Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered
Difficult truth
I.
There are revealed in the Scripture SUNDRY DEEP AND MYSTERIOUS TRUTHS WHICH REQUIRE A PECULIAR DILIGENCE IN OUR ATTENDANCE UNTO THEIR DECLARATION, that we may rightly understand them, or receive them in a due manner.
1. There are some things or truths revealed in the Scripture which have a peculiar remark put upon them, as those which are deep and mysterious 1Ti_3:16; Eph_5:32; 1Co_2:6-8; Eph_3:4-5).
2. The doctrines concerning these things are not dark and obscure, but clear, evident, and perspicuous. There are two practices about these things that are equally pernicious.
(1) A pretence of things mysterious that are not clearly revealed. This the apostle calls a curious prying or intruding into things which we have not seen; they who do so are “vainly purled up by their fleshly mind” Col_2:18), and which he cautioneth us against (Rom_12:3).
(2) A neglect and contempt of clear open revelations, because the things revealed are mysterious.
3. The depths and mystery of the things intended, lie in themselves and their own nature. They are effects of Divine wisdom, yea the greatest which ever God will either work or declare. Hence the doctrine of them is called “His wisdom” (1Co_2:7), “His manifold wisdom” Eph_3:10), as having put the most eminent characters of infinite wisdom upon them.
4. The principal of these mysteries concern the person, offices, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. So as to His person, it is declared by our apostle 1Ti_3:16; as to His work and office, Philippians if. 7-10; and as to His grace, Eph_3:8-11).
5. Of all things which we are to learn in the dispensation of the Word, these are we with most diligence to attend unto (Php_3:8-10), as those wherein the glory of God and our own obedience are most concerned.
II. IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL SOMETIMES TO INSIST ON THE MOST ABSTRUSE AND DIFFICULT TRUTHS THAT ARE REVEALED FOR OUR EDIFICATION.
1. It ought to be the design of every faithful minister in the course of his ministry to withhold nothing from those committed unto his charge that belongs unto their edification, as do all things that are written in the
Scripture, but to declare unto them the whole counsel of God, so far as he himself hath attained.
2. His duty is, as much as in him lieth, to carry on his hearers unto perfection (Heb_6:1).
3. Whereas the greatest part of our congregations, it may be, frequently are such as stand in need of milk, and are not skilfull, as yet, in the word of righteousness, it is our duty also to insist on those plainer truths which are suited unto their edification.
4. Those who are called by the state of their flocks to engage sometimes in the exposition of abstruse and mysterious passages of Scripture, may do well to observe the ensuing rules, all which may be evidently gathered from the way and manner of our apostle’s treating concerning Melchisedec and his office.
(1) That their interpretations be openly and evidently conformable to the analogy of faith.
(2) That the exposition of them be necessary from present circumstances, which are principally two.
(a) That the things contained in them do belong unto some important truth which is plainly declared for the substance of it in other places, although from them it may receive light and illustration.
(b) When they offer themselves in the course of our work or ministry, where God gives light into the sense of the Holy Ghost in them, they are not to be waived, as we would be esteemed faithful in our work.
(3) Always to remember, that what is so abstrusely expressed, is so on purpose, for the exercise as of our faith, humility, and subjection of mind unto the authority of the Holy Ghost speaking in the Scripture; so of our diligence and dependence on Him for instruction, which calls for an especial frame of spirit in the work we undertake.
(4) That the difficulty and necessity of treating concerning such things be intimated unto them who are to be instructed, that so they may be prepared to attend with diligence, and judge with sobriety of what is delivered.
III. THERE IS A GLORIOUS LIGHT AND EVIDENCE IN ALL DIVINE TRUTHS, BUT BY REASON OF OUR DARKNESS AND WEAKNESS WE ARE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO COMPREHEND THEM. OUR WANT OF THAT ACQUAINTANCE WITH THEM, WHICH IT IS OUR DUTY TO HAVE, AND WHICH IS NEEDFUL UNTO OUR EDIFICATION, IS FROM OURSELVES ALONE, AND FOR THE MOST PART FROM OUR SINFUL NEGLECT OF WHAT IS REQUIRED THEREUNTO.
IV. MANY WHO RECEIVE THE WORD AT FIRST WITH SOME READINESS, DO YET AFTERWARDS MAKE BUT SLOW PROGRESS EITHER IN KNOWLEDGE OR GRACE.
V. IT IS MEN’S SLOTHFULNESS IN HEARING THAT IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF THEIR NOT IMPROVING THE MEANS OF GRACE, OR NOT THRIVING UNDER THE DISPENSATION OF THE WORD OR, ALL OUR MISCARRIAGES, WITH RESPECT UNTO THE GOSPEL, ARE TO BE RESOLVED INTO OUR OWN SLOTH, NEGLIGENCE, AND DEPRAVED AFFECTIONS. (John Owen, D. D.)
Ye are dull of hearing
Dull of hearing
It is a metaphor taken from lazy travellers that go slowly. As men are slow in going, so are you in hearing the Word of God. And by hearing is not meant the external hearing alone, but the internal. Slow in conceiving and learning, as is expounded in the next verse. Hearing is put for learning, because knowledge is conveyed by the sense of hearing. There be many things that procure this dulness and slowness.
1. Carelessness or want of diligence (Mat_12:19).
2. A mind possessed with other things, which keep the gospel out of the doors, as these were with an high opinion of the ceremonial law and Levitical priesthood. A barrel full of corrupt water cannot receive wine.
3. Want of meditation.
4. Want of reading and conferring (Act_17:1-34.).
5. Want of prayer. We are apt scholars for the world, swift to hear news and tales, but slow and dull in hearing of the Word of God. So that we may justly suffer that check of our Saviour’s (Luk_24:25). (W. Jones, D. D.)
Dull of heating
The meaning is not that they were deaf either in whole or part, or that such amongst them as were learned could not read them, if written, or understand the language; but by hearing is meant understanding. There are outward ears, and outward hearing of the body: inward ears, and inward hearing of the soul: the former they had, the latter they had not, so as to be capable of such things as he had to say of this priest and priesthood. This was no obscurity in the matter, but an indisposition in the soul to receive this doctrine. Dulness was this indisposition, which in general is a defect of active power; in particular, in this place, of the intellective faculty, as not able to perceive, discern, apprehend, and judge of this higher doctrine. It is opposed to that we call acumen, the sharpness, quickness, and piercing power of the wit and intellect; yet here this dulness is restrained to a certain object, for in other things they might be apprehensive and judicious enough. By reason of this defect it is that much excellent and Divine doctrine is lost, or at least useless to the greatest part of the people, who are no whir moved with doctrine, though excellent, if above their capacity. For this cause the meanest teachers are most popular; though it is true that all wise men must have respect unto the capacity of their hearers, and condescend unto them, yet men should not be always babes and dunces in God’s school. (G. Lawson.)
Dull hearers
There is a difficulty in the things themselves (the matter of preaching), and there may be a weakness in the ministers of the gospel to speak clearly about these things; but generally the fault is in the bearers. Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel a difficult thing: and even those that have some faith may be dull hearers, dull of understanding, and slow to believe; the understanding is weak and does not apprehend these spiritual things; the memory is weak and does not retain them. The apostle insists upon the faultiness of this infirmity of theirs. It was not a mere natural infirmity, but it was a sinful infirmity, and more in them than others, by reason of the singular advantages they had enjoyed for improving in the knowledge of Christ (Heb_5:12). (M. Henry.)
