Hebrews 5:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When he intends to speak of the difference in priesthood, he first rebukes them. He indicates that such condescending speech is milk.

Because of their infancy, he deals more with the humbled teaching concerning the flesh and speaks of Him as though of some righteous man.

At the same time, observe that he neither kept complete silence about this nor said everything. He did the first to raise their mind and persuade them to strive for perfection.

He wanted them not to remain ignorant of the lofty doctrines. He did the second so as not to burden their mind.

"About this," he says, "we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing."

When he intends to speak of the superiority of Christ's priesthood, he first rebukes his hearers. He indicates that, because of their infancy, he has spoken so humbly about Christ and has treated the teaching concerning Christ's flesh.

If they had not been weak, he would long ago have reminded them of loftier things.

Because of your weakness, he says, the teaching about how Christ is High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek is difficult for you to explain. Since you do not understand, I cannot explain it fully to you.

Thus he tells the Corinthians that he cannot speak to them about spiritual things, because there are disputes and divisions among them (1 Cor 3:3). For this reason he calls them carnal.

But since ignorance in these hearers came from afflictions, he does not call them carnal, but weak. By saying "you have become," he shows that they were once healthy, but later became such.

We have many words to speak to you concerning the person and qualities of this very Melchizedek. This is not because it is difficult to unfold or incomprehensible, but because of the infirmity of your hearing.

Having again mentioned Melchizedek, he wishes to show that his priesthood is more important than the Levitical one. But for the moment he seems to postpone this, because of the infirmity of those being instructed. For this is what he said: "Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing." Then the Apostle brings a moderate accusation against them and tempers it with praise, so that they may profit from it.

"Of whom we have much to say." "Of whom" means of Christ, and how He is called High Priest.

"And hard to explain." This is both because of the height of the doctrines about which the discourse will be offered to us, and because of the weakness and lowliness of the hearers.

They are unable to rise to the height of understanding them.

"Since you have become dull of hearing." It is hard to explain chiefly because "you have become dull," that is, careless about hearing the higher doctrines.

Or it means that you are weak in receiving the more divine and more perfect teaching concerning Christ. By the word "became," he showed that before this they were zealous and eager to learn.

Thus God did not turn to the world with some new resolution concerning human affairs, nor with a mercy that came late.

Before the foundation of the world, the God of our salvation (Ps 84:5) appointed one and the same cause of salvation for all.

For the grace of God, by which the whole assembly of the saints has always been justified, was only increased at Christ's birth. It did not first appear then.

This great mystery of piety (1 Tim 3:16), by which the whole world is now filled, was so great even in its foreshadowings that those who believed in it in the times of promise touched it no less than those who received it as already given.

"Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain." Here there is only a reproach to the Hebrews because they had become unable to listen. Therefore much must be explained to them, and with effort, concerning what was said above.

Rebukes to the Hebrews for childish sluggishness in understanding the higher truths of Christianity, and exhortations to faithfulness and longsuffering.

"Of whom," that is, of the high priesthood of Jesus Christ, "we have much to say, and it is hard to explain."

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers," that is, it has long been fitting for you Hebrews to be teachers of others.

Yet "you need again to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God." That is, you must almost be taught again the beginnings of the brief Christian teaching.

These were the beginnings in which newly joined confessors of Christ's name were commonly instructed. Below the Apostle explains what these beginnings of Christ's teaching are, and even directly enumerates some of them (Heb 6:1-2).

The Apostle interrupts at the very beginning his discourse on the high priesthood of Jesus Christ according to the order of Melchizedek, and on His salvation of all who believe in Him.

He considers it necessary first to address his readers with a rather extended exhortation.

The Apostle says that he will have to speak at length about the Melchizedekian priesthood, περί ου. In the phrase πολύς ήμϊν λόγος, the verb έστίν is naturally understood.

He also says that it is difficult to give a clear explanation of this subject.

The reason for both circumstances lies in the readers' lack of receptivity, though formerly this was not characteristic of them. The word γεγόνατε means, "you have become such" after verse 11.