ACC ~ Hebrews 6 v7 - 8

RAIN. THEODORET OF CYR: By “rain” he referred metaphorically to instruction. INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 6.

SPIRITUAL RAIN. JEROME: Would you like to know in what way the faithful are compared with clouds in holy writ? Isaiah says, “I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon them.”Moses was speaking as if he were a cloud when he said, “May my teaching drop as the rain.” The letters of the apostles are spiritual rain for us. As a matter of fact, what does Paul say in his letter to the Hebrews?: “For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it,” and again, “I planted, Apollos watered.” HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 73 (PSALM 96).

THE SAME RAIN MAY BEAR THISTLES OR FRUIT. ORIGEN: Our earth, that is, our heart, receives blessings if it receives “the rain” of the doctrine of the law “that often falls upon it” and brings forth the fruit of works. But if it does not have a spiritual work but “thorns and thistles,” that is, cares of the world or the desire of pleasures and riches, “it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.” For that reason, each one of the hearers, when he assembles to hear, receives “the shower” of the Word of God; and, if one indeed brings forth the fruit of a good work, one will obtain “a blessing.” But if a person disdains the received Word of God and frequently neglects to hear it and subjects himself to the care and passion of secular affairs, as one who would suffocate the Word “with thorns,” he will procure “a curse” for a blessing, and, instead of receiving a blessing, his “end is to be burned.” Therefore, he says, “I will give you your rains in their season.”HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 16.2.4-6.

WE FARM TO PLEASE GOD. PHOTIUS: “It is cultivated” manifestly for their salvation and the enjoyment of those producing fruit. And if “the Father is the vinedresser,” just as the Lord says, and again the Son is also the sower, “the one sowing the good seed,” if the crop is suitable for them, that is, if the fruit appears—for we also ought to bear fruit for God, as he says somewhere, “but now having become slaves to God, produce your fruit for sanctification”—then if this is the case, we farm manifestly because of God, in order that we may please him with a virtuous life. Therefore we also will be deemed worthy of his blessing. FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 6.7.

NEAR TO BEING CURSED. CHRYSOSTOM: “Worthless,” he says, “and near to being cursed.” Oh, how great consolation in this word! For he said “near to being cursed,” not “cursed.” Now he that has not yet fallen into a curse but has come to be near to it, may he then come to be far off from it. And not by this only did he encourage them, but also by what follows. For he did not say … “which shall be burned,” but what? “Its end is to be burned,” if he continues in this way to the end, he means. Thus if we cut out and burn the thorns, we shall be able to enjoy those good things innumerable and become approved and partake of blessing. ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 10.3.

IT IS NOT GOD’S PURPOSE TO HARDEN. ORIGEN: Let us see then whether by an illustration used by the apostle in the epistle to the Hebrews, we are able to prove that by one operation God has mercy upon one while he hardens another. It is not God’s intent to harden, but while having a good purpose, hardening follows as a result of the inherent principle of wickedness in such persons, so that he is said to harden him who is hardened. … As regards the rain there is one operation, but the ground which is cultivated produces fruit, while that which is neglected and is barren produces thorns. ON FIRST PRINCIPLES 3.1.10.

Heb