If you were unaware that danger was near, would you want someone to warn you about the danger?
Usually, we think we would want to get such a warning. In the Book of Hebrews, the writer gives five warnings. In this chapter, the first warning is given. It is "Heed the Word of God and do not drift from it."
The purpose of this warning was to and still is to encourage the readers to pay attention to God's Word and obey it. God does not sit idly by and permit His children to rebel against Him. He will continue to speak. When there is disobedience, God will chasten His children.
TO WHOM IS THE WARNING GIVEN?
This admonition or warning was written to believers. The writer included himself when he used the first-person plural pronouns "we" and "us". These terms are used six times in our text and is the same that is used in Hebrews 1:2.
This letter was addressed to those whom the writer called "holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling," (Hebrews 3:1), "brethren" (Hebrews 3:12), and "partakers of Christ" (Hebrews 3:14).
The writer wrote about "neglecting salvation" and not "rejecting salvation." Neglect (ameleo) means not to care for, be heedless, negligent. He was not encouraging sinners to become believers.
He was encouraging believers to pay attention to God's Word and to live out the great salvation which they had received from the Lord.
ABOUT WHAT WERE THE BRETHREN WARNED?
They were to give the more earnest heed to the "things we have heard," Verse l. Heed (prosecho) means to hold to, to bring to or near; used of the mind, to turn one's mind, thought or attention to a thing. Ought (dei) means it needs, there is need of something that is absent or lacking; it is necessary from the nature of the case, one must; it is right and proper.
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Note the connection with the teaching in Chapter 1. (Note Chapter 2:1 and Chapter 1:1-2.) Note the word "therefore" (dia touto) means on account of or because of, referring to what had already been said. Chapter 1:1-2, "God.... has spoken unto us by His Son..." The exhortation is to give "the more earnest heed" to the New Testament message and not let them slip or do not drift from them.
The words "let them slip" comes from the Greek word pararrheo, which means to flow near, flow by. Here, the second Aorist passive, carried away beside or with; referring not like the active to the act of floating away, but to the being carried away beside, or floating away past anything with the stream. The word is used of snow slipping off from the soldiers' bodies and of a ring slipping off the finger. Note Proverbs 4:20-22, "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my
sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they
are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh."
WHY WERE THE BELIEVERS WARNED?
God judged the people of the Old Testament era by what they had heard through the prophets and angels (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:2). Believers today have the message spoken by His Son Who is greater than the prophets and angels. Israel had given heed to the Old Testament which was given to them by the prophets and angels. Now, because the Son is superior to these, the message He brought is better than the one they introduced. Therefore, they should hold their minds the more earnestly to it. During the Old Testament days, people who did not heed or obey the Word were sometimes punished. That Word was given by prophets and angels. How much more or greater responsibility do we have today who have received the Word from the Son. Compare adultery in Old Testament and in the New Testament (Matthew 5:27-28). The message was spoken by the Son, confirmed unto those who heard Him, and attested or proven by miracles, Verses 2-4.
Matthew 5:27-28: 27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Consider the evidence given, Verses 2-4. The Greek word translated "if” represents a fulfilled condition, not a hypothetical case. The idea is "in view of the fact" or "since this did happen or is true." The Word spoken by angels was steadfast, proven, sure, held good, and those who disobeyed were punished accordingly. Those, who had professed faith in Jesus Christ and professed His as their Great High Priest were under the stress of persecution from apostate Judaism, were beginning to neglect the attendance in worship with the Church. They were allowing themselves to drift from or by New Testament truth, were leaning back toward the Old Testament form of worship, and were in danger of returning to the temple sacrifices.
The term "salvation" refers to salvation itself, and not to the teaching concerning it. The salvation is great because of the Person Who saves, the price that was paid, the provision, and the product—
the Saviour, the suffering, the satisfying of the demand of the law, the scope, and the security.
This confirmation not only had back of it the official sanction of those who heard the Lord and their proven character and truthfulness, but also the accompaniment of "signs and wonders" and
"divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit." The primary purpose of "signs, wonders, and miracles" was not to alleviate distress and suffering, but to prove that the one performing them 27
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spoke or wrote from God (John 3:2; Matthew 11:2-5; Mark 2:1-11; John 11:42-45; Acts 2:22; Mark 16:17-20; John 20:30-31).
John 3:2: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know
that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that
thou doest, except God be with him.
Matthew 11:2-5: 2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ,
he sent two of his disciples, 3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come,
or do we look for another? 4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew
John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight,
and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised
up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Mark 2:1-11: 1And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was
noised that he was in the house. 2And straightway many were gathered together,
insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the
door: and he preached the word unto them. 3And they come unto him, bringing
one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4And when they could not come
nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when
they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be
forgiven thee. 6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning
in their hearts, 7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive
sins but God only? 8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they
so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in
your hearts? 9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be
forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10But that ye may
know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the
sick of the palsy,) 11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way
into thine house.
John 11:42-45: 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the
people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and
his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and
let him go. 45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the
things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Acts 2:22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved
of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in
the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Mark 16:17-20: 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take
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up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19So then after the Lord had spoken
unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
John 20:30-31: 30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his
disciples, which are not written in this book: 31But these are written, that ye
might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.
The phrase "signs and wonders" is found eleven times in the New Testament. Here in Verse 4, it refers to the miracles that witnessed to the Word and gave confirmation that it was true. These miracles were performed by the Apostles (Mark 16:17-20; Acts 2:43). Today, we have the completed Word of God; so, there is no need for these apostolic miracles. God now bears witness through His Spirit, using His Word (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:1-13).
Mark 16:17-20: 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19So then after the Lord had spoken
unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Acts 2:43: And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were
done by the apostles.
Romans 8:16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
1 John 5:1-13: 1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and
every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2By
this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:
and his commandments are not grievous. 4For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is
the Son of God? 6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not
by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness,
because the Spirit is truth. 7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8And there are
three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and
these three agree in one. 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is
greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He
that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not
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God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of
his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son
of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God.
HOW MAY WE DRIFT FROM THE WORD?
We may drift by not reading the Word, by forgetting the Word, by not obeying the Word, and by compromising the Word.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR DRIFTING FROM THE WORD?
We neglect our salvation. More spiritual problems are caused by drifting from the Word and
neglecting salvation than perhaps any other failure on our part. When we neglect or drift from God's Word, we neglect prayer, worship with God's people, and other opportunities for spiritual growth.
There is the loss of the blessings of obedience. There is the loss of the joy of obedience.
John 15:10-11, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as
1 have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things
have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might
be full."
There is the chastening of God, Verses 2-4; James 4:17; Hebrews 12:6-7; and Revelation 3:19.
James 4:17: Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it
is sin.
Hebrews 12:6, 7: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every
son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with
sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Revelation 3:19: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore,
and repent.
CONCLUSION
God has spoken to us through and by His Son. As believers, we must give earnest heed to His message so that we do not drift from it. God will judge and reward us according to whether we obey or disobey His Word. When we drift from the Word, we neglect our salvation and become ineffective in our witness for God.
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