In this portion, exhortation and instructions are based upon the new position of the Christian as companion of a heavenly Christ who is our Mediator for approach to God.
The Spirit of God rebukes dullness of hearing, showing how the heart tends toward lethargy. Those who should be teachers of heavenly things are still occupied with the first principles concerning the Christ as known on earth.
There has not been sufficient thought given to the Word of God—the dividing asunder between soul and spirit-nor to the throne of grace for seasonable help. The result is lack of skill in the Word of righteousness, no senses exercised between good and evil, still in need of milk, which is for babes.
What really belongs to those who are gainfully occupied is strong meat.
The blessed Spirit of God must lead on into "better" things that accompany salvation, regardless of those who lag behind.
Verses 4, 5, 6, 8 do not speak of the true believer, but of a privileged person who lacks genuine conversion to God and sees the old wine (Judaism) to be better, although he has tasted the new.
The blessing of refreshment from heaven has fallen on the heart of just and unjust alike. This, indeed, is grace. Where grace is despised, God has nothing more to offer-impossible to renew to repentance.
Full assurance of the hope is witnessed in souls where the diligence of a new nature causes works and labor of love to be expended upon the needy. This God does not forget.
The exhortation to the believer is that he might continue to the end and notice those who have gone before as examples of faith and patience. The promise will be fulfilled at the end.
God, that cannot lie, gives strong consolation by two immutable things-His Word and a Forerunner, even Jesus, who has personally entered the heavens for the Christian, thus making his hope sure. This rests upon the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.