This is the fourth of five warnings or exhortations found in the Book of Hebrews. It is written to believers and follows in sequence with the other warnings or exhortations. The believer who begins to drift from the Word (Chapter 2:1-4) will soon start to doubt the Word (Chapter 3:7-4:13). If this trend does not change, the believer will soon become dull to the Word (Chapter 5:11-6:20) and become "lazy" in his spiritual life. This will result in despising the Word, which is the theme of this warning or exhortation.
As we study these verses, we need to remember the rules of interpretation. The writer wrote to believers. In this chapter, he stated that Jesus Christ has offered the one and only sacrifice which can take away sin. Therefore, the believer has been perfected forever (Verses l0-14). The sins and iniquities of believers God will remember no more (Verse l6, 17). He encouraged his readers to draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith because they have boldness to enter the presence of God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. He encouraged the believers to hold fast their confession of hope without wavering, to consider others, and not forsake the assembling of themselves together in public worship unto God.
THE SOLEMN EXHORTATION
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Verses 26-31: 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge
of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful
looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries. 28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or
three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted
the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him that hath said,
Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The
Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God.
Some opinions about these verses
That they are speaking of professed believers who know the way of salvation, but they are not really saved.
That they are speaking of a sin that only the Jews of that day could commit. This view suggest that the Jews had received full knowledge of the fact that Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and was the sacrifice that takes away sin, but they chose to go back to the temple worship and animal sacrifices.
That they are speaking of a saved person who loses his salvation.
That it is speaking to saved persons of the seriousness of sin and the certainty of chastisement for sin. NOTE that the writer included himself in this warning in Verse 26 by the use of the first-person pronoun "we."
The evidence of this "despising" is willful sin (Verse 26). The fact that it is willful sin is emphasized by the word "knowledge". It comes from the Greek word "epignosis" which means
"full knowledge." This warning is not dealing with one particular act of sin but with an attitude that leads to repeated disobedience. Under the Old Covenant, there was no sacrifice that could take away sin. But Jesus had offered the only sacrifice that could take away sin.
Verse 31 declares "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The Apostle Peter wrote, "For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,
after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them" (2 Peter 2:21). The warning is to the Hebrew believers because some of them were continuing to go to the temple and actually offering animal sacrifices there. This action made the sacrifice of Jesus Christ meaningless to them. Since the animal sacrifices were a type of Christ's sacrifice and Christ had died, all of that was fulfilled. Therefore, what before the cross had been done in obedience to God's command, now had become willful sin. The writer was telling his readers that they could look back to the temple anymore because there is no longer a sacrifice for sin. If a person rejects the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, there is no other sacrifice available, and there is no other way to come to God. They must look to Jesus Christ now instead of the temple. If they refuse to do this, all that is left is judgment.
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Presumptuous sinners who despised Moses' law and broke it were executed (Deuteronomy 17:1-7). This explains why David prayed as he did in Psalm 51. Because he deliberately sinned "with a high hand," he should have been slain. But he cried out for God's mercy. David knew that even a multitude of sacrifices could not save him. All he offered was the sacrifice of a broken heart (Psalm 51:16, 17).
Deuteronomy 17:1-7: 1Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any
bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an
abomination unto the LORD thy God. 2If there be found among you, within any
of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath
wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his
covenant, 3And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either
the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
4And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and,
behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in
Israel: 5Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have
committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and
shalt stone them with stones, till they die. 6At the mouth of two witnesses, or three
witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of
one witness he shall not be put to death. 7The hands of the witnesses shall be first
upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou
shalt put the evil away from among you.
Psalm 51:16, 17: 16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou
delightest not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a
broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
How does an arrogant attitude affect a believer's fellowship with God (Verse 29)? Treading underfoot the Son of God is a sin against God the Father who gave His Son to become the sin offering (John 3:16). Counting the blood of the New Covenant (Testament) an unholy thing is a sin against the Son who shed His blood. Doing despite to the Spirit of grace is a sin against the Holy Spirit. "Despite" in the Greek has the idea of "insulting". All of this is just the opposite of the exhortation given in Chapter 10:19-25. Instead of having a bold confession of faith, hope, and love, a backslidden believer so lives that his actions and attitudes bring disgrace to the name of Christ and His Church. To act as if the death of Jesus Christ is not sufficient to settle the sin question and to go on as if He had not died is to treat the blood of Jesus Christ as something a person despises.
What can this kind of Christian expect from God (Verses 27-30? He can expect severe discipline.
Chastening is the theme of Hebrews 12. There is no need to "water down" words such as "judgment and fiery indignation" (Verse 27) or "sorer punishment" (Verse 29). We have already seen from the history of Israel that hardly anyone who was saved out of Egypt by the blood of the lamb entered the promised inheritance. Nearly all died in the wilderness.
God does not always take the life of a rebellious believer, but He always deals with him.
"Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense" was spoken to Israel, God's people (Verse 164
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30). "The Lord will judge His people" (Verse 30). Verse 30 is a quotation found in Deuteronomy 32:35. Hebrews 10:31, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
The major theme of Hebrews is "God has spoken. How are you responding to His Word?" When the nation of Israel refused to believe and obey His Word, God chastened them. Paul used this fact to warn the Corinthians against presumptuous sins (1 Corinthians 10:1-12). Note the examples given in this passage involved people who died because of their willful sins. When we study the subject of "chastening" in Hebrews 12, we will get greater insight into this awesome aspect of God's dealings with His children.
It is important that every believer obeys God and pleases the Father in all things. God forgave David's sins, but David suffered the sad consequences for years afterwards (2 Samuel 12:7-15).
2 Samuel 12:7-15: 7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the
LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of
the hand of Saul; 8And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives
into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had
been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his
sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife
to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou
hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own
house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy
neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12For thou
didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan
said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of
the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
15And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that
Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
What should a believer do who has drifted into spiritual doubt and dullness and is deliberately despising God's Word? He should turn God for mercy and forgiveness. There is no other sacrifice for sin, but the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all our sins. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Lord's hands for chastening, but it is a wonderful thing to fall into His hands for cleansing and restoration. David said, "Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are His
mercies." 1 Chron. 21:13; 2 Sam. 24:14.
AN ENCOURAGING CONFIRMATION
Vs 32-39: 32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were
illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33Partly, whilst ye were made
a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became
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companions of them that were so used. 34For ye had compassion of me in my
bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that
ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35Cast not away therefore
your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have
no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but
of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Lest any of his readers should misinterpret his warning or exhortation, the writer follows it with words of encouragement and confirmation. His readers had given evidence that they were true believers. He did not expect them to despise God's Word and experience the chastening of God.
In fact, as he did in Hebrews 6, the writer shifts the pronoun from "we" in Chapter 10:26 to "he"
in verse 29 and "them" in verse 39.
The readers had been willing to suffer reproach and persecution, even to the spoiling of their goods (Verse 32-34). Their sufferings were of great severity. Their sufferings were patiently endured (Acts 5:40, 41; Hebrews 10:32-34). When they were not being persecuted themselves, they courageously identified with the other Christians who were in danger, even to the point of sharing their bonds (imprisonment). At that time, they had great confidence (boldness) and hope. But now they were in danger casting away that confidence and going back into their old religion. The one thing which sustained them in the noble endurance of cruel persecutions was their assurance that they possessed precious and imperishable treasurers. Verse 34b, "knowing in yourselves that ye
have in heaven a better and an enduring substance."
Three things concerning this possession are worthy of note (Verse 32-34). Its certainty. They knew that it existed, and that it existed for them. They had the earnest in their hearts (Ephesians. 1:13, 14). Its superiority. It is "better" than any earthly possession because it is a heavenly possession.
Its perpetuity. It is "an enduring substance." It is a better possession which is remaining. Heavenly possessions are inalienable and imperishable.
Ephesians 1:13, 14: 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
NOTE: The God who had helped them in the past would not forsake them now nor in their future trials. Thus, the recollection of former deliverances (Verse 32) should be an inspiration in their present trials and for future difficulties (Verse 33).
The secret of victory was in their faith and patience (courageous endurance) (Verses 35-36; 2 John 8; Romans 5:1-5). We have met this combination of graces in Hebrews 6:12, 15. It is here that the introduced the "text" around which Hebrews is written: "The just shall live by faith" (Verse 38).
This quotation is from Habakkuk 2:4 and is used in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11. Romans emphasizes "the just"; Galatians deals with "shall live"; and Hebrews centers on "by faith." We 166
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are not only saved from our sins by faith, but we must also live by faith. This is the theme of Hebrews Chapters 11-13.
2 John 8 : We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to
the truth.
Romans 5:1-5: 1We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves. 2Let every one of us please his neighbour for his
good to edification. 3For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The
reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4For whatsoever things were
written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and
comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5Now the God of patience and
consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ
Jesus:
Habakkuk 2:4: Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the
just shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:11: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is
evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
In this letter, the writer emphasizes the fact Divinely settled in the past is that justification is not by animal sacrifices but by faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the only sacrifice that takes away sin. "The just shall live by faith." They do not waver and cast away their confidence when living by faith and they trust in Christ's one sacrifice. The Christian life originates in faith and thrives on faith. It is the works of faith that glorify God.
The believer who lives by faith will "go on to perfection." (Hebrews 6:1). But the believer who lives by sight will "draw back unto perdition" (Verse 39), a state of displeasing God and waste. A believer who does not walk by faith goes back to the old ways and wastes his life. Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:15.
1 Corinthians 3:15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The saving of a soul or life is the opposite of "waste or loss." To walk by faith means to obey God's Word and live for Jesus Christ. We may lose our lives for His sake, but we will save them (Matthew 16:25-27).
Matthew 16:25-27: 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
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exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his
Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his
works.
A great encouragement presented (Verse 37).
"The coming One will come and will not delay or tarry." Tarry means to make out the time, spend time, linger, delay, be long in doing anything. He will come. John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20-21.
John 14:1-3: 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also.
Acts 1:11: Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come
in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Philippians 3:20, 21: 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we
look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body,
that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working
whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
There must be no uncertainty of this coming mighty event. It is the promise before us now. The promise to Israel was the Messiah. He came (Galatians 4:4). Then He Himself call the promise the coming of the Holy Spirit, which He would send to the Church (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8). He came (Acts 2).
Galatians 4:4: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law,
Luke 24:49: And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye
in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:4, 8: 4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,
which, saith he, ye have heard of me…. 8But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth.
Now the Holy Spirit has come, and the expression "the promise" is transferred to the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the matter of expectation of his arrival upon earth again. He will be on time. HE WILL NOT TARRY (Verse 37)! We should not say, "If the Lord tarries or delays His coming." HE WILL NOT (Matthew 24:48; Luke 12:45).
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Matthew 24:48: But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth
his coming;
Luke 12:45: But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and
to be drunken;
Conclusion
Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice which can take away sin. Do you understand this fact? Or are you trying to find some other way to have fellowship with God?
If we have become dull to the Word of God, we are in danger of despising the Word. Do you know the will of God for your life but are doing something different?
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