Hebrews 6:4-9
(Kenneth S. Wuest New CovenantTranslation)
...for it is impossible in the case of those who have been once for all enlightened (5461), and have both tasted (1089) of the heavenly gift and have become companions (3353) of the Holy Spirit [willingly being led along towards the act of faith in the pre-salvation work of the Holy Spirit], and tasted (1089) the good (spoken) word of God, also the powers [miracles] of the age that is about to come, and have fallen away (3895), again to be renewing them to repentance, crucifying (388) to themselves the Son of God and putting Him to an open shame.
For land which drank in the rain that comes often upon it and produce herbage suitable for those on whose account it is also tilled, partakes of s blessing from God. But if it brings forth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and almost cursed, and its end is burning.
But we have come to a settled persuasion concerning you, divinely loved ones, the things which are better and which are attached to a saved condition of life, even if we also thus speak.
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This letter was addressed to the first Jewish believers in the assembly's history. Read Hebrews 1:1, "in many parts and in different ways GOD in former times having spoken (spoken words) to the fathers by means of the prophets (first covenant prophets)...."
ENLIGHTENED: (Greek Definition) 5461 PHõTIZõ, related to PHõS 5457 light. To enlighten, give light to in a spiritual sense to instruct, to make to see or understand.
TASTED: (Greek Definition) 1089 GEUõ: or GEUOMAI, to give or receive a taste. Usually used in the mid. voice, to taste, to try or perceive the taste...metaphorically, to have or receive a sensation or impression of anything, practically and in fact to experience anything.
Matthew 27:34, "they gave Him to drink wine mixed with gall, a stupefying drink to deaden the pain of crucifixion. And having tasted (1089) it, He was not willing to drink it." (KSW)
COMPANION: (Greek Definition) 3353 MẼTõCHõS participant i.e. [as noun] a sharer; by impl. an associate: -fellow, partaker, partner.
"[willingly being led along towards the act of faith in the pre-salvation work of the Holy Spirit]"
FALLEN AWAY : (Greek Definition) 3895 PARAPIPTõ from PARA 3844, either an inten. or by the side of, and PIPTõ 4098, to fall. TO fall beside, to fall down. Used only in Hebrew 6:6 denoting conscious and deceitful faithless action, blameworthy and willful carelessness and falling into sin and not merely inadvertency or thoughtlessness. Derived from the verb PIPTõ 4098, to throw oneself headlong and not simply to fall inadvertently. Deriv: PARAPTõMA 3900, transgression.
CRUCIFY: (Greek Definition) 388 ANASTAUROõ; from ANA 303, again or up, and STAUROõ, to crucify. To crucify again or afresh (Hebrew 6:6)
AGAIN: (Explained from the text) The first time, they were blind and ignorant. Acts 3:17, "and now brothers, I know positively that in ignorance you did it, even also you chief men." Luke 23: 34,"and Jesus was saying, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing..." The second time, the word "again" from the text mean: Because they are pre-sanctified by the Holy Spirit, they are lead to understand clearly their position before a Holy God, they understand the meaning of the cross and its purpose, and they come close to the door of repentance knowing everything, but with open eyes, becoming aware of their responsibility, rejecting Him again, making a mockery of Him [the cross], an "open shame." It would cause His crucifixion on the cross to become as something to be ridiculed. It did not work; it was not sufficient. It will be a reduction to an absurdity. It will be impossible for them to go back to repentance. They are closing the door on themselves.
“Enlightened” has to do with intellectual perception of spiritual biblical truth .THEY did not feast but only tasted Christ (verse 4). In chapter 6 these individuals were never saved but only had a taste of salvation by association.
Those who have tasted refer to the people who tasted but did not receive the gift of salvation (Matthew 27: 34 and having tasted it ,HE was not willing to drink it ] . God offers salvation to us, but we must take the initiative to receive it, John 1:12. It was God who took the initiative to throw His light upon them (enlightened 5461). In the process of salvation (pre-salvation), God always takes the initiative. In spite of the fact that to be saved, we must receive the light which comes from God, nevertheless, we must not forget that salvation is always a gift and not anything to be earned by us. This is made explicitly clear by the fact that the apostle refers to this offer as a gift. The gift is [DõREA 1431]. Its derivation is from heaven. Other Greek words could have indicated the principle of a gift, but DõREA stresses the complimentary aspect of the gift which is offered. He could have used DõRON 1435, "a gift" or DõRẼMA 1434, "gift if only the product." The gift was to be stressed. Lest salvation be thought of as something of earthly derivation, it is called heavenly.
In verses 7 and 8, there are two groups of people-saved and unsaved- mentioned. If you understand carefully the illustration of the rain (the words of God) falling down, it produces two different products: herbage (saved) and thorns (unsaved). "Those who have been once for all enlightened" represent the thorns which are "cursed and burning." On the other hand, the "but" of verse 9 indicate the saved people (Christians) who are called "divinely loved ones." That parable/illustration is connected with the previous verses, and clearly indicates the rejection (verse 4-6) and the reception (verse 9) of the gift.
Remember that the Jewish temple was still on at the time the Hebrews letter was written. The temple (Hebrews 10:11 and 13:10-11) with its attendant animal sacrifices would soon be destroyed by the Romans, just as the Lord Jesus predicted. This letter was addressed to Jewish in the beginning of the assembly. The responsibility for Jesus' crucifixion fell on the Jewish nation as a whole. That's why the word again is mentioned about the crucifixion. Only the Jewish at that time could receive such a statement. For verse 9, HE [ the writter ] wanted to reassure the Jewish believers that their faith in Jesus as Messiah was secured and reasonable (Hebrews 4:14-16 and 10:19-22).