The author, in first half of this chapter (v1-18), wraps up the explanation of the superiority of Jesus’ high priestly ministry and concludes with referrals to the Old Testament (Psalm 40:6-8 and Jeremiah 31:33-33) to prove his point. In the middle of the chapter (v19-25), there are a series of exhortations for the audience, all of which have their basis in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. After the second of two extremely challenging warning passages in Hebrews (v26-31), the author concludes with encouraging exhortations (v32-39), just as he did after the first of the two challenging warning passages in Hebrews 6. Let’s take a look at Hebrews 10:
1) V1-10 – 1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; 6with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. 7Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about Me in the scroll – I have come to do Your will, O God’” [Psalm 40:6-8, Septuagint]. 8First He said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). 9Then He said, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
After a number of chapters expressing the point of v1 without actually saying it, the author finally states clearly, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves.” It can’t – and never could – make men perfect. If the law had that ability, then it would have already worked; people would not feel guilty. Don’t miss this! When sins are really dealt with, which happened in Christ, then guilt is removed (Psalm 32:5; Isaiah 6:7; 27:9; Jeremiah 50:20; John 9:41). Later in v22, we will see that we can draw near to God with confidence, because a fruit of genuine faith is the lack of a guilty conscience. A person with true, saving faith knows in their heart and mind that their sin has dealt with, and that’s why their guilt is removed. The sinners of the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant were forgiven not by the blood of bulls and goats, but by the blood of Christ. Even though He had not yet come, their obedience to the Old Covenant was the evidence of their faith, and God patiently forebore (Romans 3:25) those past sins until dealing with them in Christ once and for all.
The author quotes David extensively from the Septuagint version of Psalm 40:6-8 in the rest of this passage (v5-9). And his basic point is to show specifically that Jesus doing the will of God was God’s requirement, rather than the repeated sacrifices and offerings of the Old Covenant. Oftentimes the prophets rebuked the people of Israel, for their offerings had become mere ritual. The hearts of the people were far from God. God wants our hearts; He wants trust, faith, and obedience. And we can give that imperfectly; we can give that off and on. But Jesus gave it perfectly on our behalf. And that was God’s will, by which “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ” (v10).
2) V11-18 – 11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, 14because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: 16“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds” [Jeremiah 31:33]. 17Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” [Jeremiah 31:34]. 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
Unlike the ongoing, futile offerings of typical priests (v11), when the work of Jesus was finished, He never again had to present an offering; instead “He sat down at the right hand of God” (v12), waiting “for His enemies to be made His footstool” (v13). God the Father, through His Holy Spirit and in His people on earth, is doing this work, and it will be finished on the day Jesus returns (v25). V14 is cherished because of the truth it teaches: “By one sacrifice [Jesus] has made perfect forever (completely and permanently) those who are being made holy.” It’s as good as done, but it’s still a work in progress; it’s already but not yet.
V15-17 remind us again of evidence for this truth from “the Holy Spirit,” speaking through the words of the prophet Jeremiah. The law will be written internally, on the hearts of God’s people, and their sins will be forgiven. Even as the Old Covenant was in place, the New Covenant was being foretold. And once the New Covenant was implemented – when sins “have been forgiven” – the Old Covenant is needless – “there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” (v18). Don’t leave the New Covenant to return to the old one!
3) V19-25 – 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, 21and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Ligon Duncan previews these verses, saying, “This whole passage from Hebrews 10:19-25 deals with the practical importance of Christ’s mediation, Christ’s priesthood in the New Covenant. And there is a sense in which the rest of the book is simply an expansion on the theological, practical applications made here in these verses. Guthrie says it this way: ‘Although various appeals to the readers have been made in the main doctrinal section (from chapter 1 to chapter 10:18), the concluding chapters of Hebrews contain Christian advice about various issues of practical life.’” The rest of Hebrews, in other words, is going to elaborate on the practical application of the doctrinal truth that the author has taught thus far. In this sense, Hebrews is organized very much like Paul’s Epistles, where doctrine precedes application.
It might be easier to outline this passage, rather than write about it in commentary style, but notice the first word, “Therefore.” It functions just as the “Therefore” that begins Romans 12. In light of everything that has been said to this point, and especially the stuff that has most recently been declared, here’s the application. Now that we’ve laid that foundation, let’s build this on top of it. There are effectively 4 commands given in these 6 verses. The first three verses (v19-21) are summary motives before the first exhortation is given in v22: “draw near to God.” The second command is found in v23: “hold unswervingly to…hope.” Third, in v24, we are to “consider how we may spur one another on.” And finally, in v25, we have a negative working along with a positive: do not “give up meeting together” but “encourage one another.” Let’s take a closer look at these exhortations, as well as the motivation for them.
First, consider the motives for these actions we should take. (1) We are brothers. We are family. The author offers great encouragement before issuing a single command, just as Paul did in Romans 12:1. (2) We have confidence. This confidence allows us to enter directly into God’s presence, “the Most Holy Place.” We do not need to fear God as our judge any longer; now we revere Him as our Father. But the only reason we have confidence, and the only way we can enter God’s presence, because of the reality of our sinful condition, is the blood of Jesus. Jesus has shed His blood, which cleanses us from sin, and pays the penalty due to befall us. Jesus’ blood pays our debt, so we are no longer under wrath. Jesus made a new way into God’s presence, a living way, through His body, to go beyond the curtain, which is now torn from top to bottom. That’s our confidence. (3) We have a great Priest. This is what the author of Hebrews has labored to explain in great detail over the course of the last 5 chapters. He’s still at work, interceding for us even now. And that’s why we can strive to obey the following exhortations.
The first command is to draw near to God. John 3:20-21 explains, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” We have confidence, not fear. We have a high priest who has dealt with our sinful deeds. That’s why we step into the light, drawing near to God. And we do so with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. We do not doubt, because we are cleansed, inside and out (hearts and bodies, sprinkled and washed). There is no more guilt, because our sins have been dealt with, and grace reigns. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Instead of hiding or fleeing, we draw near to God, our Creator, who loves us and desires to share a relationship with us so much that He overcame our sinfulness judiciously, through the work of Jesus, and is even now overcoming our sin nature by His Spirit working in us.
Secondly, we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, that Jesus will come back, that we will inherit all things along with Him, and that we will be justified, sanctified, and glorified in the end. And though we do not have these things in fullness yet – for who hopes for what he already has (Romans 8:24)? – we wait patiently, being sure and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Our foundation for this hope is the faithfulness of the One who promised. And we’ve already seen the faithfulness of God throughout the author’s doctrinal explanations in the book, most notably in Hebrews 6:13-20 and Hebrews 7:17-22. He is faithful to Abraham, and He is faithful to you. But more importantly, God the Father is faithful to Jesus. We can’t go back to some other hope. This is it; there is no other hope. 1 Peter 1:13 says, “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Don’t split your hope between faith and works. It’s all faith, or nothing (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:3).
Third, we need to consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. The verb is caustic; we need to poke each other where it annoys; we need to provoke each other, with a strong urging that gets on your nerves. We need to be constantly reminding and asking each other to love others and do good deeds for the glory of God. Ligon Duncan says, “If it is true that we have assurance because of what Jesus has done, if it is true that we have hope because of what Jesus has done, it is also true that we have obligations to one another because of what Jesus has done.” Consider the logic there (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:10).
Fourth and finally, the command that comes in both negative and positive form, we must not give up meeting together but encourage each other. This command is similar to the third one, because it involves outreach. The first two commands are things that you do in your own life – draw closer to God and hold on to the hope you have. But the last two, urge others to engage in loving kindness and good deeds, and keep meeting together for the sake of encouragement, reveal the reality of the outreach component to Christianity. The communion of saints is a reality. We are to live this life not isolated from other believers, but in communion, in fellowship, and in harmony with one another. This life is difficult, and in it we will have trouble. We are to take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world. And we need to constantly be encouraged to do that. It happens best in the context of corporate worship and fellowship.
Apparently, some of the author’s audience had stopped meeting together, perhaps because of increase in persecution, or perhaps because of the wooing of false teachers to make religion a solely individualized practice. A common argument in twenty-first century America is that Jesus is great, but I don’t need the church. That’s not only an unbiblical idea; it’s also an anti-Biblical concept. The Bible teaches, here in Hebrews and plenty of places elsewhere (Acts 4:32-35), that Christians need corporate worship and fellowship. And if Christians needed it in New Testament times, then we need it “all the more” today, as the Day of the Lord is much closer now than it was then (v25). The motive for encouragement is the nearness of the return of Jesus. Think of a marathon, where there are fans lining the course, especially near the end. They are helpful to the runner, who receives encouragement from their presence. And the author of Hebrews will offer this kind of encouragement to his audience with the Hall of Faith in chapter 11, as well as with the opening verses of chapter 12. Why, then, don’t we make it a point to offer this kind of encouragement to one another as we live our daily lives in this dark world (Ephesians 6:12)?
4) V26-31 – 26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” [Deuteronomy 32:35], and again, “The Lord will judge His people” [Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14]. 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
We come here to the second of two extremely challenging warning passages in the book of Hebrews. And for the sake of comparison, I invite you to reread my thoughts on the first passage, which was Hebrews 6:4-6. If we get that one right, then this one becomes much easier. Now that first passage was only 3 verses, but the surrounding context helped us tremendously to understand the passage, and the same is true here, though this warning passage is twice as long. Nevertheless, the preceding context explains several things. First, the doctrinal explanation has effectively concluded, and we’ve moved into the practical application portion of the sermon / letter. Second, the Jewish Christian audience has received a series of exhortations, both individual and internal, and corporate and external. Third, the audience has been encouraged, for some of them have apparently given up meeting corporately, which may speak to their retreat individually as well.
V26 says, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.” While we had some difficulty determining the identity of the specific audience in the warning passage of Hebrews 6, here it is extremely clear. The subject, “we,” tells us that the author is referring to believers, and in case that wasn’t clear enough, the specific identity is a group of people who “have received the knowledge of the truth.” When the author uses “if,” he leaves open the possibility that this is a hypothetical inquiry. In other words, perhaps there are no people who have received the knowledge of the truth, but also deliberately keep on sinning. That seems impossible, for I serve as example # 1 of a person who has received the knowledge of the truth and yet has also committed deliberate sins, sadly, on innumerous occasions. But this is thought reveals a misunderstanding of the author’s intent, which is not to say that any deliberate sin thwarts the sacrifice of Christ. Take note that the author is reiterating the point he has made repeatedly throughout the past 5 chapters, that Jesus is superior and that there is no other option for salvation. The author actually says, “No sacrifice for sins is left.” Jesus is the only sacrifice for sins. But as Ligon Duncan says, “The kind of sin that the author of Hebrews is talking about all the way from verse 26 to 31 is explicitly rejecting the unique and solely sufficient sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is basically a person who has made a profession of faith in Christ and yet who at some point has decided that the work of Christ is not necessary for them in order to enjoy fellowship with God forever and they have deliberately and despicably utterly rejected the sacrifice of Christ for them. They have turned their back on Christ and returned to some other form of religion in approaching God and fellowship.” For those who profess faith in Christ yet turn their back on Him, they, as enemies of God, should fearfully expect judgment and fiery consumption (v27).
In v28-29, the author offers an analogy from the time of Moses in order to explain that the penalty for rejecting God’s plan of salvation is greater under the New Covenant than it was under the Old Covenant. In other words, in the Old Covenant, rejecting the Law of Moses – notice not merely disobeying it, but outright rejecting it, confirming what we said above regarding deliberate sin – brought a penalty of death, “without mercy.” And this Covenant was never sufficient for genuine forgiveness, yet as a type of the New Covenant to come, it demanded respect. How much more then, should one who rejects the New Covenant, which is the reality to which the Old Covenant pointed, be punished! One who professes Christ and then tramples Him under foot, treats His sacrifice – the shedding of His precious blood – as if it was worthless, even though it was the only way for him/her to be sanctified, and insults the grace of God by returning to some system of salvation by works deserves death no less!
Jesus teaches this very same truth in the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18. The servant who owed an insurmountable debt was mercifully and graciously forgiven that debt. And then he went out and demanded payment from his debtors, though their debts were basically insignificant; and when they couldn’t pay, he had them thrown into jail. What do you think happened to him when the Master who forgave his debt found out about what he did? He was imprisoned and tortured forever, because he could have never paid off his debt. Either he proved that his debt was not truly forgiven in the first place, or he proved that his Master was a liar, claiming that his debt was forgiven and then throwing him in prison anyway. Which was it? Rejection of grace, as seen by the lack of fruit of faith, results in death.
The Scriptural proof for what has just been said comes in v30. The Lord is just, and He will do what is right. He will judge His people, referring specifically to the Israelites. As we find out elsewhere, not all Israel is Israel. Some of them were tares mixed in with the wheat. And sadly it can be hard for us to discern sometimes which is which. But the Lord knows. And He will issue justice. V31 sums up this warning by instilling a little fear into the audience: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Lest we leave this passage still unsure of the author’s intent, allow Ligon Duncan to comment: “The author of Hebrews – we are going to see an example of this in a few moments – is not speaking of this to unbelievers with the hope of getting them to trust in Jesus Christ. His point is not to blast idolaters or to blast those who have already forsaken Christ. His point is to warn Christians not to defect from their loyalty to Jesus Christ. His purpose is constructive. That is important to see. In fact, we will see in v32-39 that the author of Hebrews has very warm hopes for the perseverance in faith of everyone in this congregation. He thinks they are going to persevere to the end, that they are going to stay faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ. But he is warning them because he loves them and because it is so serious that they not reject their profession in Jesus Christ.”
5) V32-39 – 32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. 37For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him” [Habakkuk 2:3-4]. 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
With the stern warning issued, the author turns to encouragement, just as he did after the warning of Hebrews 6. Here in v32, he says to “remember.” It is helpful and encouraging to remember past victories over sin and temptation; it is encouraging to recall that you have stood firm “in the face of suffering” in the past. V33-34 remind the audience of the details of their past steadfastness. From standing by others who were being mocked and ridiculed to sympathizing with who were imprisoned, and from actually enduring public insult themselves to experiencing gladness at having their property confiscated for their faith, this very audience, who has just been warned not to fall away, has stood firm in the past. They are being encouraged to do it again, and again, and again. Perseverance doesn’t end until death. We must overcome. Revelation 2:7 says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” 1 John 5:5 says, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
The author says to his audience, “You knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (v34-35). These believers had a firm faith before, yet it was shaky on this occasion. Has that ever been your circumstance? If we aren’t constantly pursuing growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus, we are susceptible to laziness and backsliding. Perhaps this audience had stood firm in the past and thought the battle won. But only now, with the aid of this sermon, or this epistle and its warnings, are they seeing that the battle is still being waged for their souls. The author says, “You need to persevere” to “receive what [God] has promised” (v36). Paul says in Romans 13:11, “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” And the author of Hebrews says the same thing in v37-38, quoting from Habakkuk.” We are not to shrink back in our steadfastness of faith. And the author is confident that his audience won’t shrink back, because they “are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved” (v39).
Footnotes
- 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
- 10:16 Jer. 31:33
- 10:17 Jer. 31:34
- 10:30 Deut. 32:35
- 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
- 10:38 One early manuscript But the righteous
- 10:38 Hab. 2:3,4
Bible text from Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.