THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS - Chapter 5 - Verse 11

Verse 11. Of whom we have many things to say. There are many things which seem strange in regard to him; many things which are hard to be understood. Paul knew that what he had to say of this man, as a type of the Redeemer, would excite wonder, and that many might be disposed to call it in question. He knew that, in order to be understood, what he was about to say required a familiar acquaintance with the Scriptures, and a strong and elevated faith. A young convert—one who had just commenced the Christian life—could hardly expect to be able to understand it. The same thing is true now. One of the first questions which a young convert often asks is, Who was Melchisedek? And one of the things which most uniformly perplex those who begin to study the Bible, is the statement which is made about this remarkable man.

Hard to be uttered. Rather, hard to be interpreted, or explained. So the Greek word means.

Seeing ye are dull of hearing. That is, when they ought to have been acquainted with the higher truths of religion, they had shown that they received them slowly, and were dull of apprehension. On what particular fact Paul grounded this charge respecting them is unknown; nor could we know, unless we were better acquainted with the persons to whom he wrote, and their circumstances, than we now are. But he had doubtless in his eye some fact which showed that they were slow to understand the great principles of the gospel.

{*} "uttered" "explained" {+} "hearing" "apprehension"