THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIERS

It is important in the book of Hebrews to understand who it is that is being addressed or written about. For instance, in chapter 5 verse 11 to chapter 6 verse 3, the writer addresses some of the believers as ‘you’ or ‘ye’; they were carnal believers, where there was some evidence of divine life but little growth. However, in chapter 6 verses 4-8, he refers to those he is writing about as ‘those’ or ‘them’; they were apostates and not true believers. In chapter 6 verse 9, it is noticeable that he writes again to the true believers, addressing them as ‘you’. These were the spiritual believers who were bearing fruit for God.

There is a hopelessness about apostasy, for, although they were enlightened and had tasted of the heavenly gift and were partakers of the Holy Spirit, vv. 4, 5, they had not truly received the Lord Jesus. They had tasted in the sense of coming under conviction of the word of God, v. 6, but conviction is not conver­sion; there was no belief in the message of the gospel.

There are a number of examples of apostasy in the Bible, Balaam, Num. 23, and Simon Magus, Acts 8, being two promi­nent ones. Those spoken of here were guilty of rejecting the word of God, having fallen away from its revelation. Once rejec­tion like this occurs, and the Lord alone knows, it is impossible to renew to repentance, v. 6. They were guilty of crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh and putting him to an open shame. Does this mean that personally they repeated the sin of Golgotha? Certainly they were guilty of utter rejection, saying, along with those who had crucified Him, that Christ was an impostor. It seems that these people had come, as it were, to the very gates of heaven, but had turned back. How tragic!

Two plots of land are then considered, both receive the show­ers, one brings forth fruit, which is a figure of the true believer, v. 7, but the other brings forth thorns and briers, v. 8. This latter crop is rejected and is very near to cursing. In this second illus­tration the writer is clearly indicating where responsibility for apostasy lies. The rain falls upon both plots but one provides nothing of value to its owner. God’s verdict is to bless that which is fruitful and to reject that which is not.