יּקנרק'ד

Hebrews Chapter 10  Verses 26-31

:26 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of 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? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

There are several points that we can make concerning the above passage of scripture: 

    1.  The word “for” is a connecting word that connects to the previous statement.  The previous statement had to do with the forsaking of the assembly of the saints.  The willful sin under consideration is the willful decision to no longer assemble together with the saints of God in public worship.  Sometimes people no longer attend to the public worship because of health reasons or because of distance and the lack of resources or ability, but this is not what is under consideration.  What is under consideration is when someone makes a conscience decision that they will not attend to public worship any longer.   

    2.  The people Paul is addressing in this passage are the Lord’s people, and more specifically those who have received knowledge of the truth.  When a person willfully withdraws from public worship he has in effect 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? 

    3.  God’s timely judgment is certain upon those who have willfully sinned by forsaking the assembly of the Lord’s saints.  They face a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  I have seen the timely destruction in the lives of several who have done so.   

    4.  The Lord will judge his people who have come unto a knowledge of the truth and forsake the assembling of the Lord’s saints turning instead unto the world and its allures.  As the above scripture plainly says: “Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”   

Verses 32-39

:32 “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For 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. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”   

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions…”  Paul is here addressing the Jewish Christians who had endured afflictions and persecutions for the gospel sake.  Many of these persecutions had arisen from the Jewish religious leaders including the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Moreover, they had also endured persecution and affliction from the Roman government as well.  Paul is calling upon the people to think back upon those things and their willingness to suffer for righteousness sake and for the gospel’s sake.  “Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.”  Most of us in the United States in our day have never suffered the level of persecution that the Lord’s people have suffered down through the ages.  We have lived in a time of exception rather than a time of the general rule.  The world hates the gospel of the grace of Christ and hates those who believe the gospel truth and like Cain will seek to destroy those who do what is right.  2 Tim. 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  If we don’t suffer persecution, it may be that we are not living godly in Christ Jesus.   

In the midst of the persecution of the Jewish church Paul spoke of their love and consolation: “For 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.”  These Jewish brethren though suffering much persecution and affliction were still manifesting their compassion as they had compassion upon Paul in his bonds.  Moreover, they counted it joy to do so when their goods were spoiled.  They understood and had the consolation that they have in heaven a better and enduring substance.   

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.”  Our confidence is in the Lord and his covenant promises.  Whatever we may suffer in this life is not even worthy to be compared to what we will have in heaven.  Moreover, we have the joy in knowing that he will not forsake here in this time world in which we live.  We have the privilege of having fellowship with Him and his obedient people today.  

“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”  Today, we are living in a society that wants instant gratification about everything.  There seems to be an almost total impatience to wait upon almost anything today.  However, in serving the Lord it is imperative that we learn to wait upon the Lord.  We need to wait upon Him for direction in our lives, and we need to wait upon him to receive the blessings of service to Him and His people.   

“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”  After the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection and just before his ascension back into heaven he told the apostles to go and tarry at Jerusalem until they be endued with power from on high.  In other words, one of the first things they were to do was wait for the Lord to empower them.  Likewise, the Lord will come in his time and not on our timetable but his promises are sure and amen and he will fulfill his promises to us.   

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”  I must point out, as many misapply this statement about the just shall live by faith, that it does not say that the just shall get life by faith, but it says the just shall live by faith.  By faith we live the life of discipleship and fellowship with the Lord while we walk here on earth.  However, the warning Paul is giving to the Jewish brethren is that there is a danger to them at this time as some seemed to be drawing back from a life of discipleship and returning back to the old Jewish law service.  Paul is telling them that the Lord has no pleasure in them drawing back from a life of discipleship and fellowship and returning to a works system of salvation. 

“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”  The word “perdition” literally means destruction.  Drawing back from following the Lord as his disciple leads to destruction in the life of a child of God.  The Lord illustrated that to us in a parable: Matt. 7:24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”