4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,



Ver. 4. Who were once enlightened] öùôéóèåíôåò , as with a flash of lightning. Knowing persons, and those they call the wits of the world, are in the greatest danger of the unpardonable sin; which begins in apostasy, holds on in persecution, ends in blasphemy.



And have tasted] As cooks do their sauces with the tip of their finger only; or as the Israelites tasted the fruits of the land, and vet perished in the wilderness. Men may taste that which they spit out again, as physicians oft do.



The heavenly gift] Gr. Supercelestial gift, i.e. Christ, who is called the gift, Joh_4:10, and the benefit, 1Ti_6:2.



Partakers of the Holy Ghost] Of his common and inferior gifts and operations. These a man may lose, and have his dispositions to sin seven times more inflamed than before, Mat_12:44.