Reading around commentary
In my previous post about Humility, I suggested that we need to approach the Word of God on His terms, not our own. This post is building on that idea with a quick look at a form of commentary that is present in most modern translations of the English Bible.
For most of you, when you open up your Bible to Hebrews 5:5-6:3 (verses printed at the end of this post) you will see that between verses 5:10 and 11 there is bold print that says “Warning Against Apostasy” these are not the author’s words, but a superimposed outline added by editors to aid in understanding the flow of the text. These outlines can be quite helpful, but they are just commentary. The Holy Spirit did not breathe these paragraph breaks. Remember this as you read; in whatever book, chapter, verse.
What I want to point out through this particular chapter of Hebrews is that relying on the superimposed outline can cause misinterpretation of the text. How so? Well, according to the writers of the English Standard Version (ESV) Hebrews 4:14-5:10 are talking about Jesus as our “High Great Priest“ and 5:11 begins a new section on “Warning against Apostasy”. The first section ends with a reference to Jesus being a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Then we begin reading the second section about Apostasy and verse 11 says “about this we have much to say…”. Now maybe some of you already ignore the outline when you read the Word, but for those of you who don’t, what the author has to say a lot about is not “Apostasy” but the *person of Melchizedek and Christ’s relationship to him. *More on this in a later post, Lord willing.
GO ahead and read it again without the outline division.
9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing (ESV)
For those of you still not convinced… Older versions of Scripture (ex: KJV, Geneva Bible, 1890 Darby Bible) the “this” in verse 11 is actually “whom”, rendering this reading:
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (KJV)
I’m not writing about this in order to convince you to read one version over another. This isn’t about the accuracy of a translation, but the importance of paying attention in personal study. My point remains, read with Humility. If you don’t understand something, look it up in two or three other translations, then read a commentary and get a second opinion from a fellow believer. The Word of God isn’t open to anyone and everyone’s interpretation, it was written intentionally and without error. There are parts that are easily understood and there are parts that require study; there are parts that require maturity, and all of them require the work of the Holy Spirit for understanding. We are all called to grow up, no Christian is meant to stay in the shallows where everything is easily understood. Same goes with parts of scripture that make you uncomfortable or that you feel you don’t agree with.
I cannot emphasize this enough: scripture is not what is bent out of shape, we are. From the very beginning Christians were picking and choosing what they would digest of the teachings of Scripture. Right here in Hebrews the author is telling their audience that they are having a hard time communicating what is necessary to be taught because not many of them are growing into maturity, they are content to stay at the starting line of faith: Repent and believe the Gospel! -Got it; Next, Get Baptized- Check; Live in the assurance that there will be a day when Christ returns to judge the world, and those who have placed their hope in Him will be raised up from the grave just as He was.- Check, check. Y’ALL we need these things, but they are where we Start, they are not where we End. There is SO MUCH MORE! If you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you now dwell in His house, don’t just stand in the doorway, step inside, there’s Awe and Wonder to be found in every room.
Isaiah 66:2 “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
Hebews 5:14-6:3
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
5 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Apostasy
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.