Hebrews 5:11

The Need to Move on to Maturity

5:11 On this topic we have much to say ¹  and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish ²  in hearing.

Hebrews 10:20

10:20 by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us ³  through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ⁴ 

[5:11]  ¹ tn Grk “concerning which the message for us is great.”

[5:11]  ² tn Or “dull.”

[10:20]  ³ tn Grk “that he inaugurated for us as a fresh and living way,” referring to the entrance mentioned in v. 19.

[10:20]  ⁴ sn Through his flesh. In a bold shift the writer changes from a spatial phrase (Christ opened the way through the curtain into the inner sanctuary) to an instrumental phrase (he did this through [by means of] his flesh in his sacrifice of himself), associating the two in an allusion to the splitting of the curtain in the temple from top to bottom (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). Just as the curtain was split, so Christ’s body was broken for us, to give us access into God’s presence.