DULL OF HEARING. Hebrews 5:11 There is much to learn about the eternal priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ, but when we become spiritually slow and mentally lazy, we are not in a state to speak of holy truth. Instead, we need to stop what we are doing that has taken our time and energy away from God’s things and pay attention to the warnings the Holy Spirit gives us.
The problem of not understanding the truth taught in God’s word may be because the teacher doesn’t know experientially the things he is teaching. Or perhaps, he hasn’t grasped the importance and impact of the subject on the learners. Unfelt truth doesn’t come across to the hearers as something they need to give earnest heed to. It is only a subject to be taught by an indifferent teacher, and how it is received, to one who has not experienced the lasting impact of divine truth personally; the onus is on the hearer to do something with it if they choose to.
Another challenge in interpretation arises when the subject is complex, with a profound truth that requires a clear understanding of its background, effects, and impact before it becomes relevant to those who hear it. The third challenge in understanding spiritual truth is called “dull of hearing.”
The author of the Hebrew epistle states that this third obstacle to understanding was the problem the readers faced. They were “dull of hearing” because of neglect and spiritual laziness. The teaching about the Melchizedek priesthood wasn’t complicated; it was just different from what they had been taught all their lives as law-keeping Jews. Their attitude was such that they had become similar to those today who avoid the teacher as much as possible.
Sitting at the back of a gathering of believers, people can read whatever they want on their phones, think about whatever suits their fancy, and still claim they are attending the meetings. When away from the teacher, they can see what others are doing, watch a spider crawl across the floor, or observe a fly attracted to the lights, instead of being instructed or convinced by what the teacher says.
Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Spiritual truth is received by minds and hearts that thirst for God. The spiritual seekers of truth will turn away from worldly distractions and strife, for the knowledge and enjoyment of God come when our hearts and minds are focused on Him.
The contrast is a lack of perception, dim spiritual vision, spiritual paralysis, and going backward in the knowledge of God instead of growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, our Lord. When that attitude dominates, there is regression instead of progression, loss of spiritual insight and enthusiasm, minds become preoccupied with earthly things, and become “unskillful” in grasping the word of God.
Such people change their minds to suit their own opinions and desires. Spiritual infancy is one thing and can be understood as the beginning of spiritual growth, starting to appear. But we expect divine life to show growth in grace and knowledge. If growth doesn’t happen, and if interest in divine things doesn’t show itself, there is no life there, and the evidence reveals apostasy. When one is taught the truth, knows the truth, and then turns away from it, that is apostasy.