Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
The cross references for Hebrews 6:4 all relate to the idea of a person who has been enlightened and has experienced the grace of God, yet chooses to reject it and turn away from God. These verses emphasize that it is impossible to turn away from God's grace and expect to be forgiven. They also emphasize the need to remain faithful and obedient to God, and the consequences that come with rejecting God's grace.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. | Both passages emphasize the importance of living a life of faith. Hebrews 6:4 speaks of having once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. These actions represent a commitment to faith, as they are all related to the Christian experience. Matthew 5:13 similarly speaks of being the salt of the earth, which is a metaphor for being a faithful and spiritually alive Christian. |
| Matthew 7:21-22: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ | Both passages emphasize the importance of living a life of faith in God. Hebrews 6:4 speaks of those who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit and have tasted the heavenly gifts, indicating that faith in God is essential for salvation. Matthew 7:21–22 further reinforces this point, as it speaks of those who have done many mighty works in the Lord's name, yet still do not enter the kingdom of heaven because they have not done the will of God. Thus, both passages emphasize the importance of living a life of faith in God for salvation. |
| Matthew 12:31-32: Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. | Both passages discuss the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 6:4 speaks of those who have been enlightened and have shared in the Holy Spirit, suggesting that they are aware of the consequences of speaking against the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:31–32 explicitly states that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. |
| John 15:6: If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. | Both passages refer to the importance of abiding in Christ. Hebrews 6:4 speaks to the importance of having a shared experience with the Holy Spirit, which is only possible through abiding in Christ. John 15:6 warns of the consequences of not abiding in Christ, which is being thrown away and burned like a branch. |
| Ephesians 2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, | Both passages emphasize the importance of God's grace in salvation. Hebrews 6:4 speaks of those who have been enlightened by God's grace, tasted the heavenly gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:8 further emphasizes the grace of God by stating that salvation is a gift from God that is not earned or deserved. It is only through faith in God's grace that one can be saved. |
| Hebrews 10:26-29: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? | Both passages in Hebrews refer to the consequences of deliberately sinning after having received the knowledge of the truth. In Hebrews 6:4, the author speaks of those who have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit, which can be interpreted as those who have received the knowledge of the truth. In Hebrews 10:26–29, the author speaks of the punishment for those who have deliberately sinned after receiving the knowledge of the truth, which is a fearful expectation of judgment, a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries, and death without mercy. |
| 2 Peter 2:20-22: For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” | Both passages refer to people who have been exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, but who have later rejected it. Hebrews 6:4 speaks of people who have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit, but have not continued in faith. 2 Peter 2:20-22 describes those who have known the way of righteousness, but have turned back from the holy commandment. This is compared to a dog returning to its vomit and a pig returning to the mud. |
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your Son and the power of the Holy Spirit. We know that You have given us the knowledge of the truth and saved us by Your grace.
Help us to use this knowledge to remain faithful to You and to not turn away from the holy commandment delivered to us. Give us strength to overcome the temptations of this world and to remember that You have given us an eternal hope.
We pray that You will protect us from the consequences of sin and that we may remain in Your presence and love forever.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.