Dull of Hearing?

November 17th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 5:11-12a Concerning [Melchizedek] we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you…

After introducing the mysterious figure named Melchizedek in 5:6, 10—a priest-king during the days of Abraham circa 2000 BC (cf. Gen. 14), the author of Hebrews chides his audience concerning their ignorance of this man. Having been Christians for some time, they were expected to be mature enough to be teachers. Instead, they had become “dull” (Gr. nōthros) in “hearing,” that is, lazy in their learning, apathetic in their concern. In spite of the fact that the author still had “much to say” (v. 11), he feared his audience was too immature to understand.

Have “become dull of hearing” is a perfect tense verb in Greek. This means that it was a process completed in past time but with present results. In other words, they had at one time understood the gospel message of salvation and the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Levitical system of sacrifices. They had been “enlightened” (6:4), yet they had become lazy, failing to grow in their faith. Like many, their present condition was the result of their past neglect. Now, instead of maturing in their faith, they had become immature—drifting away (2:1-3), needing a strong exhortation to move forward (3:7-8). Their spiritual state had apparently deteriorated so badly, their salvation was now in question. Ken Wuest says, “The use of the perfect tense here tells us that the process had gone on to the point of completion, with finished results. Their neglect had done its work, and they as a result were in a settled state of spiritual stupidity so far as their ability to apprehend New Testament truth was concerned.”

When an audience is in a “dull” state, it is difficult to instruct them with mature teaching. In fact, given the time that had elapsed from their initial hearing of the gospel, they should have grown into mature Christians with the ability to teach doctrine (v. 12). Unfortunately, they had slacked so badly that they needed a refresher course in the elementary teachings and oracles of God. Having become babes in Christ upon hearing the gospel, they had remained in the spiritual state of needing milk like a newborn infant. Though they should have been eating solid food (understanding Melchizedek), they were still drinking milk only (pondering elementary truths).

How simple it is to become “dull”—whether it entails becoming lazy at listening and learning or sluggish in doing good. One can become “dull” in their work, their diets, their exercise, their relationships, etc. Plato used the term for his lazy students, combining it with another term to form a word that means “stupid.” The Hebrews author, writing 350 years after Plato, may have had the same thought in mind for his audience. After all, how stupid it is for one who professes to know Christ to ever consider something or someone other than Christ.

Food For Thought
Let’s be honest; to be “dull of hearing” doesn’t have anything to do with having a learning disability. It means ignorant, a term that simply means “not know.” But in reference to biblical knowledge, it’s not a word used by the Hebrews author in reference to one who does not know; rather, it’s a reference to those who do know the truth but who simply don’t care. Hence, a better term would be apathetic. And while we’re being honest, let’s just admit that there are way too many in the church today who are apathetic about biblical doctrine. They don’t pray, they don’t read the Bible, they don’t give, they don’t serve, and they don’t worship. Though claiming to be Christians, nothing in their lives reflects Jesus Christ or the indwelling Holy Spirit. They’ve been attending church long enough to be teachers, yet they know little. Worse, they don’t care. Do you know someone like this? Perhaps it’s you? Hebrews 5:11-14 says it’s time to grow up. Today.