Called of God, a high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. ~ Hebrews 5:12-6:3 

Among the many truths set before us in the book of Hebrews is the invitation to enter into a deeper, more intimate, spiritual life.

This is not a mystical, alternate state of spiritual reality. Instead, it is fellowship with the living Christ within the veil, in the presence of God. This is the aim of the writer of Hebrews in teaching his audience regarding Christ’s Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek: Christ, abides forever in the presence of God!

In our text above, the writer of Hebrews speaks of this (Jesus’s High Priestly ministry after the order of Melchisedek) as being difficult to communicate, but it is not because of his ability to teach it. Instead, it is  the dullness of their hearing that makes it difficult.

The audience of Hebrews was stuck in a perpetual state of stunted growth with regards to their spiritual life. They should have been teachers of the very truths the writer is communicating to them, but instead, they were in need of being taught again the elementary truths in Christ.

Rather than growing into spiritual maturity, they were still babes in Christ.
The writer urges them to move forward spiritually from the foundational principles of the faith, but adds, this will we do, if God permit.

If God permits. Consider with me the weight of this statement.

These words need to be considered by every believer because Jesus, who is the source of our faith, is the vine that gives us spiritual life. In John 15:1, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” The Greek word for husbandman in this text is geórgos, meaning Farmer, Husbandman, Vinedresser.

Consider with me that God the Father, is indeed the vinedresser, or Farmer over the garden of our spiritual life, and as such it is God who prunes us so that we will become more fruitful in our union with Christ.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ~ John 15:2

There are two types of branches in Christ (these represent the two types of Christians). There are those who produce fruit and glorify God, and there are those who do not produce fruit, and only glorify their flesh and ego.

On the surface, the latter may have the appearance of true Christianity, but bears no lasting fruit to the glory of God. It often brings shame and reproach on the gospel.

Throughout our journey in this life, we are all confronted with fruitless Christianity that comes to rob us of the joy of knowing Christ. It comes in many forms, often through false teachings and heresies, which lead believers to focus their attention elsewhere instead of Christ, the source of our life, in the presence of God.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ~ John 15:4-6

Take note of the language of Jesus. It is by abiding in Christ that we bear fruit, and it is in this abiding that we experience the Father’s pruning that we may produce more fruit. Now notice the similarities between John 15:6 and Hebrews 6:6-7

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ~ John 15:4-6

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. ~ Hebrews 6:7-8 

In John’s gospel, the branches that are removed and discarded are those who do not abide in Christ. In Hebrews, it is those who fall away (v.4).

The Hebrew believers had not yet become mature believers, and were still stuck in a baby state in their faith. Those who are babies are still under the rule of the power of their flesh when it comes to living out their faith. In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes:

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Notice the similarities of Paul’s words to the Corinthians and the words of the writer of Hebrews to his audience. In both cases, they could not hear the higher teaching (the spiritual meat), and they were babes still dependent on the milk of God’s Word.

We can conclude that the Hebrew believers were without question struggling with carnality, like the Corinthians were. Carnality is a gateway to spiritual error, which can lead a person away from Christ. However, they had not fallen away, nor were they altogether fruitless. The author of Hebrews has not given up on them because God had not given up on them. Thus he writes the following.

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ~ v. 9-10

There are many things which can contribute to stunted growth in Christ, and even though the Hebrew believers had not yet grown to a place of full maturity in Christ, God had not forgotten their service to him. Thus they were being invited into the higher life, a life of being settled once for all in the grace of God, and the writer of Hebrews is desiring to show them how to get there. And we can as well!

After telling them that God is not unrighteous to forget them, he turns their attention to God’s willingness to bring them into the fulness of the life in Christ that he has for them, and thus the writer seeks to draw their attention to Jesus who has entered beyond the veil into the presence of God. That is where their life is, that is where the source of their faith is to abide.

Andrew Murray, in his book, The Holiest of All, writes, “Many believers never in experience enter into this life of the inner sanctuary, the more complete and abiding nearness to God. They have, in the inner court, seen the altar, and received the pardon of sin; they have entered upon the service of God, they seek to do his will, but the joy of His presence as their abiding portion they know not. And very often they do not know that there is a better life, that there is an entering within the veil, a real dwelling in the secret of God’s presence…”

This is what the book of Hebrews is all about, Jesus in the presence of God, and our invitation to enter in, and abide.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. ~ Hebrews 6:19-20 NIV 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  ~ Hebrews 10:19-23