WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.960
 Good morning, church.

00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:07.679
 If you will, please turn your copy of God's Word to Hebrews chapter 5.

00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:09.679
!

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980
 He reads,

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:07.219
 Chapter 6, verse 1.

00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:12.460
 Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.

00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:19.859
 So this morning, we pick up in our study of Hebrews with a new section in the text,

00:01:19.939 --> 00:01:24.799
 or a new subdivision in what the author of Hebrews is trying to communicate.

00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:29.359
 In this section, most commentators agree, starts with the beginning of our text,

00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:34.480
 in chapter 5, verse 11, to chapter 6, verse 12,

00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.019
 and is bookended by the same Greek word,

00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:42.400
 and it's only used in these two places in the New Testament,

00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.019
 and this is the word for dull or sluggish.

00:01:46.019 --> 00:01:48.339
 So if you look in verse 11, it says,

00:01:48.339 --> 00:01:55.119
 Since you have become dull of hearing, and then flipping over to chapter 6, verse 12,

00:01:55.539 --> 00:01:55.840
 it says,

00:01:55.840 --> 00:02:17.180
 Now, a cursory reading of chapters 5 through 7 of Hebrews demonstrate this section as an obvious pause in the writer's argument.

00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:20.260
 But the purpose of this pause is not totally clear,

00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:25.000
 and there's no real consensus among commentators on its purpose.

00:02:25.640 --> 00:02:30.719
 However, I believe that this section plays an important role in our understanding of the larger goals,

00:02:31.140 --> 00:02:33.400
 of what the author of Hebrews, and therefore our Lord,

00:02:33.760 --> 00:02:39.240
 is seeking to accomplish in writing to the Hebrew believers and writing to us today.

00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:43.939
 So for the sake of context, I'd like to remind us of the condition of the Hebrew church,

00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:47.700
 and take a quick look at where we've been in Hebrews so far,

00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:54.760
 and where the author is in persuading his listeners of the argument that he's trying to make.

00:02:55.159 --> 00:02:59.000
 So we've learned already that the Hebrews are heavily persecuted people.

00:02:59.200 --> 00:03:03.560
 We're told in other places in the text that their property has been plundered,

00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:05.360
 that they've been imprisoned,

00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:09.960
 and that they should soon expect to shed blood for their faith.

00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:13.960
 Based off of the author's writing, they're a pretty beat-up congregation.

00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:21.319
 We've also noted how they were being tempted to conform to the acceptable version of religion to the people around them,

00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:23.680
 and for the Hebrews, this was Judaism.

00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:27.240
 These Jews would have been cast out of their families and communities,

00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:33.480
 and would have been at an extreme economic disadvantage for claiming Christ as their Lord.

00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.080
 So they were tempted to practice their religion in private,

00:03:36.180 --> 00:03:39.379
 or simply believe that they were worshipping the same God,

00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:43.140
 so what was the hurt in going back to the old religion?

00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:52.060
 So let's turn back to Hebrews 1 and remind ourselves of the way that this author addresses their persecution and temptation

00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:57.159
 by looking at the author's thesis in chapter 1, verses 1 through 4.

00:03:57.159 --> 00:04:02.299
 And again, I just briefly want to go through where we've been in Hebrews so far,

00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:08.079
 so that we can understand what this segment of Scripture is doing in the author's argument.

00:04:08.579 --> 00:04:12.680
 So again, Hebrews chapter 1, this is kind of the thesis for the rest of the book.

00:04:13.539 --> 00:04:16.180
 Chapter 1, verses 1 through 4, he writes,

00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:46.180


00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:53.259
 I want to pause.

00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:58.379
 I think a lot of times, as we're taking notes in sermons,

00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:00.579
 we kind of skip through the introduction with our notes,

00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:04.879
 and wait for the body of the sermon where I give you the three points, which I'm going to do.

00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:10.159
 But I would encourage you not to skip this particular introduction,

00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:12.920
 not because others aren't good or important,

00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:18.019
 but there's a lot of things to point out in the introduction that will have relevance to the points that we're making later.

00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:22.680
 So if you haven't picked up taking notes, and you're ready to, I would encourage you to do so.

00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:28.699
 Okay, so from the beginning, the author of Hebrews asserts that Christ is supreme.

00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:34.360
 He's the supreme inheritor and heir, the creator and sustainer of all things,

00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:40.879
 the radiator and representer of God, the purifier of his people, and ruler over all.

00:05:40.960 --> 00:05:46.160
 He says this at the beginning, and then spends the next 10 chapters and 18 verses proving it

00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:50.520
 by demonstrating how Christ is higher than angels, greater than Moses,

00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:53.819
 a sympathetic and eternal high priest, greater than Aaron,

00:05:54.400 --> 00:05:59.620
 and begins discussing how he's like the mysterious Melchizedek, and then pause.

00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.680
 He inserts the section.

00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:09.819
 After this section, he returns to spend a whole chapter talking about Christ's high priestly office,

00:06:10.420 --> 00:06:13.319
 and how it's after the order of Melchizedek.

00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.439
 And then he proves the covenant ushered in by Christ is better,

00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:23.259
 that the earthly dwelling place in the Old Testament temple was a shadow of the heavenly one that Christ dwells in.

00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:31.759
 And then gloriously and climactically, the author demonstrates Jesus as the perfect and eternal sacrifice for his people.

00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:38.259
 So let's turn to the end of this author proving his thesis, chapter 10, verse 11.

00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:51.360
 And it reads,

00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:58.860
 Every high priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins.

00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:04.100
 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins,

00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:10.900
 he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:16.000
 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

00:07:16.580 --> 00:07:19.060
 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us,

00:07:19.060 --> 00:07:22.180
 For after saying, this is the covenant that I will make with them,

00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:24.220
 and after those days declares the Lord,

00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:27.060
 I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds.

00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:28.439
 Then he adds,

00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:31.840
 I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.

00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:37.360
 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

00:07:37.899 --> 00:07:38.879
 And then drop the mic.

00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:41.000
 The thesis has been proven.

00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:41.980
 Right?

00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:45.180
 Everything else, if you look forward in Hebrews from this point,

00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:52.780
 is building on the implications from the thesis that he has proven in chapter 10, verse 18.

00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.519
 Or through chapter 10, verse 18.

00:07:54.780 --> 00:07:56.259
 But that begs the question,

00:07:56.819 --> 00:08:00.500
 why pause for a whole chapter in the middle of this beautiful exposition?

00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.240
 Especially when you're so near to the end.

00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:07.620
 You're ramping up, and then you pause, and you insert this section.

00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:09.420
 So to understand this question,

00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:13.160
 we need to see one more point about this particular section of Scripture

00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:16.140
 in our text this morning that stands out.

00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:20.260
 So our text, verses 11 through 14,

00:08:20.640 --> 00:08:23.080
 offer the only rebuke in the book of Hebrews.

00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:26.420
 Now as I was discussing this with Nathan yesterday,

00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:28.720
 I was like, I think this is the only rebuke.

00:08:28.760 --> 00:08:29.820
 And he was like, I'm not sure.

00:08:30.140 --> 00:08:30.960
 Let's double check it.

00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:31.620
 So I double checked it.

00:08:31.640 --> 00:08:32.860
 And this is the only rebuke.

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:34.519
 There are plenty of other warnings.

00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:37.560
 There are heavy warnings, which we'll look at in a second.

00:08:38.040 --> 00:08:39.600
 Serious ones that we need to take seriously.

00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:43.639
 But this is the only charge that he brings against the church.

00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:49.200
 And like I said, there are plenty of serious and heavy warnings issued along the way.

00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:51.259
 And I want to look at some of these warnings,

00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:53.899
 because he gives some heavy warnings,

00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.480
 and yet only one rebuke.

00:08:55.560 --> 00:08:58.220
 So that says something about the rebuke.

00:08:58.360 --> 00:08:59.980
 So you don't have to follow along.

00:09:00.040 --> 00:09:01.040
 You're welcome to if you want to.

00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:04.019
 But like in chapter 2, verse 1, he says,

00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:07.439
 we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard,

00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:09.620
 lest we drift away from it.

00:09:10.099 --> 00:09:11.360
 Chapter 4, verse 1,

00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:15.839
 let us fear lest any should fail to reach God's rest

00:09:15.839 --> 00:09:18.139
 because of disobedience or unbelief.

00:09:18.719 --> 00:09:19.879
 Or 10, 26,

00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.279
 if we go on sinning deliberately,

00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:24.379
 after receiving the knowledge of truth,

00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:27.240
 there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:31.799
 Followed by, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

00:09:33.180 --> 00:09:36.279
 Or lastly, in chapter 12, verse 25,

00:09:37.060 --> 00:09:40.580
 see that you do not refuse Him, God, who is speaking,

00:09:41.060 --> 00:09:41.720
 ending with,

00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:44.180
 for our God is a consuming fire.

00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:46.720
 Now, these are serious warnings.

00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:47.879
 This is heavy.

00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:51.320
 He goes on, I mean,

00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:53.299
 he's warning them not to drift away,

00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:55.180
 not to fall away from the faith,

00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:58.719
 not to fall into the hands of a living God.

00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.120
 And I point these things out to say

00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:02.079
 that an author who feels the need over and over

00:10:02.079 --> 00:10:04.679
 to warn these Hebrews to fear and to take heed,

00:10:05.099 --> 00:10:06.519
 to be careful and diligent,

00:10:07.099 --> 00:10:09.519
 issues but one rebuke in the text.

00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:11.139
 So this tells us two things.

00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:14.279
 Firstly, we really need to understand this text.

00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:15.539
 And secondly,

00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:18.000
 he probably placed this passage where he did,

00:10:18.339 --> 00:10:19.919
 in the middle of a greater exposition,

00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:22.199
 to grab his reader's attention.

00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:25.160
 So before we move into the next body of text,

00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:26.220
 I need to zoom in a bit

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:28.320
 and point out one last clue in our text,

00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:30.500
 which indicates the role of this section

00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:32.660
 from 5.11 to 6.12.

00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:35.820
 So, if you'll flip back to chapter 5,

00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:37.440
 we'll sit there for a minute.

00:10:41.660 --> 00:10:43.820
 So, verse 11 in our text,

00:10:43.940 --> 00:10:44.900
 the beginning of it reads,

00:10:44.899 --> 00:10:54.360
 Now, many commentators read this verse

00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:57.620
 and believe the this and about this

00:10:57.620 --> 00:11:01.159
 brings the focus back to what he has previously been discussing,

00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:03.639
 Christ as the eternal salvation

00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:06.199
 and throws in there after the order

00:11:06.199 --> 00:11:08.259
 or the priesthood order of Melchizedek.

00:11:08.819 --> 00:11:11.519
 And so it seems when you read the English translation,

00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:14.759
 the NASB actually translates this

00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:15.960
 about him,

00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.980
 there is much to say.

00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:21.100
 And I want to point out something

00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:23.100
 that Nathan's pointed out a couple of times,

00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:24.399
 that in Hebrews,

00:11:25.079 --> 00:11:28.120
 the author is writing in the highest form

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.460
 of the Greek language,

00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:31.579
 far higher than the rest of the New Testament.

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:34.299
 And so it gives some translation issues

00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:36.199
 because normally in translation,

00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:37.220
 you're able to see,

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:39.279
 oh yeah, this word is used in this way,

00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:40.860
 in these different contexts.

00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:42.139
 But there's a lot of words

00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.659
 and idioms and phrases

00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.759
 in the Greek

00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:46.259
 that are only used once

00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:47.379
 or maybe twice

00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:49.360
 in the whole New Testament.

00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:51.560
 And so sometimes it becomes difficult

00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:53.000
 to point out

00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.139
 or to pin down

00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:55.700
 exactly what the author

00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:56.960
 is trying to say.

00:11:57.180 --> 00:11:58.279
 So this is a good example

00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:59.940
 of how we can miss an important point

00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.240
 if we're not careful.

00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.860
 And I'm by no means a Greek scholar,

00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:03.899
 but I've read a couple.

00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:06.000
 And so I want to be careful

00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.460
 with this particular phrase.

00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:10.780
 So this phrase

00:12:10.780 --> 00:12:12.120
 in the beginning of verse 11

00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.980
 is a Greek idiom

00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:15.820
 commonly used by orators

00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:17.580
 to serve a particular purpose.

00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.720
 And it's probably better translated

00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:21.420
 about these things

00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:23.220
 we have much to say.

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.580
 Because that's how other Greek writers

00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:28.080
 would use this phrase.

00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:28.620
 They would say,

00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:29.560
 about these things

00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:31.019
 we have much to say.

00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.340
 So William Lane

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.139
 in his commentary,

00:12:33.300 --> 00:12:33.960
 which I'll be referencing

00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:34.960
 a couple of times,

00:12:35.400 --> 00:12:36.440
 demonstrates that speakers

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:38.260
 would use this particular phrase

00:12:38.260 --> 00:12:39.440
 to get their listeners

00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:40.200
 to perk up

00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:41.040
 because they were about

00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:43.220
 to make their main driving point.

00:12:43.880 --> 00:12:44.900
 It's a phrase

00:12:44.900 --> 00:12:45.600
 they would be speaking

00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.220
 about something

00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:46.840
 and right before

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.680
 they're about to get

00:12:47.680 --> 00:12:49.000
 to the driving point

00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:49.720
 in their argument,

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.400
 they would use this phrase.

00:12:51.400 --> 00:12:52.360
 About these things

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.760
 we have much to say.

00:12:54.640 --> 00:12:55.720
 So then our author

00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:56.960
 was not on a roll

00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.500
 and then randomly decides

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.900
 to drop in a rebuke

00:12:59.900 --> 00:13:01.400
 that points backwards,

00:13:01.900 --> 00:13:02.740
 lamenting the fact

00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:03.500
 that further teaching

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.380
 cannot be given.

00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.460
 Rather,

00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:06.960
 as he picks up steam

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.779
 and is about to make

00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:09.240
 his most important point,

00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:10.240
 he pauses.

00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.419
 He perks up his audience's ears

00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:13.360
 to buckle up

00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.840
 and issues then

00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.200
 the only rebuke

00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:17.120
 in this treatise

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.419
 that they're being lazy

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.320
 in their hearing.

00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:20.779
 He then goes on

00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.439
 to reveal,

00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:22.500
 or to, sorry,

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.100
 revel in the glory of Christ

00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.919
 as the perfect high priest

00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:26.779
 and perfect,

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:28.059
 all-sufficient sacrifice

00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:28.779
 for his people.

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:29.940
 Okay,

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.679
 so we understand

00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:31.279
 the purpose

00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.820
 of this greater section,

00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:33.900
 to look forward

00:13:33.900 --> 00:13:35.680
 to what's about to happen.

00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:37.460
 Now we need to understand

00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:38.320
 this rebuke.

00:13:39.540 --> 00:13:40.020
 So,

00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:41.160
 my three points.

00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.540
 In our text this morning,

00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:45.300
 we'll see

00:13:45.300 --> 00:13:46.360
 point number A,

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.780
 the call to hear,

00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:48.940
 the call to hear well.

00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:50.540
 Point B,

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.720
 the call to teach

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.440
 in verse 12,

00:13:53.520 --> 00:13:54.600
 the first part of verse 12.

00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:55.500
 And thirdly,

00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.140
 point C,

00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.860
 the call to grow

00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:59.539
 12B,

00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:00.860
 through the end

00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.440
 of our text

00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:03.340
 in verse 14.

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.379
 And I'll repeat

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.039
 those as we go.

00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:06.800
 So,

00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:07.519
 first of all,

00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:08.080
 point A,

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:09.279
 the call to hear

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.320
 or the call to hear well.

00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:11.940
 So,

00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.120
 if you think about this text

00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.259
 for like three seconds,

00:14:14.680 --> 00:14:15.180
 then you know

00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:15.659
 that the writer

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:16.500
 is not claiming

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.139
 that the Hebrews

00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:18.200
 get their ears checked.

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.840
 But something is wrong

00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:20.440
 with the way

00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:21.440
 that they are hearing

00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.159
 or the way

00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.340
 that they are perceiving.

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.060
 So,

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:24.500
 to understand

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:25.000
 what the author

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.039
 is trying to rebuke

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.899
 the Hebrews for

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:28.079
 and therefore

00:14:28.079 --> 00:14:29.279
 warn us against,

00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.819
 we must dive a bit deeper

00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:32.179
 into the concept of hearing

00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:33.120
 as it's used

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.099
 throughout the scriptures.

00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:36.039
 And as we do so,

00:14:36.099 --> 00:14:36.699
 we'll see that

00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:37.599
 this accusation

00:14:37.599 --> 00:14:38.319
 of being dull

00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:38.980
 or sluggish,

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:39.980
 lazy in hearing

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.059
 is not merely

00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:41.539
 an encouragement

00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:42.339
 to pay attention

00:14:42.339 --> 00:14:43.459
 or to take notes

00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:44.039
 during a sermon.

00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:44.839
 Not a bad idea.

00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:46.279
 Nor is it a call

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:47.120
 to listen

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.179
 for special revelation

00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:49.139
 in your prayer closet,

00:14:49.599 --> 00:14:50.699
 but is a sharp rebuke

00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.779
 against idolatry

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.620
 and a call

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.679
 to turn away

00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.759
 from disobedience.

00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.600
 So,

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.080
 hearing

00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:56.819
 or the inability

00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:57.379
 to hear

00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.340
 is associated

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:58.819
 with a few

00:14:58.819 --> 00:14:59.799
 key concepts

00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.039
 both in the Old

00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.159
 and New Testaments.

00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:03.580
 So,

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.340
 first of all,

00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:05.720
 a failure to hear

00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:06.659
 is associated

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:08.659
 with idolatry.

00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:09.220
 So,

00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:09.879
 failure to hear

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.340
 is associated

00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.159
 with idolatry.

00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:11.600
 If you will,

00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.500
 please turn with me

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:14.360
 to Psalm 115.

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:14.480
 Psalm 115.

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:35.580
 Now read verses 1-9.

00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:39.819
 He says,

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:41.340
 Not to us, O Lord,

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.360
 not to us,

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.159
 but to your name

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.740
 give glory.

00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:44.600
 For the sake

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.720
 of your steadfast love

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.700
 and your faithfulness.

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.220
 Why should the nation

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:48.720
 say,

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.799
 where is their God?

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.779
 Our God is in the heavens.

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:52.840
 He does all

00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.519
 that He pleases.

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.939
 Their idols

00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:56.319
 are silver and gold,

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.899
 the work of human hands.

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.340
 They have mouths,

00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.279
 but do not speak.

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.019
 Eyes,

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.879
 but do not see.

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.159
 They have ears,

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.100
 but do not hear.

00:16:04.579 --> 00:16:04.919
 Noses,

00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:05.899
 but do not smell.

00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:06.699
 Hands,

00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:07.679
 but do not feel.

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.199
 Feet,

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:09.199
 but do not walk.

00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:10.259
 And they do not make

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.860
 a sound in their throat.

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.659
 Those who make them

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.879
 become like them.

00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.579
 And so do all

00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:18.879
 who trust in them.

00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:20.539
 O Israel,

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.980
 trust in the Lord.

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.340
 He is their help

00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.399
 and their shield.

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:25.960
 So,

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.100
 based off this passage,

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.039
 we see that every object

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:31.000
 created has a purpose.

00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:32.440
 And its worth

00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:33.779
 to its creator

00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.820
 is derived

00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:36.000
 from its ability

00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.159
 to fulfill the purpose

00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:38.340
 for which it was created.

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.519
 So the mouth

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.759
 is created to speak,

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:42.320
 yet it's silence

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.420
 on the grave and idle,

00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:45.200
 and it is therefore

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.840
 worthless.

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:48.120
 And so are we.

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:50.940
 If the measure

00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.879
 of our worth

00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:53.399
 as a creature

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.899
 is in fulfilling

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.379
 the purpose

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.480
 for which we are created,

00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:57.980
 so are we,

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.259
 as we trust in things

00:16:59.259 --> 00:16:59.980
 to satisfy,

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.759
 as we trust in idols

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.060
 to do what only God

00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:03.620
 can do.

00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.619
 When we're created

00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:05.980
 for the specific purpose,

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.200
 to worship God

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.960
 and to be satisfied

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.460
 in Him,

00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.859
 and then to bring Him glory

00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:10.900
 by teaching others

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.980
 to do the same.

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.579
 Calvin famously

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.299
 once proclaimed

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.119
 that the human heart

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.400
 is a perpetual factory

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.460
 of idols.

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.780
 And if this is the case,

00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:19.500
 we must seriously

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:21.280
 guard against idols

00:17:21.280 --> 00:17:22.280
 taking the affection,

00:17:22.560 --> 00:17:23.180
 the treasuring,

00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:23.940
 the time,

00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:24.720
 the energy,

00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:26.160
 and the mental capacity

00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:26.800
 that we devote

00:17:26.800 --> 00:17:27.500
 to things,

00:17:27.800 --> 00:17:28.580
 to people,

00:17:28.820 --> 00:17:29.519
 to relationship,

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:30.920
 to status,

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.160
 that only belong

00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:32.780
 to our Lord

00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:33.740
 as the one

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:35.019
 who can satisfy.

00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:36.400
 So what idols

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.660
 are you trusting in today

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.140
 that you need

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:39.019
 to cast aside

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.480
 so that you may hear

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.759
 as you ought to hear?

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:43.759
 Secondly,

00:17:44.040 --> 00:17:45.100
 hearing is associated

00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:46.719
 with understanding

00:17:46.719 --> 00:17:48.599
 the things of God.

00:17:49.419 --> 00:17:50.379
 So in the New Testament,

00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:51.899
 our Lord often

00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:53.039
 ended His parables

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.859
 and other sections

00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:54.459
 of teaching

00:17:54.459 --> 00:17:55.879
 with the phrase,

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:56.899
 those who have ears

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.500
 to hear,

00:17:57.919 --> 00:17:58.599
 let them hear.

00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:00.419
 He explains this concept

00:18:00.419 --> 00:18:01.359
 to His disciples

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.599
 more clearly

00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:04.299
 in Matthew chapter 13

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:05.579
 when they're asking

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.500
 why He speaks

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.099
 cryptically

00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.839
 to the people

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.099
 in parables.

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:09.779
 So if you will,

00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:10.779
 please turn again

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.159
 with me

00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:12.579
 one of the last places

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:14.839
 to Matthew chapter 13.

00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:33.039
 starting in verse 10.

00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:33.799
 And again,

00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:34.819
 oh yeah,

00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.659
 it says in the text.

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:35.980
 Never mind.

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:37.759
 So in verse 10,

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.319
 it reads,

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.879
 Then the disciples

00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:41.159
 came and said to Him,

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.339
 Why do you speak

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.219
 to them in parables?

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.900
 And He answered them,

00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.579
 To you

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.519
 it has been given

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.680
 to know the secrets

00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.799
 of the kingdom of heaven.

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.140
 But to them

00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:51.279
 it has not been given.

00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.299
 For to the one who has

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:54.200
 more will be given

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:55.220
 and he will have

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.720
 an abundance.

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.039
 But from the one

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.740
 who has not,

00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.100
 even what he has

00:18:59.100 --> 00:19:00.000
 will be taken away.

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.259
 This is why

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.920
 I speak to them

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.539
 in parables.

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.839
 Because seeing

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.600
 they do not see,

00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.380
 and hearing

00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:07.360
 they do not hear,

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.799
 nor do they understand.

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:09.900
 Indeed,

00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:10.799
 in their case,

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.079
 the prophecy of Isaiah

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.440
 is fulfilled that says,

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.779
 and this is from Isaiah 6,

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.359
 You will indeed hear

00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.379
 but never understand,

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.779
 and you will indeed see

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.579
 but never perceive.

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.220
 For this people's heart

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.039
 has grown dull,

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.240
 and with their ears

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.399
 they can barely hear,

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.119
 and their eyes

00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.059
 have been closed,

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.720
 lest they should see

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.539
 with their eyes,

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.099
 hear with their hearts,

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.220
 hear with their ears,

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.559
 understand with their heart,

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.440
 and turn,

00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.339
 and I would heal them.

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:36.200
 But blessed are your eyes

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.980
 for they see,

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.119
 and your ears

00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.220
 for they hear.

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.839
 So Christ makes

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.860
 an important point

00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.920
 that two people

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.519
 can hear the same teaching

00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.640
 or the same information

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:47.259
 about the kingdom of God.

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.940
 One understands,

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.140
 and the other

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:51.180
 doesn't understand,

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.759
 because one has

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.779
 or has been given

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:55.259
 the ears to hear,

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.759
 and the other doesn't.

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.900
 So this can lead us

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.140
 to question God's authority,

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:03.500
 or it can well up

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.180
 in us

00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.539
 in expressible gratitude.

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.259
 What a joy

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.220
 that we have,

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.519
 that we've been given

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.779
 to know the secrets

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.460
 of the kingdom of God.

00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.819
 This is a privilege

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:15.000
 not to be squandered.

00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:16.579
 If you can perceive

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:18.000
 the secrets of the kingdom,

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.500
 by all means,

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.779
 pursue them.

00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.819
 Those who have ears to hear,

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.980
 let them hear,

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:25.059
 and let them hear

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.220
 abundantly.

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:27.720
 And lastly,

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.380
 hearing is equated,

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.880
 not merely associated,

00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:32.000
 but equated

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.460
 with obedience.

00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.500
 It's the third sub-point,

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.680
 hearing equated

00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.039
 with obedience.

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.599
 So this concept

00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.599
 is especially clear

00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.380
 in the Old Testament

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.619
 because of the word

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.740
 used for hear

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:45.319
 in ancient Hebrew.

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.240
 And there's actually

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.720
 an awesome Bible project

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:49.480
 video on this word,

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.460
 the Shema.

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.559
 There's a whole series

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.000
 on this text

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.880
 in Deuteronomy,

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.059
 chapter 6,

00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.079
 verses 4 through 5,

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.960
 called the Shema,

00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:57.799
 which we'll talk about

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.259
 a little bit.

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.420
 But it's this word,

00:20:59.519 --> 00:20:59.880
 Shema,

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.819
 which is translated here.

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:04.639
 So in the Greek,

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:06.039
 and obviously in the English,

00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:07.379
 there are two different words

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:08.359
 for hear,

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.579
 something that you do

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:11.139
 involuntarily with your ears,

00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:12.439
 and obey,

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.480
 something that you do

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.279
 with your will,

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.119
 affection,

00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:15.939
 and action.

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:16.859
 However,

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.839
 fascinatingly,

00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.419
 in Hebrew,

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.000
 they're the same word,

00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:20.819
 Shema.

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:24.039
 So listen to a few examples.

00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.779
 Deuteronomy 5.1,

00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:27.240
 this is the Ten Commandments,

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.119
 says,

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:30.099
 And Moses summoned all Israel

00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.859
 and said to them,

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.259
 Hear, Shema,

00:21:32.419 --> 00:21:32.959
 O Israel,

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.539
 the statutes and the rules

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:36.079
 that I speak in your hearing today,

00:21:36.439 --> 00:21:37.439
 and you shall learn them

00:21:37.439 --> 00:21:39.199
 and be careful to do,

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:39.740
 Shema,

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.299
 them.

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.980
 Deuteronomy 6.4-5,

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.719
 which is again,

00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.480
 the Shema.

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.399
 Hear,

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:45.899
 Shema,

00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.500
 O Israel,

00:21:46.659 --> 00:21:47.639
 the Lord your God,

00:21:47.699 --> 00:21:48.480
 the Lord is one.

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.579
 You shall love the Lord your God

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.539
 with all your heart,

00:21:51.939 --> 00:21:52.899
 with all your soul,

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.659
 and with all your might.

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:58.000
 And then in Exodus 19.5,

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.200
 Now therefore,

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.079
 if you will indeed obey,

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:01.960
 Shema,

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.859
 my voice,

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.960
 and keep,

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.519
 Shema,

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.700
 my covenant,

00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:07.740
 you shall be my treasured possession

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:09.579
 among all peoples,

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:11.640
 for the earth is mine.

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:14.000
 So then to be dull in hearing

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.759
 is to be sluggish or lazy

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.980
 in obeying the knowledge

00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.700
 that we have received.

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:22.539
 So the degree to which you hear

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:24.660
 is then the degree to which

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.440
 you respect the authority

00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:27.500
 of the one speaking.

00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.860
 So let's unpack that a little bit.

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.460
 Because when you respect

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.519
 the speaker's authority,

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.120
 you don't merely take in

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.820
 the information,

00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:35.799
 but you do so in such a way

00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.400
 that it produces the action

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:39.440
 intended in the hearer

00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:41.580
 from the one who's communicating it.

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.600
 So I'll say that again.

00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.539
 When you respect the speaker's authority,

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.460
 you don't merely take in information,

00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:48.160
 but do so in such a way

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.779
 that it produces the action

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.039
 intended in the hearer

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.920
 from the one communicating it.

00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.700
 So there's a responsibility

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.100
 that comes with the way

00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:57.140
 that we are to hear.

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.480
 There's a responsibility

00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:02.100
 with how we hear the word of God,

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.600
 and the degree to which

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:05.000
 we are truly hearing

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.480
 is the degree to which

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.860
 we respect God's authority,

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.500
 which is also the degree

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:11.680
 to which we obey the word

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.019
 that has been spoken.

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:16.140
 So I have maybe a silly example

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.320
 that I think will help

00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:19.180
 illustrate this point.

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:21.560
 And if my mom were here today,

00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:22.960
 she would attest to the truth

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.299
 of this story.

00:23:24.580 --> 00:23:26.120
 So I had good parents,

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.759
 which means that I had chores

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.420
 growing up.

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:33.000
 And when I was seven, eight, nine-ish years old,

00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:33.900
 one of my chores,

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.039
 least favorite chores,

00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:37.000
 was cleaning the bathroom.

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:39.820
 And as an eight-year-old boy,

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.299
 like most eight-year-old boys,

00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.420
 I wasn't too concerned

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.200
 with the details

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.400
 of what it meant

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.880
 to clean the bathroom.

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.220
 So when mom says,

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.420
 clean the bathroom,

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:50.800
 what I take that to mean is,

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.900
 make the bathroom look clean,

00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:54.840
 which are two different things.

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.440
 And if you've ever cleaned a bathroom,

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.460
 you know the difference.

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:59.160
 Make the bathroom look clean

00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:00.640
 means when you walk into it,

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.539
 do you think,

00:24:01.820 --> 00:24:02.019
 oh yeah,

00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:03.080
 this is a pretty clean bathroom.

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.680
 But clean the bathroom

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:06.840
 is like getting the mildew

00:24:06.840 --> 00:24:08.019
 out from under the ring

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.019
 in the sink,

00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:12.180
 or scrubbing the shower floor

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:13.320
 so that it's as white

00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:15.259
 as the walls.

00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:17.000
 And so there's a difference

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.759
 in the way that I'm hearing

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:20.220
 as an eight-year-old boy.

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:22.140
 And so you get that picture

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.599
 in your mind,

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.359
 but then imagine that

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.440
 as an eight-year-old boy,

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:27.259
 I'm playing Donkey Kong Country

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.380
 on my Super Nintendo,

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.680
 and mom walks in,

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.900
 and she says,

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.400
 okay,

00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.539
 it's time to clean the bathroom.

00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:33.940
 And I say,

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.319
 yeah, yeah,

00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:34.559
 okay,

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.339
 I'll clean the bathroom.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.980
 And then she's explaining

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:40.019
 what exactly she wants me to do.

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.059
 And instead of asking the question,

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.279
 okay,

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.420
 is this the deep cleaning,

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.840
 or is this like

00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:46.060
 make the bathroom look clean

00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:47.300
 because guests are coming over,

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.019
 which is instead of asking that,

00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:50.500
 I just keep playing my video games.

00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:51.100
 And she says,

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.380
 okay,

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.039
 clean the bathroom.

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:52.400
 And I'm like,

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:52.560
 yeah,

00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:52.720
 yeah,

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:52.960
 okay,

00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.000
 I'll get to it.

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.039
 Just give me a second.

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:56.019
 And then she's like,

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:56.380
 no,

00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.300
 I want you to listen

00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.060
 to what I'm saying.

00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:59.360
 And I'm still playing the game.

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.480
 Haven't paused it or anything.

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.400
 I don't know if you can pause

00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.160
 Donkey Kong Country,

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:05.060
 but I haven't paused it.

00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:06.920
 And she's still saying,

00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:07.220
 no,

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.100
 I want you to like

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:09.700
 really deep clean it,

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:10.880
 get under,

00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:11.320
 you know,

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.899
 the ring in the sink

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:14.379
 and get behind the toilet

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:16.559
 to whatever mess is back there

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:18.299
 and all these other things.

00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.939
 And if I'm still paying attention

00:25:19.939 --> 00:25:21.099
 to the video game

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.179
 that's in front of me,

00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.980
 then while I may be

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.519
 receiving the information

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.879
 in one way,

00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:28.139
 I'm not heeding it.

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.279
 And I'm certainly

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.519
 not going to transfer that

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.639
 into the action intended

00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:33.359
 of the one who's speaking

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.819
 because my attention

00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:36.779
 is elsewhere.

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.759
 What she really wants me to do

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.480
 when she says,

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.500
 clean the bathroom,

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.480
 is pause,

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.519
 put it down,

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.500
 look her in the eyes

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.579
 and ask,

00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.859
 what do you mean?

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.559
 And to say,

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.799
 do you want me

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.839
 to do a deep cleaning?

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.420
 Do you want me

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.839
 to get the mildew

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.920
 or is this just

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.420
 a shallow cleaning?

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:56.380
 Right?

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:58.460
 And so she wants my attention

00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:00.619
 as she's telling me something.

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:02.160
 And even though I may feel like

00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.339
 as an eight-year-old boy

00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:05.460
 that I know what she means,

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.480
 that assumption

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.299
 can be dangerous

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.220
 and it can lead

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.660
 to disobedience.

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.400
 Right?

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.680
 And so it is often

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.660
 as we approach

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.660
 the Word of God,

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.180
 our attention

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.380
 is elsewhere.

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:18.299
 We're not really engaged.

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.360
 We think we know

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.360
 what we ought to be doing,

00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:21.019
 but we're making

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.019
 a dangerous assumption

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.980
 when we do so

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:24.220
 because we may not

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.940
 be hearing

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.019
 as He

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:27.259
 has intended us

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.180
 to hear.

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:31.180
 So we interpret

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.700
 what God is saying

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.860
 to our advantage

00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:35.160
 or in accordance

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:36.200
 to what we already

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.900
 want to hear,

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.000
 seeking to do

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.299
 the minimum required effort

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.000
 to count

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.240
 for obedience.

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:43.440
 So often in the Christian life,

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.519
 the problem is not

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.560
 that we don't have

00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:46.440
 the right information,

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:48.340
 but it's that we've forgotten

00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:49.680
 the God who has spoken

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.080
 the information to us.

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.200
 We hear,

00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.480
 but we don't heed

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.480
 and obey.

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.480
 So to not be dull

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.319
 of hearing then

00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:59.019
 is to consume the Word

00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:00.079
 in such a way

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.980
 that it produces

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.160
 obedience.

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.220
 So again,

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.039
 the responsibility

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:05.019
 in your hearing

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.740
 of the Word of God,

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.940
 whether that's you

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.279
 listening here today

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:10.140
 or in your personal time,

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.819
 is to see how it's supposed

00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.799
 to be working out of you,

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.480
 how it's supposed

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.819
 to be applied to your life,

00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:16.279
 how you are to obey.

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.400
 And this isn't something

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.200
 that can be done

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.039
 quickly

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.519
 or with

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:22.000
 half of a brain,

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.079
 but you have to be

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.960
 engaged.

00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.839
 So according to our

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.599
 three observations

00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:28.000
 about hearing in the Bible,

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.360
 to not be dull

00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:29.940
 of hearing,

00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:31.019
 we must be free

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.700
 from idols,

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.339
 able to understand

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:33.839
 or perceive

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.819
 the things of God,

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.860
 and must take it

00:27:35.860 --> 00:27:36.539
 in in such a way

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.240
 that it produces

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.120
 the action

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:39.319
 that it commands,

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.039
 that He commands.

00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.299
 Therefore,

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.779
 the author's rebuke

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.779
 back in Hebrews

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.779
 of being lazy

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.539
 or sluggish

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.019
 or dull

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.740
 of hearing

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.539
 on the part

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.460
 of the Jewish believers

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.860
 carries a great deal

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.440
 of weight,

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.860
 directly related

00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.519
 to the way

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.940
 that they are

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.539
 respecting

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.359
 the authority

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:55.559
 and the supremacy

00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.659
 of God,

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.500
 which is why

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.159
 it makes sense

00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:59.200
 that the author's thesis,

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.220
 if this is a dull

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.039
 of hearing people,

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:02.639
 is Christ the supreme

00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.440
 over all.

00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:05.000
 As they see

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:06.000
 Christ the supreme,

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.879
 they begin

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.639
 to pay attention,

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.980
 they begin to hear

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.740
 as they ought to hear.

00:28:11.659 --> 00:28:12.759
 So we should fear

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.420
 this spiritual condition.

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:16.259
 With all the warnings

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.319
 that were given,

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.460
 this is the rebuke.

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.579
 We should fear

00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.620
 having this spiritual

00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:21.799
 condition for ourselves

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:23.059
 and yet many

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.819
 in our country,

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.440
 our county,

00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.759
 and maybe in our midst

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.400
 have likely

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.500
 grown accustomed

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.140
 to it.

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.400
 We read

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:30.819
 and we hear

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.279
 the commands

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.799
 of Scripture

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.819
 and we feel

00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.940
 conviction in the moment,

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.579
 yet we lose focus

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.680
 a few hours later

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.860
 when the next wave

00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:39.000
 of distraction hits.

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.579
 We know we're commanded

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.079
 to read

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.039
 and to pray regularly,

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.960
 to grow deep

00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.620
 in relationship

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.340
 with believers,

00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.799
 to get accountability,

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.440
 that we tell ourselves

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:47.899
 we don't know

00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.500
 where to start,

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:49.440
 that we don't have

00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.359
 the time to commit,

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:53.480
 that we're too busy

00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.519
 and we don't know

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.139
 where to start.

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.339
 We're often prideful

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.180
 about our appearance,

00:28:59.359 --> 00:28:59.960
 too prideful

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.759
 to break down

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.680
 and ask for help.

00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.099
 Or maybe you felt

00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:04.059
 conviction for years

00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:05.099
 to talk to a co-worker

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.559
 or a neighbor

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.379
 about the Lord

00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.639
 that haven't made

00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.259
 the sacrifice

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.940
 of an evening

00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.619
 with your family

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.480
 to be hospitable

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.639
 to your neighbors

00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.139
 as the Lord

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:13.240
 is hospitable to you.

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.119
 Instead of trusting

00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:16.179
 that God has commanded

00:29:16.179 --> 00:29:17.259
 that which is best

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.139
 for our flourishing,

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.259
 spiritually or otherwise,

00:29:19.659 --> 00:29:20.919
 we buy into the lie

00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:22.219
 that whatever feels best

00:29:22.219 --> 00:29:22.839
 to us

00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:24.259
 should guide the decisions

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.079
 that we make.

00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:27.319
 We judge the worthiness

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.279
 of the command of God

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.859
 in our lives

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:30.179
 based off of the temporary

00:29:30.179 --> 00:29:31.459
 satisfaction and joy

00:29:31.459 --> 00:29:32.119
 that it brings

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.539
 rather than trusting

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.639
 that He has spoken,

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:36.199
 that we are His creatures

00:29:36.199 --> 00:29:37.419
 and that He designed us

00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:38.019
 specifically

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:39.539
 for His purpose.

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.179
 When we don't get

00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:43.159
 emotional satisfaction

00:29:43.159 --> 00:29:44.419
 from obeying these commands,

00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:46.100
 we must see that the problem

00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:47.100
 is with our emotions.

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.980
 Sometimes we need to obey

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.180
 because He has said so

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:51.560
 and allow our emotions

00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.440
 to catch up

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:54.080
 as we trust our great Lord.

00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.340
 As we've seen,

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.940
 this rebuke of sluggish hearing

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.019
 is not merely a call

00:29:59.019 --> 00:30:00.000
 to perk up and listen,

00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.160
 but is meant to be

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.460
 a serious wake-up call,

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.580
 both for them

00:30:03.580 --> 00:30:04.500
 and for us.

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.320
 So the Hebrews, too,

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.840
 had the necessary information,

00:30:08.340 --> 00:30:09.440
 but they weren't applying

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.940
 what they had learned,

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.880
 and therefore

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.940
 they could not mature

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.940
 or bring others

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.720
 into maturity

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.960
 in their walk

00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.660
 with the Lord.

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.700
 And this brings us

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.799
 to our second point,

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:20.360
 answering how the Hebrews

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:21.140
 failed to hear

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.779
 as they ought

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.440
 the call to teach.

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:23.799
 So,

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.600
 point B,

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:26.680
 the call to teach.

00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.360
 This is in

00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:29.620
 verse 12.

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.640
 So if you're not back

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.100
 in Hebrews,

00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:32.380
 please flip there again.

00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:40.800
 So verse 12.

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:43.740
 For though by this time

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.740
 you ought to be teachers,

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.920
 you need someone

00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:47.100
 to teach you again

00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:48.260
 the basic principles

00:30:48.260 --> 00:30:49.500
 of the oracles of God.

00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.820
 You need milk,

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.300
 excuse me,

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.360
 not solid food.

00:30:54.280 --> 00:30:54.620
 So,

00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:55.420
 very simply,

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.440
 note the word for

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.100
 at the beginning

00:30:57.100 --> 00:30:57.820
 of verse 12.

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.260
 It would seem

00:30:59.260 --> 00:30:59.940
 to this author

00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.120
 the first indicator

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.240
 that he points out

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:03.120
 in the Hebrew

00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:03.940
 sluggish hearing

00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:05.980
 is not an understanding

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:07.920
 but rather an action.

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.539
 They were dull of hearing

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.359
 because they weren't

00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.319
 yet teaching others.

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.480
 Get that logic flow.

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.160
 It's not that

00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:13.940
 they didn't understand

00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.299
 that they were

00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.220
 supposed to be teachers

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.620
 given the sharpness

00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.420
 of this rebuke,

00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.599
 but it is that

00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.500
 they weren't applying

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.339
 what they knew

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.180
 they ought to be doing.

00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.180
 So,

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.140
 hear this clearly

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.799
 this morning.

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.200
 Believers are meant

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.859
 to be teachers.

00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.140
 All of us.

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:28.259
 There's not something

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.700
 reserved for

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.480
 ordained clergy,

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.440
 for missionaries,

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.279
 or for people

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.920
 on stage.

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.200
 And while teaching

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.860
 may seem like

00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:35.600
 a daunting task,

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:37.220
 it can take many forms,

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.160
 most of which

00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.900
 have nothing to do

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.400
 with standing

00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:40.600
 behind a lectern

00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.620
 and speaking publicly,

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:43.059
 and all of which

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.640
 are essential

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.380
 to the life

00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:45.240
 of the church.

00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:47.340
 Many find themselves

00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.240
 wondering what their

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.740
 place in the church is.

00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:50.779
 Some of you here

00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:52.059
 likely feel that way.

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.360
 While each of us

00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.299
 have different gifts

00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:54.900
 and will certainly

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.799
 exercise them

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.559
 in different ways,

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.620
 we are all meant

00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:58.200
 to teach

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.259
 in some way.

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.819
 So,

00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.279
 I want to look

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:00.680
 at a couple

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.119
 of ways

00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:01.640
 in Scripture

00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.859
 that we're

00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:04.079
 called to teach

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.759
 one another

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:06.119
 and those outside

00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:06.799
 of the congregation

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.740
 really quickly.

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.680
 I don't think

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.279
 I want you guys

00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.960
 to turn anywhere

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.519
 maybe to Matthew 28

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.359
 if you want to move

00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:15.480
 in that direction.

00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:16.339
 So,

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.180
 first way that

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.819
 each believer

00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.859
 is called to teach

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.640
 is through

00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:20.299
 rebuking,

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.059
 admonishing,

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.940
 and or counseling.

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.480
 So,

00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.220
 Paul writes

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.740
 in Colossians 3

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.799
 to the church

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:27.579
 at Colossae,

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.679
 let the word

00:32:28.679 --> 00:32:29.299
 of Christ

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.139
 dwell in you

00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:30.619
 richly.

00:32:31.139 --> 00:32:31.439
 How?

00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.740
 Teaching and

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.299
 admonishing

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.000
 one another

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.859
 in all wisdom.

00:32:35.419 --> 00:32:35.619
 So,

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.899
 teaching and

00:32:36.899 --> 00:32:37.699
 admonishing,

00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:38.419
 which is like

00:32:38.419 --> 00:32:40.019
 a soft rebuke

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.879
 or correction

00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:42.339
 in instruction.

00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:43.519
 Secondly,

00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:45.099
 in encouraging

00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.720
 each other.

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.919
 First Thessalonians

00:32:46.919 --> 00:32:47.379
 5,

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:47.939
 14,

00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:49.039
 we urge you,

00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:49.399
 brothers,

00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.699
 admonish the idle,

00:32:51.199 --> 00:32:52.339
 encourage the faint-hearted,

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.639
 help the weak,

00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.679
 and be patient

00:32:54.679 --> 00:32:55.579
 with them all.

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:55.939
 Again,

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.659
 written to

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.360
 the church.

00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.000
 Thirdly,

00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.340
 in discipling,

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:00.960
 and that takes

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:02.180
 so many different forms,

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.960
 but one example,

00:33:04.120 --> 00:33:04.480
 a good one,

00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:06.019
 in 2 Timothy 2,

00:33:06.100 --> 00:33:06.700
 chapter 2,

00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.480
 Paul shows

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.759
 four generations

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.560
 of discipleship.

00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.240
 As he writes

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.660
 to Timothy,

00:33:11.800 --> 00:33:12.220
 he says,

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.279
 what you have heard

00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:13.800
 from me

00:33:13.800 --> 00:33:14.420
 in the presence

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.220
 of many witnesses,

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:17.340
 entrust to faithful men

00:33:17.340 --> 00:33:18.460
 who will be able

00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.759
 to teach others also.

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.120
 So,

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.660
 Paul is teaching

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.060
 Timothy.

00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.800
 Timothy is

00:33:22.800 --> 00:33:24.540
 entrusting

00:33:24.540 --> 00:33:25.160
 this information

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:26.120
 to faithful men

00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:26.840
 who will then

00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:27.140
 be able

00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:28.480
 to teach others.

00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:29.279
 It's meant to be

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:30.200
 this family tree

00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:31.140
 of believers

00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.040
 teaching,

00:33:32.300 --> 00:33:32.860
 discipling

00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:33.660
 one another.

00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:34.380
 And then,

00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.320
 if you'll turn with me

00:33:35.320 --> 00:33:36.540
 to Matthew 28,

00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:37.759
 verse 18.

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.720
 This is the Great Commission.

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:59.779
 And I understand

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.960
 we've probably heard

00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:02.319
 all these things before.

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.220
 If you've been around here,

00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:03.600
 you have.

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.259
 And you've probably

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.440
 heard these things before

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:08.099
 in your own churches,

00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:09.699
 but I fear that oftentimes

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.659
 they're taught

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.559
 as suggestions,

00:34:12.279 --> 00:34:13.219
 things that are

00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:14.019
 like beneficial

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:15.380
 if you want to be

00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.299
 a deep Christian.

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.519
 But note that

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.219
 the rebuke

00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:19.000
 that's here

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:20.440
 is not given

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.319
 to the deep Christians,

00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.380
 but it's given

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:23.259
 to the believers.

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.339
 They're being sharply

00:34:24.339 --> 00:34:25.079
 rebuked

00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:26.639
 for not hearing

00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.500
 as they ought to hear.

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:27.719
 So,

00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:28.259
 I encourage you

00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:28.799
 now,

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.739
 hear this

00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:31.259
 as you ought to hear it.

00:34:31.339 --> 00:34:32.219
 We're all meant

00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.940
 to be teachers.

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.199
 So,

00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:34.779
 the Great Commission,

00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.539
 Matthew 28,

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:37.139
 starting in verse 18.

00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:39.960
 Jesus came to them

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.679
 and said to them,

00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:41.319
 His disciples,

00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:43.000
 All authority in heaven

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.739
 and on earth

00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.679
 has been given to Me.

00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.199
 Go, therefore,

00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:47.440
 and make disciples

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.179
 of all nations,

00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.460
 baptizing them

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.400
 in the name of the Father

00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.380
 and of the Son

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.259
 and of the Holy Spirit,

00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:53.980
 teaching them to observe

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:55.199
 all that I've commanded you.

00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.299
 And behold,

00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:58.059
 I am with you always

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:59.679
 to the ends of the age.

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.420
 So,

00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.519
 first thing to point out,

00:35:03.819 --> 00:35:04.299
 that it says

00:35:04.299 --> 00:35:05.199
 make disciples

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:06.039
 of all nations.

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.900
 It's not making converts

00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:08.579
 of all nations.

00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:09.579
 Converts are important.

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.900
 That's the first step

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.739
 in discipleship,

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.980
 but it doesn't stop there

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.759
 if we're going to mature

00:35:13.759 --> 00:35:14.880
 to the end.

00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:16.440
 Secondly,

00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.519
 Jesus Himself

00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:18.940
 took three years

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.119
 of living

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:21.219
 with His disciples

00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.059
 to teach them.

00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.519
 Living with them.

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.400
 He's teaching them.

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.360
 He's discipling them.

00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:27.159
 How much more

00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:28.079
 does it take

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:29.500
 relationship with others

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.800
 as imperfect teachers,

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:31.420
 us,

00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.599
 to do the same?

00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:33.880
 Also,

00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:34.659
 note that

00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:36.000
 the task at hand here

00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.659
 is not simply

00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:37.259
 to teach

00:35:37.259 --> 00:35:38.460
 all that Jesus commanded,

00:35:39.079 --> 00:35:39.639
 while that is

00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.460
 a daunting task

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.380
 in and of itself,

00:35:41.759 --> 00:35:42.299
 but He says

00:35:42.299 --> 00:35:43.599
 teach them to observe

00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.799
 or to obey

00:35:44.799 --> 00:35:46.460
 all that I've commanded.

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.159
 And this takes a lot.

00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:49.039
 It takes devotion,

00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:49.699
 relationship,

00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.360
 love,

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.360
 counsel,

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.719
 and yes,

00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:54.079
 it takes teaching.

00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:55.500
 Now,

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.019
 of course,

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.699
 the power to do this

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:59.779
 is not in ourselves,

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.199
 right?

00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:00.779
 We know

00:36:00.779 --> 00:36:01.500
 that the Spirit

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.500
 has to work

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:02.940
 in the lives

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.320
 of others

00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:04.019
 to do it,

00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:05.420
 but God

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.159
 works through

00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:06.599
 His people

00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.199
 to accomplish

00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.860
 His purposes.

00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:09.260
 He doesn't need us

00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:09.820
 to do this,

00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:10.699
 but He has chosen

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.500
 to invite us

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.139
 into the work

00:36:12.139 --> 00:36:12.920
 that He's doing

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:13.559
 in this world,

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.619
 so He calls us

00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:15.579
 to teach.

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:17.119
 Fourthly,

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:17.639
 we teach

00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:19.139
 through personal evangelism.

00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:20.840
 You can listen

00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:21.340
 to this one.

00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:22.880
 2 Corinthians 2,

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:24.519
 15-17 says,

00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:26.059
 We're the aroma

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.519
 of Christ to God

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.400
 among those

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.340
 who are being saved

00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:30.360
 and among those

00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:31.000
 who are perishing.

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.039
 To one,

00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:32.539
 a fragrance

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.579
 from death to death,

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.460
 to the other,

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:34.940
 a fragrance

00:36:34.940 --> 00:36:36.079
 from life to life.

00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.539
 Who is sufficient

00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:38.500
 for these things?

00:36:39.079 --> 00:36:39.820
 For we are not

00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:40.519
 like so many

00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:41.119
 peddlers

00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:42.099
 of God's Word,

00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.079
 but as men

00:36:43.079 --> 00:36:43.760
 of sincerity

00:36:43.760 --> 00:36:44.420
 as commissioned

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.119
 by God

00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:46.099
 in the sight

00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:46.659
 of God,

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.659
 we speak

00:36:47.659 --> 00:36:48.780
 in Christ.

00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:50.400
 So it flows

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:51.420
 out of us.

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.440
 We speak

00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.219
 in Christ,

00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:53.800
 commissioned

00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:54.480
 by God

00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:55.380
 in the sight

00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:55.960
 of God

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.820
 to believers

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:58.059
 and to unbelievers.

00:36:58.059 --> 00:37:00.079
 And lastly,

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:01.400
 a way,

00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:01.860
 these aren't

00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:03.119
 necessarily all the ways,

00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:03.639
 but a way

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:04.340
 that we teach

00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.639
 is through parenting.

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.340
 So I quoted

00:37:07.340 --> 00:37:08.400
 earlier from

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:08.920
 the Shema

00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:10.440
 in Deuteronomy 6,

00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:11.259
 4-5,

00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.559
 and I'd like to read

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.159
 that again

00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:13.820
 and go on

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.759
 through verse 9

00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:15.539
 to demonstrate

00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.119
 this point.

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:16.900
 You're welcome

00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.460
 to turn there.

00:37:17.579 --> 00:37:18.159
 You don't have to.

00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:19.820
 Pretty straightforward.

00:37:19.820 --> 00:37:22.640
 It says,

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.580
 Deuteronomy 6,

00:37:23.800 --> 00:37:24.640
 starting in verse 4,

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.940
 Hear, O Israel,

00:37:26.080 --> 00:37:26.580
 the Lord,

00:37:26.700 --> 00:37:27.400
 our God,

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.420
 the Lord is one.

00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:29.780
 You shall love

00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:30.559
 the Lord your God

00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:31.420
 with all your heart,

00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.340
 with all your soul,

00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:33.340
 and with all your might.

00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:34.600
 And these words

00:37:34.600 --> 00:37:35.140
 that I command

00:37:35.140 --> 00:37:35.700
 to you today

00:37:35.700 --> 00:37:36.300
 shall be

00:37:36.300 --> 00:37:37.519
 on your heart.

00:37:38.100 --> 00:37:38.960
 You shall teach them

00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:40.100
 diligently to your children

00:37:40.100 --> 00:37:41.260
 and talk of them

00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:42.340
 when you sit in your house

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:43.080
 and when you walk

00:37:43.080 --> 00:37:43.680
 by the way

00:37:43.680 --> 00:37:44.780
 and when you lie down

00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:45.620
 and when you rise.

00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:46.900
 You shall bind them

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:48.000
 as a sign on your hand

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:48.940
 and they shall be

00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:49.559
 as frontlets

00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.500
 between your eyes.

00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:51.639
 You shall write them

00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:52.360
 on the doorposts

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:52.960
 of your house

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:54.199
 and on your gates.

00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:56.099
 Each of the above,

00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:56.659
 rebuking,

00:37:56.799 --> 00:37:57.199
 admonishing,

00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:57.739
 encouraging,

00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:58.239
 counseling,

00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:58.719
 preaching,

00:37:58.900 --> 00:37:59.480
 evangelizing,

00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:00.279
 and discipling

00:38:00.279 --> 00:38:01.639
 are first and foremost

00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:02.179
 to be done

00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:03.279
 with our kids,

00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:05.539
 those in our immediate context.

00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:07.079
 And as God teaches here

00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:07.599
 through Moses,

00:38:07.799 --> 00:38:08.799
 teaching isn't merely

00:38:08.799 --> 00:38:09.799
 an event.

00:38:10.259 --> 00:38:11.199
 It's not that you're moving

00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:12.340
 from one teaching event

00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:13.559
 to the next teaching event,

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.460
 but it's something

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:16.139
 that happens on the way

00:38:16.139 --> 00:38:17.159
 as you're going.

00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:18.420
 And to get to this point,

00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:19.519
 you've got to believe

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.039
 it first.

00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:20.880
 We read earlier

00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:23.000
 in 2 Corinthians 2

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.460
 that we are not

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.360
 peddlers,

00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:27.440
 but we are those

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:28.679
 who are men

00:38:28.679 --> 00:38:29.920
 of sincerity,

00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:30.860
 which means

00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:31.519
 we've got to believe

00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:32.219
 it for ourselves.

00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:33.139
 We've got to hear it

00:38:33.139 --> 00:38:33.980
 right first,

00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:35.159
 and then we're able

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:36.219
 to teach it

00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:37.199
 to others.

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:38.480
 So God's people

00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.239
 were always meant

00:38:39.239 --> 00:38:40.119
 to be teaching people

00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:40.679
 in this way.

00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:41.400
 Israel,

00:38:41.619 --> 00:38:42.380
 a light to the nations

00:38:42.380 --> 00:38:43.019
 around them,

00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:44.179
 and now the church,

00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:45.420
 a light to one another

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.219
 and to the world

00:38:46.219 --> 00:38:47.239
 around us.

00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:48.379
 The salvation

00:38:48.379 --> 00:38:48.959
 that you have

00:38:48.959 --> 00:38:49.439
 been given

00:38:49.439 --> 00:38:50.519
 was not merely

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.419
 for you to know

00:38:51.419 --> 00:38:52.339
 and to enjoy God,

00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:53.599
 but for you to become

00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:54.859
 the means by which

00:38:54.859 --> 00:38:56.159
 God works in the lives

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:56.719
 of others.

00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:57.959
 As we often say,

00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.779
 God doesn't need us

00:38:58.779 --> 00:38:59.799
 to accomplish this work,

00:38:59.799 --> 00:39:00.479
 but has chosen

00:39:00.479 --> 00:39:01.099
 to use this

00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:02.199
 as the way for others

00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:02.919
 to learn about

00:39:02.919 --> 00:39:03.619
 who He is

00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:04.939
 and what He has done

00:39:04.939 --> 00:39:06.079
 in creating the world

00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:07.339
 and saving the people

00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:08.259
 for His own possession

00:39:08.259 --> 00:39:09.459
 that He might dwell

00:39:09.459 --> 00:39:10.559
 with them forever.

00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:12.139
 So how are you

00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:13.340
 teaching the people

00:39:13.340 --> 00:39:13.960
 around you?

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.599
 Do you meet with someone

00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:16.059
 in the church

00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:17.079
 on a regular basis,

00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:18.440
 both to teach

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.239
 and to be taught

00:39:19.239 --> 00:39:20.380
 by sharing your struggles

00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:21.320
 and sharing how God

00:39:21.320 --> 00:39:22.279
 is working with your life?

00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:23.460
 Are you seeking

00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:24.460
 to build relationships

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:25.259
 with unbelievers

00:39:25.259 --> 00:39:26.000
 so you can share

00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:26.480
 the good news

00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:27.039
 of the gospel?

00:39:27.619 --> 00:39:28.559
 Are you intentional

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.920
 in your parenting

00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:32.079
 and in family worship

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:33.360
 and with conversations

00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:34.000
 with family?

00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:35.239
 Do you seek

00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:36.420
 close enough friendships

00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:37.299
 with other believers

00:39:37.299 --> 00:39:38.799
 so you can speak truth

00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:39.579
 into their lives

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.719
 that brings encouragement

00:39:40.719 --> 00:39:41.759
 or counsel

00:39:41.759 --> 00:39:42.519
 or correction

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.199
 when needed?

00:39:43.799 --> 00:39:44.759
 While some of these things

00:39:44.759 --> 00:39:45.799
 are certainly easier

00:39:45.799 --> 00:39:47.139
 in some stages of life

00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:47.960
 than others,

00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:49.119
 I fear that we often

00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.059
 excuse ourselves

00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:51.480
 entirely from our role

00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:52.340
 as teachers

00:39:52.340 --> 00:39:53.619
 and neglect the work

00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:54.799
 God has given us

00:39:54.799 --> 00:39:55.299
 in the church

00:39:55.299 --> 00:39:56.500
 and in the world around us.

00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:58.039
 We may fall short

00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:58.860
 in this area

00:39:58.860 --> 00:40:00.059
 because we haven't

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:00.799
 prioritized it

00:40:00.799 --> 00:40:01.380
 in our lives.

00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.139
 We may fear

00:40:02.139 --> 00:40:03.259
 losing social equity

00:40:03.259 --> 00:40:04.319
 in the eyes of others.

00:40:04.799 --> 00:40:05.840
 We may be doubting

00:40:05.840 --> 00:40:07.159
 the sufficiency of God

00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:07.980
 to work in

00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.719
 and through you

00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:09.719
 in the lives of others

00:40:09.719 --> 00:40:11.019
 or we may simply

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:12.000
 be too selfish

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:12.939
 with our time.

00:40:13.359 --> 00:40:14.619
 Like the Hebrew church,

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:16.079
 we may not be teaching

00:40:16.079 --> 00:40:17.000
 because we need

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.779
 to grow up

00:40:17.779 --> 00:40:19.019
 in the cheersome

00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:19.839
 in our relationship

00:40:19.839 --> 00:40:20.980
 with the Lord.

00:40:21.279 --> 00:40:21.919
 So join me

00:40:21.919 --> 00:40:22.619
 as we look at our

00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:23.339
 last main point

00:40:23.339 --> 00:40:24.339
 together in the text.

00:40:24.919 --> 00:40:25.539
 Point C,

00:40:25.939 --> 00:40:27.019
 the call to grow.

00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:29.739
 Second part of verse 12,

00:40:30.419 --> 00:40:33.019
 really looking at 6.1.

00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:34.279
 So turn back to Hebrews

00:40:34.280 --> 00:40:35.620
 if you're not there.

00:40:43.080 --> 00:40:43.880
 I'll go ahead and read

00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:44.380
 verse 11

00:40:44.380 --> 00:40:45.580
 to get the full picture.

00:40:47.120 --> 00:40:47.580
 It says,

00:40:47.640 --> 00:40:48.300
 About this we have

00:40:48.300 --> 00:40:48.980
 much to say

00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:50.300
 and it is hard to explain

00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:51.620
 since you have become

00:40:51.620 --> 00:40:52.280
 dull of hearing.

00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:54.000
 For though by this time

00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:54.980
 you ought to be teachers,

00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:56.100
 you need someone

00:40:56.100 --> 00:40:57.120
 to teach you again

00:40:57.120 --> 00:40:58.180
 the basic principles

00:40:58.180 --> 00:40:59.740
 of the oracles of God.

00:41:00.280 --> 00:41:01.300
 You need milk,

00:41:01.380 --> 00:41:02.400
 not solid food.

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:03.920
 For everyone who lives

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:05.220
 on milk is unskilled

00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:06.119
 in the word of righteousness

00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:07.740
 since he is a child.

00:41:08.300 --> 00:41:09.240
 But solid food is

00:41:09.240 --> 00:41:09.840
 for the mature,

00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:11.099
 for those who have

00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:12.860
 their powers of discernment

00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:14.139
 trained by constant practice

00:41:14.139 --> 00:41:15.079
 to distinguish good

00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:15.539
 from evil.

00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:16.700
 Therefore,

00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:17.539
 let us leave

00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:18.460
 the elementary doctrine

00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:19.039
 of Christ

00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:20.960
 and go on to maturity.

00:41:22.160 --> 00:41:22.539
 So,

00:41:22.700 --> 00:41:23.980
 looking at the call to grow,

00:41:24.099 --> 00:41:25.360
 I have three more

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:26.460
 sub-points for you

00:41:26.460 --> 00:41:27.760
 if you're taking notes.

00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:28.760
 First,

00:41:28.860 --> 00:41:29.780
 and I'll go through these again

00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:30.340
 as we're going.

00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:32.119
 The Hebrew is growth,

00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:33.619
 secondly,

00:41:33.900 --> 00:41:35.139
 the assumption of growth,

00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:35.579
 generally,

00:41:36.260 --> 00:41:37.099
 and thirdly,

00:41:37.180 --> 00:41:38.000
 the means of growth.

00:41:39.680 --> 00:41:40.160
 So,

00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:40.920
 there are a few

00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:41.800
 reasonable ways

00:41:41.800 --> 00:41:42.539
 to interpret

00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:43.500
 this section

00:41:43.500 --> 00:41:44.400
 of our text.

00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:45.360
 And generally,

00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:46.559
 commentators disagree

00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:47.539
 on what the nature

00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:48.480
 of the Hebrews problem

00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:49.059
 is

00:41:49.059 --> 00:41:50.139
 and their lack

00:41:50.139 --> 00:41:50.740
 of maturity.

00:41:51.480 --> 00:41:52.160
 Some believe

00:41:52.160 --> 00:41:52.700
 that the author

00:41:52.700 --> 00:41:53.980
 is addressing unbelievers

00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:54.920
 who have made their way

00:41:54.920 --> 00:41:55.740
 into the church,

00:41:56.160 --> 00:41:57.380
 here from verse 11

00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:58.720
 through chapter 6-8,

00:41:59.099 --> 00:42:00.320
 and then changes audiences,

00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:01.500
 transitioning back

00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:02.820
 to speaking to true believers.

00:42:03.780 --> 00:42:04.219
 Secondly,

00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:05.219
 and more commonly,

00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:06.719
 some read this text

00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:07.440
 like the author

00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:08.079
 as saying

00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.920
 that the Hebrews

00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:10.039
 had believed the gospel

00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:11.139
 but had basically

00:42:11.139 --> 00:42:12.900
 stagnated at that point.

00:42:13.940 --> 00:42:14.940
 According to this reading,

00:42:15.019 --> 00:42:16.099
 the appropriate response

00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:16.639
 would then be

00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:17.320
 to go over

00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:18.320
 the basic truths

00:42:18.320 --> 00:42:18.820
 of the gospel

00:42:18.820 --> 00:42:19.480
 and to feed them

00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:20.239
 spiritual milk.

00:42:20.840 --> 00:42:21.820
 But this isn't really

00:42:21.820 --> 00:42:22.820
 what the author does.

00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:24.300
 While these readings

00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:25.099
 are possible,

00:42:25.539 --> 00:42:26.219
 based off of the

00:42:26.219 --> 00:42:26.980
 surrounding verses

00:42:26.980 --> 00:42:28.099
 and the general context

00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:28.900
 of the Hebrew church,

00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.400
 some of which

00:42:29.400 --> 00:42:30.099
 we've touched on,

00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:31.139
 I believe the most

00:42:31.139 --> 00:42:32.000
 reasonable approach

00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:33.200
 to understanding the text

00:42:33.200 --> 00:42:34.559
 goes something like this.

00:42:35.220 --> 00:42:36.480
 Though you should be teachers

00:42:36.480 --> 00:42:37.360
 and are ready

00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:38.300
 for solid food,

00:42:38.680 --> 00:42:39.260
 you have begun

00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:40.260
 to live as infants

00:42:40.260 --> 00:42:41.119
 in need of milk.

00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:43.019
 So instead of seeing

00:42:43.019 --> 00:42:43.599
 Hebrews

00:42:43.599 --> 00:42:45.220
 as the Hebrews

00:42:45.220 --> 00:42:46.480
 as having never matured,

00:42:46.720 --> 00:42:47.460
 I believe the text

00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:48.460
 and surrounding context

00:42:48.460 --> 00:42:49.559
 supports the position

00:42:49.559 --> 00:42:51.240
 that they have deviated

00:42:51.240 --> 00:42:52.800
 from the initial course

00:42:52.800 --> 00:42:53.920
 that they were on

00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:55.700
 and have four basic reasons

00:42:55.700 --> 00:42:57.119
 for why that's the case

00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:58.139
 really quickly.

00:42:59.199 --> 00:42:59.819
 So firstly,

00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:00.659
 as we said,

00:43:00.739 --> 00:43:01.719
 the author responds

00:43:01.719 --> 00:43:02.539
 with solid food

00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:03.900
 and not milk.

00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:05.420
 Commentator William Lane

00:43:05.420 --> 00:43:06.059
 mentioned earlier

00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:06.500
 points,

00:43:06.799 --> 00:43:07.779
 puts it this way.

00:43:08.159 --> 00:43:08.639
 He says,

00:43:08.739 --> 00:43:09.799
 it is commonly assumed

00:43:09.799 --> 00:43:10.400
 on the basis

00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:11.279
 of this passage

00:43:11.279 --> 00:43:12.440
 that the community

00:43:12.440 --> 00:43:13.059
 addressed

00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:14.359
 had failed to mature

00:43:14.359 --> 00:43:15.579
 in faith and understanding

00:43:15.579 --> 00:43:16.719
 and consequently

00:43:16.719 --> 00:43:18.259
 required rudimentary

00:43:18.259 --> 00:43:18.859
 instruction

00:43:18.859 --> 00:43:19.960
 rather than

00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:21.299
 the advanced

00:43:21.299 --> 00:43:22.199
 exposition

00:43:22.199 --> 00:43:23.539
 of Christ's priesthood

00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:24.179
 and sacrifice

00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:25.119
 presented in the rest

00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:25.579
 of the sermon.

00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:26.880
 The problem

00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:27.759
 with this reconstruction

00:43:27.759 --> 00:43:28.559
 of the situation

00:43:28.559 --> 00:43:30.319
 is that it is not

00:43:30.319 --> 00:43:31.239
 supported by the detail

00:43:31.239 --> 00:43:31.799
 of the text.

00:43:32.259 --> 00:43:33.860
 The author presupposes

00:43:33.860 --> 00:43:35.440
 advanced Christian instruction

00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:37.279
 and shows no inclination

00:43:37.279 --> 00:43:38.960
 to review with his hearers

00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:40.139
 the foundational elements

00:43:40.139 --> 00:43:41.679
 of the Christian faith.

00:43:42.579 --> 00:43:42.920
 So,

00:43:43.159 --> 00:43:43.940
 in other words,

00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:46.259
 if they really needed milk,

00:43:46.319 --> 00:43:47.400
 if he's literally saying,

00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:48.279
 this is kind of

00:43:48.279 --> 00:43:49.440
 where you guys are at,

00:43:49.799 --> 00:43:50.539
 then why doesn't

00:43:50.539 --> 00:43:51.319
 he give it to them?

00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:52.139
 He responds

00:43:52.139 --> 00:43:52.960
 with solid food.

00:43:53.059 --> 00:43:54.319
 He's been giving them

00:43:54.319 --> 00:43:55.460
 solid food so far,

00:43:55.579 --> 00:43:56.340
 and then continues

00:43:56.340 --> 00:43:57.039
 to give them

00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:57.940
 solid food.

00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:58.920
 These are not basics.

00:43:59.279 --> 00:43:59.639
 Again,

00:43:59.759 --> 00:44:01.039
 the highest form of Greek,

00:44:01.360 --> 00:44:02.619
 he's not giving them milk.

00:44:02.900 --> 00:44:04.079
 He doesn't take the time

00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:05.000
 to walk them through

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:05.619
 the basics

00:44:05.619 --> 00:44:06.699
 of the gospel.

00:44:07.019 --> 00:44:07.139
 So,

00:44:07.139 --> 00:44:07.639
 that's reason one.

00:44:07.880 --> 00:44:08.460
 If this is true,

00:44:08.519 --> 00:44:09.739
 the problem was not

00:44:09.739 --> 00:44:10.860
 with their diet,

00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:11.440
 per se,

00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:13.299
 but with the digestion

00:44:13.299 --> 00:44:14.299
 of the diet.

00:44:14.639 --> 00:44:15.559
 They had the information

00:44:15.559 --> 00:44:16.039
 they needed,

00:44:16.139 --> 00:44:16.559
 but they weren't

00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:17.500
 putting it into practice.

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:19.159
 They had become

00:44:19.159 --> 00:44:20.579
 dull of hearing,

00:44:20.940 --> 00:44:21.819
 but they weren't always.

00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:22.220
 Secondly,

00:44:23.660 --> 00:44:24.140
 they had already

00:44:24.140 --> 00:44:25.300
 demonstrated maturity

00:44:25.300 --> 00:44:26.440
 through the endurance

00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:27.400
 of suffering.

00:44:27.720 --> 00:44:27.880
 So,

00:44:27.980 --> 00:44:29.260
 he speaks in the past tense

00:44:29.260 --> 00:44:30.160
 in Hebrews 10,

00:44:30.680 --> 00:44:31.980
 32-33,

00:44:32.160 --> 00:44:32.400
 he says,

00:44:32.580 --> 00:44:33.940
 recall the former days

00:44:33.940 --> 00:44:35.160
 when after you were

00:44:35.160 --> 00:44:35.600
 enlightened,

00:44:36.100 --> 00:44:36.920
 you endured a hard

00:44:36.920 --> 00:44:38.100
 struggle with sufferings,

00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:39.340
 and sometimes being

00:44:39.340 --> 00:44:40.240
 publicly exposed

00:44:40.240 --> 00:44:41.220
 to reproach

00:44:41.220 --> 00:44:41.800
 and affliction,

00:44:42.180 --> 00:44:43.160
 and sometimes being

00:44:43.160 --> 00:44:44.580
 partners with those

00:44:44.580 --> 00:44:45.100
 so treated.

00:44:45.099 --> 00:44:45.779
 So,

00:44:45.980 --> 00:44:47.319
 they're pretty mature

00:44:47.319 --> 00:44:47.819
 if they're able

00:44:47.819 --> 00:44:48.619
 not only to suffer

00:44:48.619 --> 00:44:49.299
 for their faith,

00:44:49.619 --> 00:44:50.819
 but like tie themselves

00:44:50.819 --> 00:44:51.819
 to other people

00:44:51.819 --> 00:44:53.199
 who are suffering.

00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:54.400
 Thirdly,

00:44:54.500 --> 00:44:55.239
 they had demonstrated

00:44:55.239 --> 00:44:56.980
 maturity through hope

00:44:56.980 --> 00:44:58.659
 in a better abiding

00:44:58.659 --> 00:44:59.219
 possession,

00:44:59.519 --> 00:45:00.639
 being the hope

00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:01.699
 that they had in Christ.

00:45:02.259 --> 00:45:02.579
 So,

00:45:02.739 --> 00:45:03.360
 continuing on

00:45:03.360 --> 00:45:04.159
 Hebrews 10,

00:45:04.659 --> 00:45:05.559
 verse 34,

00:45:05.759 --> 00:45:06.179
 he says,

00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:07.839
 for you had compassion

00:45:07.839 --> 00:45:08.799
 on those in prison,

00:45:09.219 --> 00:45:10.239
 and you joyfully

00:45:10.239 --> 00:45:11.519
 accepted the plundering

00:45:11.519 --> 00:45:12.239
 of your property,

00:45:12.639 --> 00:45:13.339
 since you knew

00:45:13.339 --> 00:45:14.299
 that you yourselves

00:45:14.300 --> 00:45:15.360
 had a better possession

00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:16.700
 and an abiding one.

00:45:17.400 --> 00:45:17.760
 Therefore,

00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:18.680
 do not throw away

00:45:18.680 --> 00:45:19.200
 your confidence,

00:45:19.640 --> 00:45:21.100
 which has great reward,

00:45:21.460 --> 00:45:22.220
 for you have need

00:45:22.220 --> 00:45:22.820
 of endurance,

00:45:23.140 --> 00:45:23.920
 so that when you have

00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:24.920
 done the will of God,

00:45:25.160 --> 00:45:26.180
 you may receive

00:45:26.180 --> 00:45:27.280
 what is promised.

00:45:27.680 --> 00:45:27.920
 So,

00:45:28.019 --> 00:45:28.300
 again,

00:45:28.680 --> 00:45:30.000
 joyfully accepting

00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:30.760
 the plundering

00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:31.580
 of their property

00:45:31.580 --> 00:45:32.780
 because they were

00:45:32.780 --> 00:45:34.160
 looking to a better

00:45:34.160 --> 00:45:34.720
 possession.

00:45:36.100 --> 00:45:36.280
 Okay,

00:45:36.680 --> 00:45:37.960
 reason number four,

00:45:38.100 --> 00:45:38.640
 they had already

00:45:38.640 --> 00:45:39.820
 demonstrated maturity

00:45:39.820 --> 00:45:40.920
 through love

00:45:40.920 --> 00:45:41.960
 and through service.

00:45:42.160 --> 00:45:42.320
 So,

00:45:42.680 --> 00:45:44.280
 the next bookend

00:45:44.280 --> 00:45:45.100
 on this section,

00:45:45.320 --> 00:45:45.519
 again,

00:45:45.600 --> 00:45:46.780
 is Hebrews chapter 12.

00:45:47.320 --> 00:45:47.500
 So,

00:45:47.560 --> 00:45:48.140
 I'll read,

00:45:48.240 --> 00:45:49.080
 and you can turn there

00:45:49.080 --> 00:45:49.980
 if you're not already there.

00:45:50.140 --> 00:45:51.140
 It's just a page for you.

00:45:51.600 --> 00:45:52.320
 Hebrews 6,

00:45:52.420 --> 00:45:53.240
 10 through 12.

00:45:59.240 --> 00:45:59.820
 It says,

00:46:00.260 --> 00:46:01.320
 God is not unjust

00:46:01.320 --> 00:46:02.220
 so as to overlook

00:46:02.220 --> 00:46:02.960
 your work

00:46:02.960 --> 00:46:03.740
 and the love

00:46:03.740 --> 00:46:04.140
 that you have

00:46:04.140 --> 00:46:05.280
 shown for his name

00:46:05.280 --> 00:46:06.280
 in serving the saints

00:46:06.280 --> 00:46:07.160
 as you still do.

00:46:07.740 --> 00:46:08.260
 And we desire

00:46:08.260 --> 00:46:08.860
 each of you

00:46:08.860 --> 00:46:09.680
 to show the same

00:46:09.680 --> 00:46:10.340
 earnestness

00:46:10.340 --> 00:46:11.000
 to have the full

00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:11.780
 assurance of hope

00:46:11.780 --> 00:46:12.539
 until the end

00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:13.580
 so that

00:46:13.580 --> 00:46:14.800
 you may not be sluggish

00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:16.000
 but imitators

00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:16.580
 of those

00:46:16.580 --> 00:46:17.580
 who through faith

00:46:17.580 --> 00:46:18.340
 and patience

00:46:18.340 --> 00:46:19.800
 inherit the promises.

00:46:20.760 --> 00:46:22.960
 So as we've established in our study in the Hebrews,

00:46:23.539 --> 00:46:28.320
 these believers are under constant temptation to practice the culturally acceptable version of religion

00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:32.420
 instead of an uncompromising, obedient life devoted to God and His work.

00:46:33.080 --> 00:46:36.900
 The author is constantly reminding them of the hope that they were once holding on to,

00:46:37.220 --> 00:46:38.840
 but now seems to be slipping away.

00:46:39.500 --> 00:46:42.019
 He's saying to them in the midst of this constant temptation,

00:46:42.420 --> 00:46:46.120
 Stay strong. You have already endured so much. Keep enduring.

00:46:46.759 --> 00:46:50.880
 Don't give in now. Don't forgive the hope to which you once clung so closely.

00:46:51.480 --> 00:46:55.000
 Finish the race. Keep the faith. Stay the course.

00:46:55.639 --> 00:46:59.099
 The Hebrews needed this encouragement, and some of us need to hear it this morning.

00:46:59.639 --> 00:47:03.380
 They needed to be reminded of the way that they had once held on to hope so closely

00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:06.380
 and the fruit of righteousness that had produced in their lives

00:47:06.380 --> 00:47:10.880
 to the point where they were joyfully accepting the plundering of their property.

00:47:11.900 --> 00:47:15.779
 As we often do, they needed to remember the hope that they had in Christ

00:47:15.780 --> 00:47:21.760
 to stand before God as sons looking forward to the abiding city He has made for His people.

00:47:23.440 --> 00:47:24.300
 Okay, next.

00:47:25.140 --> 00:47:29.880
 In the call to grow, sub-point two, the assumption of growth.

00:47:30.660 --> 00:47:32.500
 So this is growth generally.

00:47:32.720 --> 00:47:34.340
 The assumption of growth.

00:47:35.019 --> 00:47:40.519
 Note the author's tone in the way that he speaks of maturing in the faith.

00:47:40.600 --> 00:47:42.940
 It's the same that he is saying about teaching.

00:47:42.940 --> 00:47:45.260
 He's expecting them to grow.

00:47:45.579 --> 00:47:46.679
 It's not an option.

00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:47.760
 It's an expectation.

00:47:48.440 --> 00:47:52.780
 And as we're teaching, sanctification, becoming more and more like Christ

00:47:52.780 --> 00:47:54.840
 as we are in longer relationship with Him,

00:47:55.139 --> 00:47:57.980
 is not reserved for a select few serious Christians,

00:47:58.500 --> 00:48:00.019
 those who want to get plugged in,

00:48:00.500 --> 00:48:02.980
 but it is a normative part of the Christian life

00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:07.619
 and an indicator of the genuine nature of one's faith.

00:48:07.619 --> 00:48:13.239
 2 Corinthians 3, verse 18 says,

00:48:13.739 --> 00:48:16.980
 And we, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,

00:48:17.380 --> 00:48:20.219
 are being transformed into the same image,

00:48:20.539 --> 00:48:22.480
 from one degree of glory to another.

00:48:22.839 --> 00:48:25.659
 For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

00:48:26.139 --> 00:48:30.420
 So believers, every believer is being transformed to be more like Christ.

00:48:31.059 --> 00:48:32.259
 The negative of this statement.

00:48:32.659 --> 00:48:33.940
 If you aren't being transformed,

00:48:34.420 --> 00:48:36.420
 then it's possible you may not be a believer.

00:48:36.420 --> 00:48:39.980
 Now, this doesn't mean that if you've had a bad week or a bad month,

00:48:40.400 --> 00:48:42.639
 that you are all of a sudden no longer a believer.

00:48:43.260 --> 00:48:46.480
 The Christian life is a life of endurance through these ups and downs,

00:48:46.920 --> 00:48:48.599
 trusting that even though you don't feel,

00:48:48.820 --> 00:48:50.519
 you may not feel like you're growing in the moment,

00:48:51.000 --> 00:48:53.740
 that you continue to seek and obey that God,

00:48:54.139 --> 00:48:56.920
 or seek and obey, trust that God is growing you,

00:48:57.200 --> 00:48:59.960
 and that He will finish the work that He started in you.

00:49:00.519 --> 00:49:02.980
 Remember, the Hebrews themselves had stopped growing.

00:49:02.980 --> 00:49:06.800
 They had stopped applying the truth that they had once held on to.

00:49:07.340 --> 00:49:10.340
 And while the warnings and the rebukes were certainly warranted,

00:49:10.699 --> 00:49:13.260
 the author held out continued hope for this church.

00:49:13.740 --> 00:49:17.139
 If you read through Hebrews,

00:49:17.800 --> 00:49:23.240
 the warnings and even this rebuke are kind in so many ways.

00:49:23.239 --> 00:49:25.039
 There's a warning,

00:49:25.459 --> 00:49:27.500
 and then He assures them,

00:49:27.919 --> 00:49:30.599
 but I've seen these things in you already.

00:49:30.799 --> 00:49:32.099
 So there's like the warning,

00:49:32.419 --> 00:49:36.379
 and the point backward to the way that the Spirit was once working in them.

00:49:36.679 --> 00:49:41.159
 And so there's this kindness in the way that He gives these rebukes.

00:49:41.539 --> 00:49:42.739
 There's hope that's there,

00:49:42.899 --> 00:49:44.679
 but the point still stands,

00:49:44.879 --> 00:49:47.899
 that the trajectory of our life will have its downs,

00:49:48.019 --> 00:49:51.779
 but should generally be trending towards Christlikeness.

00:49:51.780 --> 00:49:53.680
 So, in your life,

00:49:53.740 --> 00:49:55.920
 when you look back on the past six months,

00:49:56.000 --> 00:49:57.000
 or the past year,

00:49:57.160 --> 00:49:57.620
 or two,

00:49:57.820 --> 00:49:58.880
 or five,

00:49:59.260 --> 00:50:00.460
 or a couple decades,

00:50:01.019 --> 00:50:03.840
 do you see yourself being transformed into the image of Christ,

00:50:04.120 --> 00:50:06.860
 or do you basically see yourself stagnant,

00:50:07.180 --> 00:50:07.700
 the same?

00:50:08.360 --> 00:50:09.400
 And again,

00:50:09.920 --> 00:50:11.340
 sometimes it feels this way.

00:50:11.500 --> 00:50:14.920
 Sometimes it feels like we haven't grown in a while,

00:50:14.920 --> 00:50:17.420
 but as we seek and trust in the Lord,

00:50:17.760 --> 00:50:19.920
 He transforms us to the image of His Son.

00:50:19.920 --> 00:50:22.320
 So thirdly,

00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:23.820
 the means of growth,

00:50:23.940 --> 00:50:24.820
 answering the question,

00:50:25.039 --> 00:50:26.460
 how then do we grow?

00:50:27.200 --> 00:50:28.039
 Very simply,

00:50:28.619 --> 00:50:29.280
 the consumption,

00:50:29.760 --> 00:50:30.180
 digestion,

00:50:30.519 --> 00:50:32.539
 and use of the right food.

00:50:33.820 --> 00:50:35.599
 So we saw from our study today,

00:50:35.680 --> 00:50:37.800
 how the content of what we take in matters,

00:50:38.180 --> 00:50:40.380
 but so does the way that we treat this content.

00:50:40.940 --> 00:50:41.659
 As believers,

00:50:41.880 --> 00:50:44.139
 we grow when we receive the truth of God's Word,

00:50:44.139 --> 00:50:45.559
 and apply it to our lives,

00:50:46.039 --> 00:50:48.059
 through believing He who said it,

00:50:48.359 --> 00:50:51.379
 and therefore obeying that which we have received.

00:50:51.940 --> 00:50:52.879
 So first,

00:50:53.099 --> 00:50:56.219
 we remind ourselves often of the milk.

00:50:56.699 --> 00:50:57.980
 We remind ourselves,

00:50:58.139 --> 00:51:02.359
 regularly consume the basic reality of the gospel,

00:51:02.980 --> 00:51:03.579
 this milk.

00:51:04.139 --> 00:51:06.599
 We daily speak to ourselves and to one another,

00:51:06.679 --> 00:51:10.639
 the fact that God created this world by speaking it into existence,

00:51:10.639 --> 00:51:11.739
 that He's holy,

00:51:11.879 --> 00:51:13.639
 totally separate from sin,

00:51:13.759 --> 00:51:17.679
 that He designed humanity with a purpose to obey Him,

00:51:17.719 --> 00:51:19.379
 and to submit to Him as their Creator,

00:51:19.819 --> 00:51:21.759
 and each one of us rebelled,

00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:24.400
 and decided that we knew better than Him,

00:51:24.719 --> 00:51:26.420
 that our version of right and wrong,

00:51:26.519 --> 00:51:28.400
 was more suitable for our lives,

00:51:28.699 --> 00:51:29.579
 than His version.

00:51:30.420 --> 00:51:34.019
 This sin separated us from God eternally,

00:51:34.319 --> 00:51:35.839
 making us enemies of God,

00:51:36.239 --> 00:51:38.759
 worthy of eternal spiritual death,

00:51:38.760 --> 00:51:40.120
 and physical death.

00:51:40.560 --> 00:51:42.440
 And this was our deserved status,

00:51:42.580 --> 00:51:44.300
 what we bought with our sin.

00:51:44.680 --> 00:51:46.700
 Then out of nothing that we could ever do,

00:51:46.940 --> 00:51:49.480
 out of no good thing that He saw on us,

00:51:49.540 --> 00:51:50.580
 or merit of our own,

00:51:50.680 --> 00:51:53.780
 God sent His Son Christ to be the substitute in our place,

00:51:54.140 --> 00:51:55.940
 to live a perfectly sinless life,

00:51:56.300 --> 00:51:57.900
 to then bear the wrath of God,

00:51:58.280 --> 00:52:00.160
 the punishment that we deserved.

00:52:00.820 --> 00:52:01.780
 Christ died,

00:52:02.240 --> 00:52:04.420
 rose three days later in accordance with the Scriptures,

00:52:05.060 --> 00:52:07.380
 and is now exalted on high with the Father,

00:52:07.380 --> 00:52:09.740
 until the day when He returns for His bride.

00:52:10.180 --> 00:52:11.400
 Us, His people,

00:52:11.820 --> 00:52:14.079
 those who have placed their faith in these truths,

00:52:14.160 --> 00:52:15.940
 and have turned away from their sin,

00:52:16.380 --> 00:52:18.579
 seeking instead to obey God's commands,

00:52:19.099 --> 00:52:20.680
 and now await His return.

00:52:21.240 --> 00:52:22.619
 So this is our spiritual milk.

00:52:22.780 --> 00:52:23.780
 This is the basics.

00:52:24.160 --> 00:52:25.720
 And if there are any of you in this room,

00:52:26.039 --> 00:52:27.619
 who haven't turned from their sin,

00:52:27.720 --> 00:52:30.360
 and begun to pursue right relationship with God,

00:52:30.760 --> 00:52:31.980
 through a life of obedience,

00:52:32.800 --> 00:52:34.720
 don't harden your hearts this morning,

00:52:34.719 --> 00:52:37.319
 place your faith in Christ today.

00:52:39.219 --> 00:52:42.759
 Secondly, we grow by seeking after solid food.

00:52:43.500 --> 00:52:46.559
 The solid food is the deep truths of God.

00:52:47.419 --> 00:52:48.919
 God gave us brains,

00:52:49.119 --> 00:52:51.500
 so that we could understand and process a great deal.

00:52:52.259 --> 00:52:55.639
 And the more we're able to understand the nature and the character of God,

00:52:55.879 --> 00:52:59.039
 the more we're able to know, appreciate, and worship Him,

00:52:59.419 --> 00:53:00.799
 which is why He created us.

00:53:00.800 --> 00:53:02.840
 In addressing the question,

00:53:03.300 --> 00:53:04.680
 which is the greatest commandment,

00:53:05.100 --> 00:53:07.519
 Jesus answered in Matthew 22,

00:53:08.080 --> 00:53:09.800
 something that's very familiar to us now.

00:53:10.420 --> 00:53:10.840
 He said,

00:53:11.300 --> 00:53:13.920
 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

00:53:14.120 --> 00:53:15.160
 with all your soul,

00:53:15.280 --> 00:53:16.320
 and with all your mind.

00:53:17.460 --> 00:53:20.800
 John Piper comments on this text in his book called Think.

00:53:21.500 --> 00:53:21.880
 He says,

00:53:21.880 --> 00:53:26.079
 I take this command to mean that we direct our thinking in a certain way.

00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:31.320
 Namely, our thinking should be wholly engaged to do all that it can

00:53:31.320 --> 00:53:38.240
 to awaken and express the heartfelt fullness of treasuring God above all things.

00:53:38.440 --> 00:53:39.200
 I'll read that again.

00:53:39.599 --> 00:53:43.500
 Our thinking should be wholly engaged to do all that it can

00:53:43.500 --> 00:53:49.180
 to awaken and express the heartfelt fullness of treasuring God above all things.

00:53:49.179 --> 00:53:50.739
 So then,

00:53:50.819 --> 00:53:52.119
 to fail to study His Word

00:53:52.119 --> 00:53:55.119
 and seek after a deeper and deeper knowledge of Him

00:53:55.119 --> 00:53:58.500
 is to fall short of the design that He has for your life,

00:53:58.699 --> 00:54:03.339
 and it's to neglect the growth and maturity that is ours in Christ.

00:54:03.759 --> 00:54:04.099
 Again,

00:54:04.199 --> 00:54:05.659
 thinking back to Psalm 115,

00:54:06.460 --> 00:54:08.399
 we don't want to become like our idols,

00:54:08.539 --> 00:54:11.779
 not fulfilling the purpose for which we were created.

00:54:12.460 --> 00:54:15.199
 We were designed to know Him deeply and intimately

00:54:15.199 --> 00:54:18.079
 and to grow in this knowledge which satisfies our souls.

00:54:18.079 --> 00:54:19.719
 And when we fail to do so,

00:54:19.799 --> 00:54:23.719
 we inevitably fill the void with the first available idol

00:54:23.719 --> 00:54:27.279
 and settle for that which our hearts were not meant to love and to treasure.

00:54:28.099 --> 00:54:31.360
 So speak zealously after the knowledge of God as a treasure to be found.

00:54:31.860 --> 00:54:33.920
 Hear and heed His voice as you ought

00:54:33.920 --> 00:54:36.199
 and do the work He has designed you to do.

00:54:36.860 --> 00:54:38.559
 So we've seen our text this morning.

00:54:39.599 --> 00:54:43.000
 A sharp, three-pronged rebuke of the Hebrew believers

00:54:43.000 --> 00:54:45.440
 warning us not to be dull in our hearing,

00:54:45.440 --> 00:54:47.099
 to be diligent in teaching,

00:54:47.579 --> 00:54:50.679
 and to seek maturity in our relationship with the Lord.

00:54:51.340 --> 00:54:52.619
 May we be a church

00:54:52.619 --> 00:54:54.840
 zealous for deeper knowledge of the Lord.

00:54:55.400 --> 00:54:57.019
 May we have ears to hear

00:54:57.019 --> 00:54:58.700
 and eyes to see the truth of God.

00:54:59.300 --> 00:55:00.720
 May we continually pick up

00:55:00.720 --> 00:55:02.400
 the glorious task of teaching

00:55:02.400 --> 00:55:04.760
 as the means by which God saves

00:55:04.760 --> 00:55:07.420
 and perfects a people for His possession.

00:55:07.960 --> 00:55:08.420
 Let's pray.

00:55:08.420 --> 00:55:09.000
 Let's pray.

00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000


00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:09.000