What does "dull of hearing" mean in Hebrews 5:11? Context and Purpose of Hebrews 5:11 Hebrews is a pastoral exhortation urging first-century Jewish believers to persevere in Christ rather than drift back to Temple ritual (Hebrews 2:1; 3:12-14). The writer has just introduced Jesus as the perfect High Priest “in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:6). At this critical juncture he pauses, saying, “Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11). The remark diagnoses a spiritual condition that blocks their grasp of deeper Christology. Not Physical Deafness but Spiritual Apathy The readers still gathered for Christian assembly (Hebrews 10:25), so their physical ears functioned. The problem lay in willful inattention, a behavioral pattern echoed earlier: • “We must pay much closer attention … lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). • “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:7-8 quoting Psalm 95). Their dullness was therefore: a) Intellectual – an unwillingness to wrestle with the typology of Melchizedek. b) Moral – a reluctance to obey what they already knew, leading to stalled growth (5:12-14). Progression of the Warning: From Dullness to Danger Hebrews follows a pattern of five escalating warnings (2:1-4; 3:7-4:13; 5:11-6:12; 10:26-31; 12:25-29). “Dull of hearing” is stage three: drifting (2:1) hardens into unbelief (3:12), which calcifies into dullness (5:11) and may culminate in apostasy (6:6). Theological Significance 1. Revelation responsibility – Greater light demands greater response (Luke 12:48). 2. Priesthood participation – Failure to mature forfeits the believer’s privilege to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14) and to intercede effectively (1 Peter 2:9). 3. Salvation assurance – Prolonged dullness risks proving that faith was never genuine (Hebrews 6:4-8), yet the author remains hopeful of better things (6:9). Practical Pastoral Remedies • Immediate obedience to known truth (John 7:17). • Regular self-examination (“Today,” Psalm 95). • Community exhortation (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Doctrinal depth—moving on to “solid food” such as Christ’s Melchizedekian priesthood. Illustrative Case Studies • First-century Corinthian church: abundant gifts yet called “infants in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1). • Modern parallels: a 2021 Barna survey showed 51 % of U.S. churchgoers could not identify the Great Commission, exemplifying how information-rich environments still breed νωθροί when application is lacking. Conclusion “Dull of hearing” in Hebrews 5:11 denotes a culpable sluggishness toward God’s voice—an apathetic, resistant posture that stalls spiritual growth and endangers perseverance. The cure is prompt, obedient receptivity to the Word, nurturing discernment, and pressing into the fullness of Christ’s high-priestly ministry. |
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