There are no simple one or two word answers to such a question. Of what were they dull of hearing? What "Meat" had they missed. Or What is Hebrews about in the first place? Please read this prayerfully, This is Meat!
Question
The words of Hebrews 5:11 poses a question that should send us all digging into the word. What were the “many things to say� The many things were about, Christ, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. This is a new priesthood. We find in the Bible the first men set aside as priest they were the firstborn sanctified to God. They were to have a birthright responsibility to God to be the spiritual backbone of the nation. The Patriarchs of the Old Testament were such men. The eldest of the family became the leaders both government and spiritual. Their priesthood was by birth they were given to God. Later after the nation was mature and given an inheritance God chose a specific group from one tribe to be the priest, the Levities. But, who was this Melchizedek, and what was his priesthood. Why was he chosen from all the Old Testament leaders to be a type for Christ? Lets look at the beginning of the story. Gen 14
Story
As is often true in the affairs of men the kings of Abraham’s day could not get along and greed caused them to invade and capture one another’s land, people, and property. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and depart.
As is often true in the affairs of men, the kings made a big mistake they took Lot and his family captive. Of course word of this got back to Abraham and he could not let Lot be taken. Abraham used what God had given him. When Abram heard that his brother’s son was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Ok. Now look at this, the mighty kings of the land fought wars and took captives and then Abraham and his servants defeated them in battle after battle. As Abraham and his men were coming home they passed another king, the one that lost the battle and let Lot get taken. So the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him. I feel sure this king wanted to meet Abraham on friendly terms if possible and to be sure Abraham did not do to him what was done to the other warring kings. He was smart enough to bring help he brought a man Abraham would respect; Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Abraham recognized the man of God and honored both God and priest by giving an offering that was required by God, to God the way all such offerings are given, at the hand of the priest. And so we meet this figure from the Old Testament. A king, a Priest, an equal to Abraham, A Patriarch, first born in a time when the first-born was Sanctified to be the spiritual leaders of men. The only way he could have been a Priest was by birthright. King and priest by birth just as Christ was to be which is why Melchizedek is a type of Christ. And it is this priest by birth that is of interest to us.
In the second priesthood, the Levitical Priesthood, The priest were born of one family and had to prove it. Their genealogy was very important. It was their right to be a priest. The records were kept with care and ceremony. Mother, father, birth date, and life was all carefully recorded and kept for the future, because they would need the records. The Nation of Israel had a formal Priesthood. These were charged with the spiritual health of a nation, God’s people. Melchizedek was not such a priest. We are told he did not have the needed records of mother, father, birth, and life of service. And of course the Levitical Priesthood had not been given when we meet him with Abraham.
Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
A priest by birth, a priest sanctified to God, a priest from the people, and a priest as spiritual teacher for all, this is the King and priest by birth order of Melchisedec. Why was this Old Testament man selected, Maybe it is because he was both priest by birth and a king.
Let me try to bring some things together and make my point. The point of this discussion, and the many things to say, and hard to be uttered is this priest hood. The fact that Christ is our high priest is not hard to follow, God said it. What that means to us in daily life seems not to have been widely seen. Christ is our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, by birth. When we look beyond our self and see the wondrous Grace of God, and with the simplest Faith reach out to Him, the one who paid sins price with His own Blood, we are born into the family of God.
It is a birthright with eternal life and eternal responsibility!
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of
the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The spirit of adoption making us the children of God and joint-heirs of Christ is the new priesthood. It is the adoption into the family of God. There is much that has not been included in what it means to be a Christian in the teachings of the church. Part may have been because it was hard to say and we weak of understanding. But, in the history of the church a good part of the problem is telling the Christian story in a way to help those in leadership positions control the masses of people.
How do you tell someone you are a child of the king heir to the throne of God, member of the heavenly family, Priest under the High Priest Jesus Christ. You may go directly to the fathers side with your petitions.
Then tell them I am in charge and will tell you what you need to know and do for the church. I will tell you what the scripture says and all you must do. The failure to teach the truth about the Priesthood of the Church is a choice of the leaders in the church to control people and the same grasp for power that lead to both the Reformation and the Enlightenment.
First the priest hood was by birth in a family of Gods chosen people.
Second is a tribe of Israel chosen by God to replace the birthright.
Third is the High Priesthood of Jesus, and our adoption into the family of God.
1 Peter 2:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Revelation 1:5-6 (NKJV)
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 5:10 (NKJV)
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 20:5-6 (NKJV)
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
We are adopted heirs to the wonders of God. These verses say Jesus made us kings and priest unto God. We need no one to take our cause to God. We have the adoption of sons, the status of family, and may go to God on His promise and blood.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing…
This new birthright and our place in it along with our relation to Jesus Christ our High Priest is the heart of “many things to say†and of which we cannot allow our selves to be “dull of hearingâ€. Much of the problem in our present time come from the church not teaching the true position and responsibilities of the Christian.
We have a responsibility to go tell others the wonders of God’s grace. If there is suffering and hard work, the toil is nothing compared to the love of God.
