OceanSide church of Christ

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THE CONDITION OF THE HEBREWS

Victor M. Eskew

 

A casual reading of the book of Hebrews enables one to come to an understanding of the spiritual condition of the Hebrews to whom the book is address.  The following list presents a picture of what is revealed.

 

1.    They had quit listening to the Word of God (Heb. 2:1)

 

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we

should let them slip.

 

2.    They  were neglecting the “great salvation” of the new covenant (Heb. 2:3)

 

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…

 

3.    Their hearts were becoming hard (Heb. 3:8)

 

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

 

4.    They were developing evil hearts of unbelief (Heb. 3:12)

 

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living

God.

 

5.    Their hearts were being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13)

 

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the

deceitfulness of sin.

 

6.    They had ceased fearing God (Heb. 4:1)

 

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to

come short of it.

 

7.    They had quit laboring in the vineyard (Heb. 4:11)

 

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

8.    They had become dull of hearing (Heb. 5:11)

 

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

 

9.    They needed to be taught the first principles again (Heb. 5:12a)

 

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…

 

 

10. They had not grown; they were still babes (Heb. 5:12b-14)

 

…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.

 

11.  They needed to go on unto perfection (Heb. 6:1)

 

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection…

 

12.  They were in danger of not being able to be renewed to repentance (Heb. 6:4-6)

 

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were

made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world

to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves

the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

13.  They had labored in the past, but were becoming slothful (Heb. 6:10-12)

 

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.  And we desire that every one of you do

shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  that ye be not slothful, but followers

of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

14.  They were wavering (Heb. 10:23).

 

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).

 

15.  They were forsaking the assembly of the saints (Heb. 10:25)

 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

16.  They were sinning willfully (Heb. 10:26)

 

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

 

17.  They needed to develop the quality of endurance (patience) (Heb. 10:36)

 

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

 

18.  They were drawing back instead of moving forward by faith (Heb. 10:38-39)

 

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  But

we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 

 

19.  The weight of sin was easily besetting them (Heb. 12:1)

 

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every

weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before

us.

 

20. They were weary and faint in their minds (Heb. 12:3)

 

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and

faint in your minds.

 

21.  They were being persecuted, but not unto blood (Heb. 12:4)

 

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

 

22. They despised the chastening of the Lord (Heb. 12:5)

 

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not

thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

 

23.  They were down, depressed, and discouraged (Heb. 12:12)

 

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.

 

24.  They were lame (Heb. 12:13)

 

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

 

25.  There were roots of bitterness that were springing up among them (Heb. 12:15)

 

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble

you, and thereby many be defiled.

 

26.  They were refusing to hear Him that spoke to them (Heb. 12:25)

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth,

much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.