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BUT IF IT YIELDS
THORNS AND THISTLES IT IS WORTHLESS: ekpherousa (PAPFSN) de akanthas kai
tribolous adokimos : (Heb
12:17 Ge 3:17,18 4:11 5:29 De 29:28 Job 31:40 Ps 107:34 Isaiah 5:1-7 Jer
17:6, 44:22 Mark 11:14,21 Lk 13:7-9 )
Yields (1627)
(ekphero from ek = out + phéro = bring, bear, carry)
means to bear or carry out, bring forth, or yield. Note the
present tense
which means if it continually (as a "lifestyle") yields thorns and thistles.
Thorns
(173)
(akantha from ake = a point or prick) refers to a thorn plant,
thistle or brier which abounds with pricks
Thistles (5146)
(tribolos from treís = three + bélos = an arrow, dart,
or bolís = dart) means three-pointed or three-pronged.
Vincent notes that the tribolos described...
A
ball with sharp iron spikes, on three of which it rested, while the fourth
projected upward, was called tribulus or tribolos, or caltrop. These were
scattered over the ground by Roman soldiers in order to impede the enemy’s
cavalry. A kind of thorn or thistle, a land-caltrop,
was called tribulus. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament
4:447)
Worthless
(96)
(adokimos
[word study]
from a = without + dokimos = tested and thus reliable or
acceptable) refers to that which is rejected after a trial or examination
because it fails the test. It means to put to the test for the purpose of
being approved, but failing to meet the requirements.
The basic meaning of
adokimos is that of failing to meet the test or not
standing the test. It describes that which does not prove itself to be
such as it ought and which is therefore disapproved and useless.
Worthless land does not produce fruit and does does not stand
God's test. Adokimos a strong word and most of the NT's 8 usages (see
below) refer to non-believers.
In short adokimos describes that which is worthless, spurious,
unqualified, disqualified, corrupted, not approved.
Adokimos was
commonly used of metals that were rejected by refiners because of
impurities. The impure metals were discarded, and adokimos therefore
came to include the ideas of worthlessness and uselessness.
In relation to God,
the rejecting mind becomes a rejected mind (Ro
1:28) and thereby becomes spiritually depraved, worthless and
useless. Thus Paul records
Romans 1:28
And just as they did not see fit (dokimazo)
to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved
(adokimos) mind, to do those things which are not proper. (Comment:
This is literally a disapproved mind or a mind which is no mind and cannot
discharge the functions of one, a mind in which the divine distinctions of
right and wrong are confused and lost, so that God’s condemnation cannot but
fall on it at last). (see note
Romans 1:28)
Study (and
ponder)
these other 6 NT uses of this picturesque adjective adokimos...
1Corinthians 9:27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have
preached to others, I myself should be disqualified (adokimos). (Comment:
Here adokimos presents a metaphor from the Isthmian games. A
contestant who failed to meet the training requirements was disqualified
from engaging in the athletic contest. Thus he could not even run, much less
win. Note that Paul was not speaking of being disqualified from salvation,
but of being disqualified as a usable instrument, a vessel of honor, of the
Lord in ministry.)
2 Corinthians 13:5
Test
(peirazo
-
present imperative)
yourselves to see if you are in the faith;
examine
(dokimazo
-
present imperative)
yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ
is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test (adokimos)?
2 Corinthians 13:6 But I trust
that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test (adokimos).
2 Corinthians 13:7 Now we pray to
God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but
that you may do what is right, even though we should appear unapproved
(adokimos).
2 Timothy 3:8
And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the
truth, men of depraved mind, rejected (adokimos) as regards
the faith. (see
note)
Titus 1:16 They
profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and
disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. (see
note)
Hebrews 6:8 but if it yields
thorns and thistles, it is worthless (adokimos) and close to
being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
There are 2 uses of
adokimos in the
Septuagint (LXX),
Pr 25:4 and Isaiah 1:22.
Isaiah 1:22 Your (speaking of
unfaithful Israel) silver has become dross (Septuagint
= adokimos = worthless),
Your drink diluted with water.
Of unbelievers,
Jeremiah wrote,
“They call them rejected silver,
because the Lord has rejected them” (Jer
6:30).
The mind that finds
God worthless becomes worthless itself. It is debauched, deceived, and
deserving only of God’s divine wrath. The sinful, depraved mind says to God,
“Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Thy ways."
This group in Hebrews
6:4-6
(see
Group 2)
are professor whose deeds substantiate that their profession is false and
their destiny is eternal burning in the Lake of fire.
Adam Clarke has
a comment appropriate to these who fall away...
"Adulterate; like bad coin, deficient
both in the weight and goodness of the metal, and without the proper
sterling stamp; and consequently not current. If they did a good work, they
did not do it in the spirit in which it should be performed. They had the
name of God’s people; but they were counterfeit. The prophet said; Reprobate
silver shall men call them." (Titus
1)
Adokimos was
used to describe a counterfeit coin that fell below the standard weight, the
worthless money being called adokimos. The word also was used of
counterfeits of various sorts. Adokimos was used to describe a
cowardly soldier who failed the test in the hour of battle. Adokimos
described a candidate for office who the citizens regarded as useless.
Finally a stone rejected by builders because of a flaw which made it unfit
for construction, the rejected stone being clearly marked by a capital "A"
(for adokimos) on it's surface. The ultimate test of life is usefulness, and
the man whose influence is ever towards that which is unclean is of no use
to God or to his fellow-men. Instead of helping God’s work in the world, he
hinders it and uselessness always invites disaster.
It is as if these
unsaved men profess Christ but in actuality deny Him and
then have a giant "A"
stamped on their head and heart. They stand forever rejected by the Master
Architect and of no eternal value to Him in building His kingdom. This
should break our hearts that these men and women are so deceived. Doubtless
they will be among the
"Many (who) will say to Me on that day,
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out
demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' ( see
note
Matthew 7:22)
to whom He declares "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE
LAWLESSNESS." (see note
Matthew 7:23)
The ultimate test in
this life is usefulness to God and the man whose influence is ever towards
that which is unclean is of no use to God or to his fellow men.
Instead of helping God's work in the world, he hinders it and uselessness
always invites disaster.
For many years John
Wesley professed to be a Christian and yet when he truly examined
himself realized he was not "in the faith" as illustrated by this brief
excerpt from his sermon entitled "The
Almost Christian":
I did go thus for many years, as many of
this place can testify; using diligence to eschew all evil, and to have a
conscience void of offence; redeeming the time; buying up every opportunity
of doing all good to all men; constantly and carefully using all the public
and all the private means of grace; endeavoring, after a steady seriousness
of behavior, at all times, and in all places: and God is my record, before
whom I stand, doing all this in sincerity; having a real design to serve
God; a hearty desire to do his will in all things; to please him who had
called me to “fight the good fight,” and to “lay hold on eternal life.” Yet
my own conscience bears me witness, in the Holy Ghost, that all this time I
was but almost a Christian.''
Fruitfulness is a test of genuine nature of a tree or plant
and is a metaphor which Jesus Himself frequently used...
Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance (Mt 3:8)
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
(see note
Matthew 7:17)
And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who
hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm
root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution
arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (Mt 13:20,21)
And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word
with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time
of temptation fall away. 14 "And the seed which fell among the thorns, these
are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked
with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to
maturity. (Luke 8:13-14)
And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky
places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and
they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when
affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall
away. 18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns;
these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 and the worries of the world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in
and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mk 4:16-19)
See related notes on assessing the genuineness of one's faith
(Jas 2:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) -
James 2:14 ;
James 2:15;
James 2:16;
James 2:17;
James 2:18;
James 2:19;
James 2:20;
James 2:21;
James 2:22;
James 2:23;
James 2:24;
James 2:25;
James 2:26
The rain that falls from heaven corresponds to the enlightening
referred to in
Hebrews 6:4-5 (see notes
Hebrews 6:4;
6:5). If the seed of the word of God is truly present in the soil (the
hearts of men and women), the rain causes fruitful crops to grow, fulfilling
the blessing intended by God. On the other hand if the word of truth is heard
but
rejected, the rain can only bring to life that which is already in the soil
(thorns and thistles).
Thomas Lea writes...
The author of Hebrews compared those believers who endure in their faith and
produce fruit to fertile land which bears abundant crops. Those who never
produce the evidence of righteousness are compared to land which never grew
anything but weeds and thorns and is therefore worthless. The KJV translates
the term worthless as "rejected." The word translated worthless
(adokimos) also appears in 1Corinthians 9:27, where it describes someone
disqualified from obtaining a prize or reward. In 2Corinthians 13:5, the
same word identifies someone who failed a test. The word is used to
picture those who claimed to be believers but presented no evidence. They
could expect to confront the God who was a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29)
in a future judgment. (Holman New Testament Commentary – Hebrews & James)
(Bolding added)
Wayne Grudem
adds that the writer in this section
of Hebrews moves...
from (the) description of those who commit apostasy to a further analogy
that shows that these people who fell away never had any genuine fruit in
their lives.
As we explained above, Hebrews 6:7-8 speak of these people in
terms of “thorns and thistles,” the kind of crop that is brought forth on
land that has no worthwhile life in itself even though it receives repeated
blessings from God (in terms of the analogy, even though rain frequently
falls upon it).
We should notice here that people who commit apostasy are
not compared to a field that once bore good fruit and now does not, but that
they are like land that never bore good fruit but only thorns and thistles.
The land may look good before the crops start to come up, but the fruit
gives the genuine evidence, and it is bad (Ed note: For a parallel teaching
see discussion of
James 2:14-26).
Strong support for this
interpretation of Hebrews 6:4-8 is found in the verse immediately following.
Though the author has been speaking very harshly about the possibility of
falling away, he then returns to speak to the situation of the great
majority of the hearers, whom he thinks to be genuine Christians. He says,
“Though we speak thus, yet in your case beloved, we feel sure of better
things that belong to salvation” (see note
Hebrews 6:9).
But the question is “better things” than what? The plural “better things”
forms an appropriate contrast to the “good things” that have been mentioned
in Hebrews 6:4-6: the author is convinced that most of his readers have
experienced better things than simply the partial and temporary influences
of the Holy Spirit and the church talked about in Hebrews 6:4-6. (Grudem,
W: Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. IVP;
Zondervan, 1994
or
Logos
= Highly Recommended resource!)
AND CLOSE
TO BEING CURSED AND IT ENDS UP BEING BURNED: kai kataras eggus to telos
eis kausin: (Heb 10:27 Isaiah
27:10,11 Ezekiel 15:2-7, 20:47 Mal 4:1, Mt 3:10, 7:19, 25:41 John 15:6, Rev
20:15)
Being cursed
(2671)
(katara from katá = against + ará = a curse) is an
execration or imprecation. It can refer to a human utterance wishing
evil on someone but this context implies it is God's righteous judgment on
that which is unfruitful.
Ends up (5056)
(telos from tello
= to set out for a definite point or goal) is the culmination or the outcome
of a growth or development representing an attained objective. Telos
is never used in NT as a chronological end, as if something simply stops.
Instead, telos speaks of a consummation, a goal achieved, a result
attained, or a realization. Telos is the result of an event or
process with special focus upon the final state or condition - outcome,
result. Telos refers to the outcome
of a growth or development representing an attained objective.
Telos used 5x in Hebrews...
Hebrews 3:6 (note)
but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we
are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the
end.
Hebrews 3:14 (note)
For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the
beginning of our assurance firm until the end;
Hebrews 6:8 (note)
but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close
to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
Hebrews 6:11 (note)
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so
as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
Hebrews 7:3 (note)
Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having
neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of
God, he abides a priest perpetually.
Being burned
(2740)
(kausis from kaio = to burn)
Literally the Greek reads "the end into burning"
This
person alluded to in Hebrews 6:7-8 reminds one of the spies at Kadesh-barnea
(Dt 1:19-26 - see below) who saw
the land and had the very fruit of it in their hands, and yet turned back!
The Israelite spies had experienced to the full the goodness of God but unbelief
manifested itself in disobedience and their unbelief blocked their entrance into God's Rest
(ultimately His salvation Rest in Christ).
"Then (this was the first "step" on their journey to conquer the
promised land) we set out from Horeb, and went through (about 100 miles) all that great and terrible
(very arid) wilderness which you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites,
just as the LORD our God had commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
20 "And I said to you, 'You have come to the hill country of the Amorites
which the LORD our God is about to give us.
21 'See, the LORD your God has placed the land (promised land - "the land"
of Genesis 12:1-2 promised in the Abrahamic Covenant) before you; go up, take
possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not
fear or be dismayed.'
22 "Then (notice who initiated this plan - not God!) all of you approached me and said, 'Let us send men before us, that
they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by
which we should go up, and the cities which we shall enter.'
23 "And the thing pleased me (although He did not initiate this plan He
agreed with it) and I took twelve of your men, one man for each
tribe.
24 "And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the
valley of Eshcol, and spied it out.
25 "Then they took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought
it down to us; and they brought us back a report and said, 'It is a good
land which the LORD our God is about to give us.'
26 "Yet you were not willing to go up, but rebelled against
the command of the LORD your God;
27 and you grumbled (cp Ex 15:24, 16:2, 17:3) in your tents (really in your
hearts) and said, 'Because the LORD hates us (sin corrupts one's vision of
God's character!), He
has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the
Amorites to destroy us (cf Ex 16:3, 17:3). (Dt 1:19-26)
Compare
Hebrews
3:18-19...
And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those
who were disobedient? 19 And so we see that they were not able to
enter because of unbelief. (see notes
Hebrews 3:18;
3:19)
John Piper writes that...
The danger is real lostness for ever -- the final curse of God and the fire
of hell. He is not talking about a mere temporal disciplining of the child
of God. He is talking about a final fiery curse. (See Piper's full
discussion
The Doctrine of Perseverance)
Paul and James also wrote of people who profess a connection with the
Christian faith, but who subsequently fail to continue and thus show they
are not genuine believers...
But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother
(professed to be believers but habitually practice sin and thus was not a
genuine believer) if
he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler,
or a drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one. (1Cor 5:11)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11
And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit
of our God.
(1 Corinthians
6:9-11)
Test
(present
imperative
= command to continually do this) yourselves (Yourselves is emphatic - look
at yourselves first! "Are you really a Christian?") to see if you are in the faith;
examine
(present
imperative) yourselves! Or do
you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--
unless indeed you fail the test (adokimos)? (2Cor 13:5)
They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable
and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. (see note
Titus 1:16)
Expositor's Bible Commentary writes that...
This land then, producing only what is worthless, awaits the curse. "Is in
danger of being cursed" might give the impression that the land came close
to being cursed but just escaped. The author seems rather to be saying that
at the moment of which he speaks the curse has not yet fallen, certain
though it is. Such a field in the end "will be burned." Some commentators
think the writer knew little of agriculture, for the burning of the field
was not a curse but rather a source of blessing as it got rid of the weeds
and so prepared for a good crop. But whatever his knowledge of farming, he
had a valid point. Land that produced nothing but weeds faced nothing but
fire. The warning to professing Christians whose lives produce only the
equivalent of weeds is plain.
(Gaebelein,
F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan
Publishing)
F B Meyer notes
that...
The writer of this Epistle is eager to
lead his readers from first principles to that strong meat which was
befitting
for
those of mature growth; and, as he proceeds to do so, it was as though he
were arrested by a sudden thought of some who had recently fallen away from
the faith.
In the awful stress of trial which
accompanied the fall of Jerusalem, the Hebrew Christians, who were still
dwelling in Palestine, were strongly tempted to apostatize. Some, indeed,
had done so. But can we really consider that they ever were true Christians?
They went out, because they had never been truly of. They had been
enlightened as to the doctrines of
Christianity;
but the enlightenment had been of their head rather than of their heart.
They had tasted of the heavenly hopes, anticipations, and joys of the Gospel
message, without really belonging to the Household of Faith. But,
notwithstanding all, they had gone back.
It is impossible to renew such to
repentance, whilst they go on living as they do, crucifying the Son of God
by their vicious and cowardly course of action, and putting Him to an open
shame. Notice that whilst, suggested by Bishop Westcott, of the margin of
the r.v. It is the
solution
of the great difficulty which has perplexed many timid souls. The
impossibility of renewal is only for those who persist in their evil ways.
Abandon your sins, and God will restore you to your old place.
It cannot be too clearly emphasized that
this text does not say that backsliders cannot be restored to the favor and
forgiveness
of God; but that they cannot be restored so long as they cling to the things
which had been the sources of their declension. (Meyer, F. B. Our Daily
Homily)
><> ><> ><>
F B Meyer - Our Daily Homily
-
The writer of this Epistle is eager to
lead his readers from first principles to. that strong ineat which was
befitting for those of mature growth; and, as he proceeds to do so, it was
as though he were arrested by a sudden thought of some who had recently
fallen away from the faith.
In the awful stress of trial which
accompanied the fall of Jerusalem, the Hebrew Christians, who were still
dwelling in Palestine, were strongly tempted to apostatise. Some, indeed,
had done so. But can we really consider that they ever were true Christians?
They went out, because they had never been truly of. They had been
enlightened as to the doctrines of Christianity; but the enlightenment had
been of their head rather than of their heart. They had tasted of the
heavenly hopes, anticipations, and joys of the Gospel message, without
really belonging to the Household of Faith. But, notwithstanding all, they
had gone back.
It is impossible to
renew such to repentance, whilst they go on living as they do, crucifying
the Son of God by their vicious and cowardly course of action, and putting
Him to an open shame. Notice that whilst, suggested by Bishop Westcott, of
the margin of the r.v. It is the solution of the great difficulty which has
perplexed many timid souls. The impossibility of renewal is only for those
who persist in their evil ways. Abandon your sins, and God will restore you
to your old place.
It cannot be too
clearly emphasized that this text does not say that backsliders cannot be
restored to the favor and forgiveness of God; but that they cannot be
restored so long as they cling to the things which had been the sources of
their declension. (Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily) |
