Hebrews 5:11-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 5:10-14

Here the apostle returns to what he had in Heb. 5:6; Ps. 110:4; concerning the peculiar order of the priesthood of Christ, that is, the order of Melchisedec. And here, I. He declares he had many things which he could say to them concerning this mysterious person called Melchisedec, whose priesthood was eternal, and therefore the salvation procured thereby should be eternal also. We have a more particular account of this Melchisedec in Heb. 7:1-28. Some think the things which the apostle means,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 5:11-14

5:11-14 The story which has been laid upon me to tell you about this matter is a long story, difficult to tell and difficult to grasp, for your ears have become dull. For, indeed, at a stage when you ought to be teachers because of the length of time that has passed since you first heard the gospel, you still need someone to tell you the simple elements of the very beginning of the message of God. You have sunk into a state when you need milk and not solid food; for when anyone is at the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:11

Of whom we have many things to say ,.... Either of Melchizedek, or of Christ, or of his priesthood or of all of these; since the apostle does largely treat of them in the following chapters: he says many things concerning Melchizedek in the seventh chapter, and many things of Christ, and his priesthood, in those that follow; Christ is a large and inexhaustible subject in the Gospel ministry, and what a Gospel minister delights to dwell on; and it is a fund and stock from whence he is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 5:12

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers ,.... These Hebrews had had great advantages; they were not only descended from Abraham, and had the law of Moses, and the writings of the Old Testament, but some of them had enjoyed the ministry of Christ, and however of his apostles; and it was now about thirty years from the day of Pentecost, in which the gifts of the Holy Ghost were bestowed in such an extraordinary manner, and a large number were converted, and a church state settled among... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:11

Of whom we have many things to say - The words περι οὑ , which we translate of whom, are variously applied: To Melchisedec; To Christ; To the endless priesthood. Those who understand the place of Melchisedec, suppose that it is in reference to this that the apostle resumes the subject in the seventh chapter, where much more is said on this subject, though not very difficult of comprehension; and indeed it is not to be supposed that the Hebrews could be more capable of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:12

For when for the time - They had heard the Gospel for many years, and had professed to be Christians for a long time; on these accounts they might reasonably have been expected to be well instructed in Divine things, so as to be able to instruct others. Which be the first principles - Τινα τα στοιχεια· Certain first principles or elements. The word τινα is not the nominative plural, as our translators have supposed, but the accusative case, governed by διδασκειν· and therefore the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:11

Verse 11 11.He therefore makes a preface by saying that he had many things to say, but that they were to prepare themselves lest these things should be said in vain. He reminds them that they were hard or difficult things; not indeed to repel them, but to stimulate them to greater attention. For as things that are easily understood render us slothful, so we become more keenly bent on hearing when anything obscure is set before us. He however states that the cause of the difficulty was not in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 5:12

Verse 12 12.For when for the time ye ought, etc. This reproof contains in it very sharp goads to rouse the Jews from their sloth. He says that it was unreasonable and disgraceful that they should still continue in the elements, in the first rudiments of knowledge, while they ought to have been teachers. “You ought,” he says, “to have been the instructors of others, but ye are not even disciples capable of comprehending an ordinary truth; for ye do not as yet understand the first rudiments of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 5:11

Of whom (the most obvious antecedent being Melchizedek, but with regard to his typical significance, as referred to in Psalms 110:1-7 ) we have many things to say (the subject itself admits a lengthy exposition) and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become (not, as in A.V., "ye are") dull of hearing. Their dullness is the reason of the λόγος being δυσερμήνευτος . It was not that the subject was in itself inexplicable, or that the writer was incompetent to explain it; his... read more