Warning against Retrograding, which leads to Apostasy—Encouragement to Steadfastness from God’s Faithfulness to His Word and Oath. Heb. 6:7-8
“But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected” (v. 8). The common subject is “the earth.” On this common subject, the “rain” equally falls, and both are equally “dressed.” The difference between them lies, first, in what each part of “the earth” (Israel) produced; and secondly, God’s dealings with each part. As we have seen, the one part brought forth “herbs” meet for the dresser or owner: a suitable response was made to the rain given and the care expended upon it. The other, is the very reverse.
The evil ground “beareth” thorns and briers. As God said of His Israelitish vineyard, “He looketh that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes” Is. 5:2. Three things. First, it brought forth that which was of no profit to its owner, that which promoted not the glory of God. Second, “thorns and briers” are of a hurtful and noxious nature: see Ezekiel 28:24, etc. Third, these terms tell us that all which is brought forth by the natural man is under the curse of God: Genesis 3:18, 4:11, 12. The word “rejected”, signifies the setting aside as useless after trial has been made of a thing. The application of it here is to by far the greater part of the Jewish people. First, Christ had warned them “the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” Matt. 21:43. Second, after their full and open rejection of Himself and His Gospel, Christ told them, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” Matt. 23:38. Third, proof that the Nation as a whole had been “rejected” by God, is found in Acts 2:40, when, on the day of Pentecost, Peter bade the believing remnant, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation”.
“And is nigh unto cursing”. The word “cursing” here, means, “given over to execration”, or “devoted to destruction”. It was given over to be “burned”, which means, it would be visited with Divine judgment. Israel had become a barren tree, a cumberer of the ground, and the word had gone forth, “Cut it down” Lk 12:7, 9. Whose end is to be burned”. In Eastern lands, when a husbandman discovers that a piece of ground is worthless, he neglects it, abandons it. Next, he breaks down its fences, that it may be known it is outside the bounds of his possession. Finally, he sets fire to its weeds, to prevent their seeds being blown on to his good ground. Thus it was with Israel. Paul warned the Jews how that God had set them aside Acts 28:25–28, and shortly after, the solemn words of Christ in Matt. 22:7 were fulfilled, “He sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city”.
“The Lord Jesus completed His parable of the Sower by saying, “Take heed therefore how ye hear” Lk 8:18: how you profit by it, what use you make of it; be sure that you are a good-ground hearer. Such, are those in whom, First, the Word falls, as into “an honest and good heart” Lk 8:15, i.e., they bow to its authority, judge themselves by it, are impartial and faithful in applying it to their own failures. Second, they “receive” the Word Mk 4:20: they make personal appropriation of it, they take it home to themselves, they apply it to their own needs. Third, they “understand” it Matt. 13:23: they enter a spiritual and experimental acquaintance with it. Fourth, they “keep” it Lk 8:15: they retain, heed, obey, practice it. Fifth, they “bring forth fruit with patience” Lk 8:15, they persevere, overcome all discouragements, triumph over temptations, and walk in the paths of obedience. Upon such the “blessing” of God rests.” Pink Arthur W
