Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
(From: HEBREWS #10 - 10:19-39)
J. 10:19-38 OUR BEHAVIOR IN LIGHT OF CHRIST'S DIGNITY AND MEDIATION
1. 10:19-25 BOLD APPROACH TO GOD: RESULT OF CHRIST'S WORK
Echon-tes oun, a-delPHOI, par-reSIan[3954] eis ten EIso-don ton haGIon en to HAIma-ti [129]IeSOU,
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holies by the blood of Jesus,
hen e-neKAIni-sen [1457]heMIN, hoDON [3598]PROSpha-ton [4372]kai ZOsan [2198],
20by a new and living way, which he dedicated for us,
diA tou ka-ta-peTASma-tos [2665], tout' EStin, tes sarKOS [4561]auTOU;
through the veil, that is, his :flesh;
kai hi-eREa [2409] MEgan ePI ton OIkon tou TheOU;
21and havinga great priest over the house of :God;
pros-erCHOme-tha [4334]meTA a-le-thiNES en ple-ro-phoRIa [4136]PIste-os,
22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
re-ran-tisMEnoi [4472] tas karDIas aPO su-neiDEse-os [4893]po-neRAS [4190]:
having our:hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience:
kai le-lousMEnoi [3068] to SOma HUda-ti ka-thaRO[2513],
and having our:body washed with pure water,
kaTEcho-men [2722]ten ho-mo-loGIan [3671]tes elPIdos a-kliNE[186], piSTOS gar ho e-pag-geiLAme-nos:
23let us hold fast the unwavering confession of the hope, for faithful he that promised:
kai ka-ta-noOmen [2657] alLElous eis pa-ro-xusMON [3948]aGApes kai kaLON ERgon;
24and let us consider one another unto provoking of love and good works;
meeg-ka-taLEIpon-tes [1459]ten e-pi-su-na-goGEN [1997]he-auTON,
25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
kaTHOS Ethos [1485]tiSIN, alLA pa-ra-kaLOUNtes [3870];
as is a custom of some, but exhorting;
kai toSOUtoMALlon, HOsoBLEpe-te egGIzou-san [1448]ten heMEran.
and so much the more, as you see the day drawing nigh.
2. 10:26-31 THE DANGER OF APOSTASY IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST'S SACRIFICE
a. 10:26-27 THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING BACK ON CHRIST'S SACRIFICE
He-kouSIos [1596]gar ha-mar-taNONton [264]heMON meTA to laBEIN ten ePIGno-sin [2911]
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge
tes a-leTHEIas, ouKEti peRI ha-mar-tiON a-poLEIpe-tai [620]thuSIa [2378],
of the truth, no more sacrifice remains for sins,
pho-beRA [5398] DE tis ek-doXE [1561]KRIse-os [2920],
27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment,
kai puROS [4442] ZElos [2205]esTHIein [2068]MELlon-tos tous hu-pe-nanTIous [5227].
and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.
b. 10:28-29 JUDGMENT: PROPORTIONAL TO GREATER GUILT
a-theTEsas [114]ti NOmon Mo-uSEos
One that has set at naught Moses' law dies
choRIS oik-tirMON [3628]ePI duSIN he triSIN MARtu-sin [3144]a-poTHNESkei [599]:
without compassion on the word oftwo or three witnesses:
POso, doKEIte [1380], CHEIro-nos [5501]a-xi-oTHEse-tai [515]ti-moRIas [5098],
29of how much sorer punishment, think you, shall he be judged worthy,
ho ton huiON tou TheOU ka-ta-paTEsas [2662],
who has trodden under the Son of :God,
kai to HAIma tes di-aTHEkes [1242]koiNON [2839]he-geSAme-nos [2233]en ho he-giASthe[37],
and has counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified common,
kai to PNEUma tes CHAri-tos e-nuBRIsas [1797]?
and has insulted the Spirit of :grace?
c. 10:30a For we know him that said, Vengeance is mine, I will recompense.
OIda-men gar ton eiPONta, E-MOI ekDIke-sis [1557], eGO an-ta-poDOso[467].
d, 10:30b And again, TheLord shall judge his :people.
kai PAlin, KriNEI [2919]KUri-os ton laON auTOU.
e. 10:31 Fearful it is to fall into theliving God's hands.
pho-beRON [5398]to em-peSEIN [1706]eis CHEIras TheOU ZONtos.
3. 10:32-38 HOLD FAST EARLY LOVE AND SUFFERINGS: A SURE REWARD
a. 10:32-33 GOOD TO REMEMBER EARLY PERSECUTIONS
A-na-mimNEskes-the [363]de tas PROte-ron [4386]heMEras, en hais, pho-tisTHENtes [5461],
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were enlightened,
polLEN ATHle-sin [119]hu-peMEIna-te [5278]pa-theMAton [3804];
you endured a great conflict of sufferings;
TOUto men, o-nei-disMOIS [3680]te kai THLIpse-sin [2347]the-a-triZOme-noi [2301];
33partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions;
TOUto de, koi-noNOI [2844]ton HOUtos a-na-stre-phoMEnon [390]ge-neTHENtes [1096].
and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.
b. 10:34 ETERNAL INSIGHT OVERCOMES TEMPORARY INJUSTICE
kai gar tois desMIois [1199[ su-ne-paTHEsa-te[3844],
For you both sympathized with those in bonds,
kai ten har-paGEN [724]ton hu-parCHONton [5224]huMON meTA chaRAS pro-seDExas-the [4327],
and took joyfully the spoiling of your :possessions,
kiNOskon-tes Echein he-auTOUS KREISso-na [2909HUpar-xin [5223]kai MEnou-san [3306].
knowing that you have yourselves fora possession better and abiding.
c. 10:35 Cast not away therefore your :boldness, which has great recompense of reward.
Mea-poBAle-te [577]oun ten par-reSIan [3954]huMON, HEtis Echei meGAlen mis-tha-po-doSIan [3173].
d. 10:36 PROMISES FULFILLED: THE RESULT OF PATIENCE
hu-po-moNES [5281]gar Eche-te CHREIan [5532], HIna, to THEle-ma [2307]tou TheOU poiEsan-tes [4160],
For you have need of patience, that, having done the will of :God,
koMIses-the [2865]ten e-pag-geLIan [1860].
you may receive the promise.
e. 10:37 For yet a very, very little while, Who comes shall come, and shall not tarry.
Eti gar miKRON HOson, HOson, Ho erCHOme-nos HExei, kai ou chroNIsei [5549].
f.. 10:38 THE RIGHTEOUS: UNLIKE LOT'S WIFE
ho de DIkaiOS [1342] mou ek PIste-os ZEse-tai [2196]:
But my righteous one shall live from faith:
kai eAN hu-poSTEIle-tai [5288], ouk eu-doKEI [2106]he psuCHEmou en auTO.
And if he shrink back, my :soul has no pleasure in him.
K. 10:39 PAUL'S CONFIDENCE: ENDURANCE TO THE END FOR ALL
heMEIS de ouk esMEN hu-po-stoLES [5289]eis aPOlei-an [684];
But we are not of them that shrink back unto destruction;
alLA PIste-os eis pe-riPOIe-sin [4047]psuCHES.
but of those having faith unto saving of the soul.
NOTE: - 10:19-25 - This is one of those very close-knit passages in the NT, all centered around boldness, full assurance, unwavering confession, exhorting one another, continually meeting together. This whole approach is based on the “Finished Work” of Christ. On Calvary, Jesus' flesh was rent, a type of the veil into the Holiest, which at the same time was rent, from the high top to the bottom! This veil was some 4 inches thick, meaning that such a rending was supernatural! The priests had it resown - but the message from God's Throne in heaven is unanswerable. See how both our heartsand bodiesare dealt with at this same time, and through this same circumstance. A number of passages bear memorizing in the NT. Surely this is one of them!
10:26-31 - Rather than letting theology, denominational points of view, individual feelings shape our beliefs apart from clear declarations from the Word - Why do we not let the Word mean what itwants to mean, and God say what Hewants to say? Here the Spirit through the writer says - If we hear the Gospel and reject it, there isno other way of salvation, and the end is bitter! Other religions not basedon Christ and His“Finished Work' - God's onlyappointed Way to Himself - face this serious end. How we need to hear men like Rees Howells, and his challenge of “Everycreature Evangelism!”
The writer here (I believe it to be Paul based on internal evidence, and confirmed by Bible Numerics), contrasts the seriousness of the rejection of the law of Moses as spelled out - but rightly concludes the greater seriousness of rejecting the Son of God, and the blood of the eternal covenant. It is an insult also to the Spirit of grace!
And then we read how God moves in judgment at this point. To reject the Gospel once clearly seen - is serious. To leaveChrist and the Gospel after experiencing it, is much more serious. See Hebrews 6:4-8 for a parallel insight at this point.
In 10:32-38 we find this concluding exhortation. Believers are reminded of their initial love for Christ that enabled them to endure such persecution for righteousness' sake - and even more for their identification with Jesus! - for Christ's sake. It reminds us of the closing beatitudes in Matthew 5:10-12.
Remember the Bible-promised reward for enduring to the end! Don't give up the ship! “He that endures to the end, shall be saved.” It isn't Marathon runners who beginthat get the reward: - it is the fewwho endure to the end and cross the finish line! Note 10:38 - God has no pleasure in him who starts out, but then slips out of the race and fails to finish. Remember the parable of the 4 soils - it is only soil fourthat makes it!
10:39 - According to the context for NT sentences, paragraphs and sections, - we often find insights revealed in no other translation or commentary. Here is one of those surprises. This final verse to this chapter is set off all by itself as both a sentence, paragraph and section, all at the same time! It is the Holy Spirit's encouraging word through the writer, that these particular hearers areMarathon runners unto the finish! J.A.W.