Hard To Explain

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you have difficulty in understanding?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to aim for understanding every WORD of GOD we read by meditation.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 5:11 (Amplified Bible)

5:11 Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight].

V. THESIS:

When I come to hear the WORD, I have understanding so I can apply it in my heart.

VI. TITLE:

Hard To Explain

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels—J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

G. Keyword: better

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. We have much to say which is hard to explain

"Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain,"

Hard means difficulty in explanation, hard to be understood, difficult of perception.

John 16:12 (Amplified Bible)

16:12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now.

2 Peter 3:16 (Amplified Bible)

3:16 Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures.

The Bible is not explained or close truth to those who can't understand. The understanding should be desired by us. It is our response, our part and our cooperation with GOD to seek understanding of His Words. It is hidden from those with no understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified Bible)

4:7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).

2 Corinthians 4:3 (Amplified Bible)

4:3 But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.

B. Since the Hebrews became dull in spiritual hearing and sluggish in achieving spiritual insight

"since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight]."

Isaiah 6:10 (Amplified Bible)

6:10 Make the heart of this people fat; and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn again and be healed.

Matthew 13:15 (Amplified Bible)

13:15 For this nation’s heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them.

Mark 8:21 (Amplified Bible)

8:21 And He kept repeating, Do you not yet understand?

Acts 28:27 (Amplified Bible)

28:27 For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn [to Me and be converted], that I may heal them.

Our examples are:

King Uzziah who seeks GOD's instructions that made His reign prosperous

2 Chronicles 26:5 (Amplified Bible)

26:5 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the things of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, yearned for) the Lord, God made him prosper.

Joseph set Himself to understand dreams by GOD's help.

Genesis 41:33 (Amplified Bible)

41:33 So now let Pharaoh seek out and provide a man discreet, understanding, proficient, and wise and set him over the land of Egypt [as governor].

Instead of putting others in their place, try putting yourself in their place.

—Wise Words and Quotes

If men talked about only what they understood, the silence would become unbearable. —Max Lerner

—Phillips' Treasury of Humorous Quotations