hesus 'yan at nanatiling banal (Juan 11:33-36)
    ... ikaw ay traydorin, ipagkanulo o iwanan ng mga kaibigan? Dinaanan ni Hesus 'yan at nanatiling banal (Mateo 26:14-16; Luke 22:60; Marcos 14:50)
    ... ikaw ay pagbintangan ng kasinungalingan at pagkaitan ng katarungan? Dinaanan ni Hesus 'yan at nanatiling banal (Mateo 26:60)

At dahil marunong makisimpatya sa atin ang ating pari sa langit, ito ang pinagagawa ng manunulat sa atin: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. " (4:16 a)

Sa ilalim ng matandang tipan, ang "high priest" ang nag-iisang tao na maaaring lumapit sa presensya ng Diyos. Subalit sa bagong tipan, lahat ng mananampalataya ay may kalayaang lumapit sa kanya.

Sa ilalim ng matandang tipan, nakakalapit lamang ang high priest minsan sa isang taon tuwing Day of Atonement.  Subalit sa bagong tipan, malaya tayong lumapit sa Diyos anumang oras.

Idagdag mo pa diyan ang katotohanang ang mga sinaunang hari ay hindi basta-basta maaaring lapitan. Maging ang Reynang si Esther ay nakipagsapalaran nang lumapit siya sa asawa niyang hari na hindi naman siya ipinapatawag. Subalit dahil sa ating pari sa langit, malaya tayong lumapit sa ating hari. Ang trono ng Diyos para sa ating mga mananampalataya ay hindi "throne of judgment" kundi "throne of grace". Ang matatanggap natin ay grasya at habag.

"Pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko sa aking paglapit sa kanya." Nakakapagpagaan ng loob na tayo ay sinasabihan na lumapit ng may "confidence". At ayon pa nga sa isang pang iskolar, ito raw ay maaaring isalin bilang "bold frankness"³; malaya tayong maging honest sa kung ano pakiramdam natin at kung ano ang saloobin natin. Siyempre hindi ito nangangahulugan na tayo ay lalapit sa kanya nang walang kalakip na paggalang at pagsamba. Diyos pa rin siya na dapat sambahin. Pero ito ang tiyak, hindi niya kamumuhian ang sinumang lumalapit sa kanya nang may pagpapakumbaba (Awit 51:17)

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 NOTES:

1 Homer A. Kent, Jr., The Epistle to the Hebrews, p.91

2 Leon Morris, Hebrews (EBC)

3 William Lane, Hebrews (WBC). Cited in George's Guthrie's Hebrews (NIVAC)

Enter In

Petra

Incisive Words from a Loving Heart

Every part of man was created by God for his glory.

Your hands,

your feet,

your reproductive organs,

your brain.

From head to toe, every part of you were created by him and for him (Col.1:16). But when man fell into sin, we rejected God’s purpose for our body: we use our hands in ways dishonoring to God. We use our feet to go where God does not want us to go. We use our brains for scheming evil or for creative ungodly imaginations.

No wonder when we were redeemed, God demanded that we should use every part of us to serve him. He wants us to remember that we are not our own, we were bought with a price.

1 Cor. 6:18-20: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Our speech components were also redeemed by God. Consider how the bible describes how we use our speech components before we were saved:

Romans 3:13-14 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." “"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

And so now that we are saved and God is in the business of sanctifying us, he is after the transformation of our speech:

Eph. 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”

God wants us to use our lips in such a way that that will bring nourishment and health to others:

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Prov. 16:24).

There is no room for verbal abuse in the life of a Christian.

Prov. 12:18: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Men are in possession of a deadly weapon, and they are all licensed to carry it—that deadly weapon is the tongue.

ERRING ON THE OTHER SIDE

But we could also err on the other side. We could also misuse our lips when we offer sweet candies when a brother needs a bitter pill. We could misuse our tongues when we give a kiss when what is needed is a surgery.

There are two things I want to address:

1.       On the part of the speaker- we desire to be liked; we want to be adorable. In real life, you want to be admired. You don’t want to play the role of Romy Diaz or Bella Flores in other people’s lives. You want to be as sweet as possible.

2.       On the part of the listener- You like kind people; you like persons who are nice to you.

Because of these factors, both the speaker and the listener may disregard Prov. 27:6

 “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” (NIV)

Hebrews 5:11-6:8:

Some time ago, I preached on Heb.5:11-14. That Message titled “The Dangers of and Cure for Dullness of Hearing.” I received some good feedback when I preached it. Thanks for receiving it not as my word but as the word of God. One feedback I received was while he was listening was “para akong sinasampal”. You see, these words are sharp-edged. Not even the barrage of jokes I released that morning intercepted the flying arrows from this text. Let us go through the verses and feel the blades:

5:11- “you have become so dull in hearing”

5:12- “though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the ABC’s of the faith.

5:13-14 you have become spiritual Bondyings, what you need is not solid food but milk

But the incisive words doesn’t end at chapter 5’s last verse, they kept coming even in the next chapter where he implied that their present condition, if it goes unchecked might end in apostasy

6:4-6  if those who were exposed to the spiritual experiences that you have shall fall away, it will be impossible to renew them to repentance

6:6- he equates the state of these apostates as a re-crucifixion of Christ

These are really incisive words yet there is more to come.

6:7-8- he presents an illustration on what apostasy is.

“Hebrews 6:7-8 "Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Hear what he is saying:It is expected for a piece of land to produce a harvest of useful stuff for the one who cultivates—but after all the rain and cultivation it produces thorns and thistles, it must be rejected. It should be cursed and burned. If after all the blessing of God in your lives, if after all the means of grace that he has given to you like the church, fellowship and bible knowledge, if you life yields thorns instead of useful crop, you are good for nothing. And you deserve judgment.

Words that are:

Pointed… bladed… Sharp… incisive…

Hebrews 6:9-12

Does he lack love for others? No. The word rendered as “beloved” or “dear friends” in verse 9 is a term of endearment. It is a word to express affection. It is also significant that in the whole epistle, it is only used here. The writer knows how heavy his previous statements. Surely, there will be an impression among the readers that he hates them. So he uses this word to send the message that though he has some critical things to say, he loves them.

Does he lack respect for others? No. In fact he has a high view of them. He is very much convinced that they are true converts and that they will not fall away. Though they have reached this sorrowful condition called “Dullness of hearing”, the writer is very much convinced that they will bounce back and recover:

“Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation.” (Heb.6:9)

He knows the sharpness of the words he has used but he says that even though he speaks as harsh as this, he does not really believe they will end in apostasy as described in verses 4-8. They were once at the peak of spirituality. Sadly, their feet slipped considerably down the slope towards this condition called “dullness of hearing”. When this downgrade progresses, they may fall at the lowest level called apostasy. So the author of Hebrews warns them about it, yet though he speaks this way, he is confident that they will slide on that level. He has this certainty that they will continue in this path of salvation.

What makes him so confident that they will not fall away?

1^st, he has observed their life and saw works done and the love shown in the service of others for the name of Christ a (v.10, Heb.10:32-34)--- that was in the early days. At present, perhaps it has diminished a little because of their present spiritual condition that’s why he was asking them to remember the earlier days. But it has not totally disappeared and that service continues. (v.10).

He is confident that they will not fall away because he has observed their lives and recognize good fruit. See how Paul was convinced that the Thessalonians were chosen by God (1 Thess. 4-10).

2^nd, he based it on the character of God as just. Because he is just, he doesn’t ignore the works done in his service. I have said this before, and I’ll say it again. Pres. Marcos issued the Labor law as a presidential decree. For all the evil he is known for, he wants justice for the labor sector. God is infinitely more just than Marcos. He will not ignore the labors done for him—works that he himself gave us the desire and the ability to do (Phil.2:13)

Now if he is convinced that they belong among God’s elect, why then does he said those incisive warnings about apostasy?

You see, like the rest of us, our observations about a person’s life and his eternal destiny are subjective. I have some Professing Christian friends. As I observe their lives, I come up with varying conclusions. For some of my friends, I am almost certain that they are indeed true Christians; for some, I really doubt their Christianity; and still for others, I’m not sure. It is all subjective—according to my perceptions only. Only God knows who are truly elect and who are not. I can’t know for sure because God did not leave a visible tattoo on their skins. My only basis is that if they are continuing in the faith.

The author of Hebrews wrote those incisive words with a desired effect in mind. What is it? It is there in v. 11-12 “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” This is a desire so strong that the NET renders it as “But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness…”

This pattern of hard work and love that you have set in the past, we want to see continued until the end. This thing that has convinced me that you are indeed the elect of God, I want to see until the end. I am convinced that you are truly of God, but I must continue witnessing it. If this diligence evaporates, so is my confidence about your salvation. You must continue in your diligence to make your hope sure.  I must say these incisive words so you will not fall into laziness. We want you to hold on to your Faith and patience so that in the end, you will posses what was promised.

His desired effect then for his incisive words is that it may serve as a means of their perseverance in the faith. That is the 5^th point of our Calvinistic doctrine of salvation (the doctrines of grace)—those who are elect and are drawn irresistibly by his grace shall persevere  in the faith until the end. But God works through means. As an article in the canons of Dort puts it: “And, just as it has pleased God to begin this work of grace in us by the proclamation of the gospel, so he preserves, continues, and completes his work by the hearing and reading of the gospel, by meditation on it, by its exhortations, threats, and promises…” (I removed the sacramental part, but to this part, I agree).

We are preserved not just with the comforting exhortations and lovely promises but also by the dreadful threats… and so the Book of Hebrews is full of threats.

John Piper explains the necessity of the word of God for our perseverance:

“We can say that eternal security is certain for the Christian, yet avoid a mechanical view that drains the blood-earnestness right out of the weekly ministry of preaching to the saints. Biblically God uses the earnest application of the means of grace to hold his people secure; one of those means is the preaching of God’s Word. Heaven and hell are at stake every Sunday morning not merely because unbelievers are present, but also because our people are saved “IF they continue in the faith” (Col. 1:23) (The Supremacy of God in Preaching)

BUT THAT is just Dort… that is just Piper. What I want is Scripture—okay, so I will give you Scripture:

Heb.3:13: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.”

As we minister the word of God to each other, we strengthen each other’s resistance against sin. Your brother, your sister who sits beside you is an instrument of God for your perseverance in the faith.

My final words for recipients of rebuke:

1.       Be open to criticism

2.       When you are wounded emotionally, test whether the wound came from the world or from the Scriptures. If it comes from the world, you are a victim. Yet do not retaliate. Leave it to God; he knows what to do.

3.       But if the wound inflicted upon your soul is scriptural, count it as a blessing.

4.       Do not be suspicious about the other person’s motive when he rebukes you. The efficacy of the word of God is not dependent upon the motive of the instrument. Paul can even rejoice about people whose intentions are wrong provided that they have the right message (Phil.1:15-18). God can use a person with wrong motives for your sanctification as long as their rebuke is biblically valid.

For rebuke givers,

1.       Be open to criticism too.

2.       Do not utter incisive words just for the sake of wounding the feelings of the brethren.

3.       Do not utter incisive words just to show that you are right and they are wrong

4.       The wounds must be inflicted by the scriptures, not your personal preferences, opinions, or your vitriolic personality and vocabulary

5.       Lastly, use incisive words sparingly. Do it when it is badly needed. Do not neglect the other means of sharing God’s word like reminding them of the promises of God, testifying about his goodness and acts, encouraging the weary. I do not want to be around people whose exclusive ministry is rebuking.

6.       In short, Make sure first that you love the persons you are correcting. Incisive words must have a definite end, that is their sanctification and their perseverance

Photo Credit: Thanks to Simon Howden who has kindly offered the image I used above at freedigitalphotos.net. Howden's portfolio is found here

The Dangers of and Cure for Dullness of Hearing (An Exposition of Hebrews 5:11-14)

Image: Yaron Jeroen van Oostrom / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Kasisilip pa lamang ng araw noong Disyembre 30, 1896, nakagapos si Jose Rizal kasama ang mga guardiya sibil. Sila ay naglalakad papuntang Bagumbayan kung saan siya ay babarilin bilang katuparan ng parusang kamatayan na ipinataw sa kanya. Nang kanyang matanaw ang Ateneo, kanyang sinabi: "Iyon ba ang Ateneo? Doon lumipas ang mga pinakamaliligayang araw ng buhay ko."

I love school! In my dreams, I was still in the classrooms long after graduation.

 If there is anything that the school and church shares in common, I would say that both institutions value the imparting and acquiring of knowledge through teaching and learning. From the earliest days, education has been regarded as an essential for a healthy relationship with God.

1. Deut. 6:1- One of Moses' roles was to teach the young nation about the commands, decrees and laws of the Lord.

2. Deut. 6:2, 6-9- Parents must learn what God says not only for themselves, not only for their sons, but for the sake of the future generations. You won't find Kobe Bryant's poster on their walls (wala rin dun ang F4 o si Hannah Montana). What you'll see are excerpts from the law.

3. Ezra 7:10- he gave priority to the study, application and teaching God's word.

4. the synagogues- New Unger's Bible Dictionary: “As only a small proportion of the people could become proficient in the study of the law under the scribes, and as it was desirable that all should have at least an elementary acquaintance therewith, the custom grew up in postexilic times of reading the Scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. It must be understood that the main object of these Sabbath day assemblages in the synagogues was not public worship in its stricter sense but religious instruction, which to an Israelite was, above all, instruction in the law.”

5. Acts 2:42- the essential activities of a young church include "the apostles' teaching"

IMPARTATION OF KNOWLEDGE:
The solution to the problem of the Hebrews

In our text, there is a problem going on. The persecution is severe among the Hebrew Christians, it is almost intolerable. Because of the hardships, turning back on Christ and returning to Judaism looks enticing. They are about to abandon the precious faith. The writer of this epistle sought to strengthen their faith. His prescription: Education.

He educates them that the Jesus they are about to leave is superior over the angels (chapter 1). He informs them that the Jesus they are about to abandon is the Creator himself (also in chapter 1). He is greater than than Moses, Judaism's greatest prophet (chapter 3). The imparting of knowledge is the remedy to the threat of backsliding.

In chap.5, the writer was about to launch a massive discussion of the superiority of Christ over the priests in Judaism's temple. He was about to expound about the superiority of Melchizedek’s order of priesthood over the Levitical order... but he has to pause. THERE is something WRONG.

He cannot go on because the next topic is HARD TO TEACH.

WHAT MAKES THE LESSON HARD TO LEARN?

Mula sa mga karanasan ko sa high school at kolehiyo, may listahan ako dito ng kung bakit nagiging mahirap ang pagkatuto:

1. The lesson is inherently difficult  (for Einstein and his peers only)

2. The student’s limited ability (poor I.Q.)—
I must confess something. My mathematical  skills are up to linear equations only. Higher than that level, it's hard for me. Pagdating sa Calculus, wala na akong maintindihan. Pigain mo man ang utak ko, wala ka nang magagawa kasi hanggang doon na lang talaga ang kakayahan ko.

3. The teacher lacks skill— Hindi ko hangad na siraan ang mga guro. Apat sa limang kapatid kong mga babae ay mga public school teachers. Hindi ko magagawang siraan sila. Pero meron naman talagang mga guro na hindi gaano kahusay magturo.

4. Lack of resources and tools- Sa ilang asignatura nang ako ay nasa haiskul, wala kaming ibang ginawa sa araw-araw kundi kopyahin ang nakasulat sa pisara. Paano naman kasi, naglalaan naman ng budget ang pamahalaan pero hindi nakakarating ang mga aklat sa mga estudyante. Ang mga aklat ay mabibili sa bookstore at burado na ang markang "Government Property; Not for Sale." Ang tindi talaga ng korapsyon. Mas natuto sana kami kung meron kaming mga aklat. Sa pag-aaral rin ng salita ng Diyos, mahirap maghanda ng sermon na wala ang mga tools and resources tulad ng Study Bible, Bible dictionaries, lexicons, commentaries and bible backgrounds.

Pero ang problema sa Hebrews 5:11 ay:
hindi naman yung number 1: The lesson is inherently difficult
Hindi rin problema ang number 2: The student’s limited ability (poor I.Q.)
Hindi rin problma ang number 3: The teacher lacks skill 
Hindi rin number 4 ang problema: Lack of resources and tools

The problem is this condition called DULLNESS OF HEARING

DULLNESS of HEARING

Ni hindi nakatuntong sa haiskul ang aking tatay. Pero nagmula sa kanya ang isa sa mga pinakamahalagang payong natanggap ko tungkol sa pag-aaral. Nang ako'y papasok na ng grade 1, ang bilin ni tatay, makinig akong mabuti kung may sinasabi ang aking guro.

I have not always been consistent in applying it but as I look back, I did perform well when I was applying my father's advice. That's how important listening is.

The word Greek word translated as "dullness" ("slow" in NIV) is nothros. As we seek to understand what it means allow me to go to some extra biblical sources:

1. The word was used to denote the lazy condition of a slave that causes him delay response to the call of his master.

Tawagin mo minsan, "Inday!". Hindi sasagot. Tawagin mo ulit. "Inday!", hindi pa rin sasagot. Para bang wala siyang naririnig. Sa ikatlong pagkakataon ay tatawagin mo siya at ngayon ay pasigaw na "Indaaayyyy!!!".. Sasagot na sa wakas, "opo".

2. In sports, nothros denotes the condition of an athlete who is out of shape; lazy and sluggish. Like a sprinter who comes with a body of a sumo wrestler as he competes in 100 meter dash.

3. In an inscription from Eumeneia, he calls his brother " nothros" (negligent) for failing to fulfill his responsibility in building a tomb for their sisters. Because of this, the younger brother (Eumneia) was forced to use his resources for such a task. (See George Guthrie in NIVAC)

We can also better understand the word when we look into what its antonym meant. Hebrews 6:12:

"so that you may not be SLUGGISH, but imitators of those who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the promises" (ESV)

It turns out that the opposite is dullness is the faith and patience of those who have persevered to the end in exercising their faith (the writer will tell more about them when he comes to 11th chapter's Hall of Faith).

So from biblical and extra biblical data, we see that "dullness of hearing" convey: sluggishness, laziness, and negligence. Dullness of hearing is not an auditory defect. It is really an attitude problem. It is lack of interest in receiving instruction.. They don’t value sound teaching.

LEARNING FROM THE TENSE OF THE VERB

1. they were not always this way. There was a time when they were not dull in hearing the Word. In fact, they did some things in the past that are worthy of the highest commendation (Hebrews 10:34).Their faith was once vibrant

2. The shift from commitment to dullness did not happen overnight—they underwent a process that has put them in this condition

When the word of God that you used to treasure is slowly losing its sweetness--  beware. It may be an indication that your ears are in the process of becoming dull. When the Apostle Paul and his epistles begin  to bore you, and James Cameron's Avatar begins to excite you, do not take it lightly. It may prove fatal to your faith.

THE DANGERS OF DULL HEARING

1. It leaves you unequipped for ministry. "by this time, you ought to be teachers"

They stayed in the church long enough that it was expected upon them that they should articulate the faith that they have (1 Peter 3:15), but because of dull hearing they were unable. This condition not only cripples you from the ministry of teaching but all other ministries as well because you have to have attentive ears in order to be equipped in all forms of spiritual service (Ephesians 4:11)

2. It robs you of the things you already know—“ you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.”

Luke 8:18—Consider how you listen..even what he has will be taken away from him.

All the time you spent in the past when your faith was robust will all be wasted. You have to be taught about it all over again. There is a consensus among the scholars I consulted that "elementary truths" here are equivalent to the ABC's of the faith. You can sink that low even if you are healthy now if dullness of hearing develops in you. You think you know John 3:16; you think you know Psalm 23 and other verses you memorized as a young Christian. But even these things you think you know will all go to the garbage can when dullness of hearing takes place.

3. It leads to perpetual infancy
It makes you unready for deeper spiritual lessons. You can't tolerate adult food; you'll go for baby food and even that needs review.

Sakaling mapasyal ka sa kambingan, wala kang gana sa Kaldereta, Ginising, Kinigtot, Kilawin Sinampalokan at iba pang putahe. Tatanungin mo ang serbidora: "May Cerelac ba kayo?" The mature shall feast on the finest meats yet all you want is what's inside your Babyflo bottle.

4. It makes you unskilled in application-. The “word of righteousness” in verse 13 has been variously interpreted. One of the most common view is that it refers to the imputed righteousness of Christ. Though that sounds very orthodox, I can't see it in the immediate context. I guess Simon Kistemaker is right. We "ought to look at the phrase in question not from a theological perspective but from a contextual point of view" (Exposition of Hebrews, NTC).

I adapt Homer Kent's view: The "word of righteousness" means “God’s revelation about righteousness which is expected of every Christian” (The Epistle to the Hebrews, a commentary)

5. It may lead to Apostasy
This point is justified by the next chapter. Hebrews 6:4-6 is hotly debated. Does it teach that salvation could be lost? I firmly believe that the elect persevere to the end. Yet I do not take the warning passages lightly. I believe the threats are very real. The Canons of Dordt teaches Perseverance of the Saints yet it also teaches that God's word is a means of perseverance. Shun God's word and deny yourself of God's preserving agent.

The Cure:

1. Let them be aware of their condition.
The writer of Hebrews did. Mahirap kausap yung mga immature na ang akala nila mature sila. Buti pa yung immature na alam niyang immature siya kasi makikinig pa iyon. Pero ang immature na hindi niya alam na immature siya, hindi na makikinig yun. May opinyon siya sa lahat ng bagay, kadalasan nga lang ay mali kasi nga immature. They must know their true state.

2. Urge them to progress and give them meat… as the Lord permits…
Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito ang solusyon. Nang unang basa ko kasi, parang ang labas: "Dahil gatas lang ang kaya ninyo, hindi ko kayo bibigyan ng karne". Mali pala. What he did was the exact opposite. He did not stick with their favorite topics; he urged them to move to maturity (6:1-2). He went on anyway to give the meat in chapters 7,8,9 and 10 by discussing the priesthood of Melchizedek and Jesus because it is what they need in order to appreciate the Messiah that Judaism rejects.

But he does so with the recognition that they can only move in this direction as God permits (Heb.6:3).

Homer Kent comments: “It is an acknowledgment that only God can change the course of a man’s life when it is going in the opposite direction”

Leon Morris says the same thing: “This verse expresses not only a resolute determination to go ahead on these lines but also a recognition that it is only with the help of God that this can be done. We should take the words not simply as a pious nod in the direction of God but as coming out of the author's realization that without divine aid the plan he was suggesting was impossible.” (EBC)

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Kahit merong lunas para sa dullness of hearing, bakit kailangan pa nating hintayin na dumating pa sa puntong iyon. Ito ay tulad ng kanser, nakamamatay kaya mas maigi na ito ay iwasan kaysa gamutin.

At 5:14, there are people who managed to prevent the cancer of dull hearing and moved to maturity by constant practice of what they learn from the word. It is noteworthy that the Greek word translated as "trained" here sounds like our word for "gym". I'm not a fitness buff, but I know enough for a fact that you won't benefit from the gym by going there once a year. You have to exercise regularly so there will be devlopment in your muscles.

Same is true for mature people. They have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil by constantly practicing God-given insights.

Psalm 119:34 says “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”…

The desire to learn and the desire to obey must go together. We have no business asking God for illumination without the desire to practice what we learn.

As I was in the final stages of preparing this lesson, I came across an article by Wayne Grudem on the clarity of Scripture. He said something that reminds m that even scholars can be devoid of spiritual insight if they don’t trained their senses in application of God’s word.

“Christians who begin to practice willful, repeated sin (and ven- or especially pastors and scholars) will likely soon begin to lose sound judgment in interpretation and will become less and less able to understand Scriptures rightly". (Themelios 34.3)

kahit dalubhasa ka pa Griyego at Hebreo; kahit kasinlaki ng Astrodome ang library mo, kung hindi ka nagsasanay sa kabanalan--- bale wala rin. You will soon lose sound judgment in bible interpretation.

Why am I passionate about this? It just hurts me to see people who grew up in church who show no signs of spirituality now. By this time, they ought to be veterans in spiritual warfare but it seems that they are not enlisted in God's army. They cannot live without their i-pod; can't live without their phone; can't live without Facebook. But they CAN live without God. May God have mercy upon us and keep us away from this condition called Dullness of Hearing.