Hebrews 10
Law a shadow of things to comeverses 1-6
For the law having a shadow of good things to come
and not the very image of the things
can never with those sacrifices which they offered
year by year continually make the comers
there to PERFECT
For then would they not have ceased to be offered?
BECAUSE that the worshiper once PURGED should have
had no more conscience of sins
BUT in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins
every year
FOR it is NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of bulls and of goats
should take away sins
Wherefore when HE comes into the world – HE says
Sacrifice and offering YOU would not
BUT a body hast YOU PREPARED for ME
in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
YOU hast had NO PLEASURE
Jesus Christ comes to offer final sacrificeverses 7-14
Then said I – Lo – I come (in the volume of the book it is written of ME)
to do YOUR will – O God
Above when HE said
Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin
YOU would not – neither had PLEASURE therein
which are offered by the law
Then said HE – Lo – I come to do YOUR will – O God
HE takes away the first – THAT HE may establish the second
By the which will we are SANCTIFIED through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all
AND every priest stands DAILY ministering and offering oftentimes
the same sacrifices – which can NEVER take away sins
but THIS MAN – after HE had offered ONE sacrifice
for sins for ever – sat down on the right hand of God
from henceforth expecting till HIS enemies
be made HIS footstool
For by ONE offering HE hath PERFECTED for ever them
that are SANCTIFIED
Holy Spirit introduce New Covenantverses 15-18
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us – for after HE had said before
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days
says the Lord – I will put my laws into their HEARTS
and in their MINDS will I write them
and their sins and iniquities
will I remember NO MORE
Now where REMISSION of these is
there is NO MORE offering for sin
Christians have a new boldnessverses 19-22
Having THEREFORE – brethren
BOLDNESS to enter into the holiest by the BLOOD of Jesus
by a new and living way
which HE hath CONSECRATED for us
through the veil – that is to say – HIS flesh
AND having an high priest over the house of God
LET us draw near with a TRUE heart in full assurance of faith
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water
Christians have a new motivationverses 23-25
LET us hold fast the PROFESSION of our faith without wavering
(for HE is faithful that promised)
AND LET us consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
as the manner of some is
BUT exhorting one another
and so much the more as ye see the day approaching
Christians who are disobedient will be judgedverses 26-31
FOR if we sin willfully after we have received the
knowledge of the truth
there remains NO MORE sacrifices for sins
BUT a certain fearful looking for of judgment
and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under
two or three witnesses
OF how much sorer punishment – suppose you
shall he be thought worthy
who hath trodden under foot the Son of God
and hash counted the blood of the covenant
wherewith he was SANCTIFIED an unholy thing
and has done despite to the Spirit of GRACE?
FOR we know HIM that has said
Vengeance belongs to ME
I will recompense – says the Lord
And again
The Lord shall judge HIS people
It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the LIVING God
Christian hold on to faith in spite of sufferingverses 32-34
BUT call to remembrance the former days – in which
after you were ILLUMINATED
you endured a great fight of afflictions
Partly – while you were made a gazingstock both by
reproaches – afflictions
And partly – while you became companions of them that were so used
FOR you had compassion of me in my bonds
and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods
knowing in yourselves that in HEAVEN a
better and enduring substance
Christians need enduranceverses 35-39
Cast not away therefore your CONFIDENCE
which has great recompense of reward
FOR you have need of PATIENCE – that
after you have done the will of God
you might receive the PROMISE
FOR yet a little while and HE that shall come will come
and will not tarry
Now the just shall live by FAITH
BUT if any man draw back
MY soul shall have NO PLEASURE in him
BUT we are not of them who draw back to perdition
BUT of them that believe to the saving of the soul
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (851 “take away” [aphaireo] means cut off, remove, to eliminate, to do away, cause a state to cease, or to separate)
DEVOTION: There is a difference between the Old Testament system and the coming of Jesus Christ to set up a new system.
In the Old Testament the saints were looking forward to the coming Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. They were offering animal sacrifices to show that blood was necessary for the forgiveness of sin. All the animal sacrifices looked forward to the final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They could not take away sin.
When Jesus came we have a new covenant made with the people of God. It was a covenant based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. HE offered HIS blood for our sins. The Father accepted HIS sacrifice.
Now those who were followers of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament had the perfect sacrifice necessary for them to be with the Father for eternity. They were finally able to leave the bosom of Abraham and go with Christ in his ascension to heaven. Abraham’s bosom where those who were Old Testament saints were said to be in was emptied. Christ told the thief on the cross that he would be with HIM in paradise that day.
Now we find that based on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ believers who die will be absent from the body and present with the LORD immediately. There will be a resurrection of the body in the future but as soon as a believer dies his soul and spirit will be with Christ in heaven.
CHALLENGE: The promises of the Word of God are sure and steadfast.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (3403 “remember” [mimnesko] means to recall knowledge from memory, to think about again, keep in mind, or be concerned about)
DEVOTION: There comes a point in every individual’s life when they make a choice regarding their relationship with Jesus Christ. The message of salvation is presented by a pastor or speaker. There is a time of reflection regarding a decision. Once the decision is make to repent of sin and turn toward the LORD Jesus Christ a new life is started.
God promises those who make this commitment to HIM that HE will not remember their past or present or future sins anymore. HE will not forget because HE is omniscient but HE will chose not to remember our sins based on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Our sins will still need to be confessed on a regular basis to keep our fellowship with the LORD correct. If we fail in this department HE will send weakness, sickness and death our way to correct the situation.
HE wants us to stay in close fellowship with HIM so that we can bring glory to HIS name to all those we meet in our world. Everyone we meet will either know we have Jesus Christ in our heart or our life will not manifest HIM.
CHALLENGE: The choice is ours each day.
: 24 And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works (3948 “provoke” [paroxusmos] means stimulate, incitement, contention, intense argument, irritation, spur on, stirring up or encouragement)
DEVOTION: The author continues to show the difference between the two covenants. The new covenant is better. The new covenant gives better assess to God. The new covenant took effect with the sacrifice of one offering – Jesus Christ on the cross.
Those who are believers under the new covenant can come boldly to God. Those who are believers have a new and living way into the presence of God.
The author warns that believers are to draw near with a true heart. The believer is to not waver in his faith. The new believer is to gather together with other believers, in order to, exhort one another. Those who are part of the group are not to draw back. Remember that some think that there were unsaved individuals attending this church.
Individual believers have a responsibility to help fellow believers grow in the LORD. One way to cause these believers to grow is to think of ways to stimulate fellow believers to love one another. Another way to cause these believers to grow is to think of ways they can serve the LORD through good works.
When are we to spur on our fellow believers? The next verse tells us that we are to get together weekly to do this spurring on. If every Christian was to come to church on Sunday and they were properly spurred on to love and good works, what would our world look like today?
Each time we gather together as believers we are to encourage one another to love and do good works for the rest of the week. Does that mean that we can’t encourage one another during the week? NO!! We can encourage each day of the week. We are supposed to do it because we see that the Lord’s return is coming. HIS day is coming!!!
We don’t know which day that will be but we know that HE has promised to return. HE wants to find us working. HE wants to find us encouraging one another. HE wants us to realize that this world is not our home. We are to occupy this world until HE returns.
We need to realize that heaven has a better and enduring substance to it. We need to not draw back from our service to the LORD but continue until HE comes. God has no pleasure in those who draw back.
We are not a part of those who draw back to perdition. Our part is to spur on our fellow believers to service for the King of kings!!! Who are we spurring on? Can others say that we are an encourager or a discourager?
CHALLENGE: Examine whether you are encouraging others to serve the LORD on a regular basis. Are you regularly thinking of ways to encourage your family and friends to love the LORD more and serve HIM better?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (1997 “assembling” [episunagoge] means gathering together, meeting, or a complete collection.)
DEVOTION: The Holy Spirit wants all believers to know that they are to gather together on a regular basis for worship and fellowship. This is to happen each Sunday. It is a command of the LORD for all believers.
I have met a few who will say that they are just as good a Christian as those who attend church each Sunday but they are lying to themselves. They are being disobedient to the LORD’S command. They are causing others to follow their example and they will have to answer for leading others away from obedience.
Why do we need to get together each Sunday? The reason is given. It is so that we can encourage one another. We can challenge one another to continue to serve the LORD. It is so that those who are discouraged during the week can find a smiling face and a warm handshake waiting for them in church.
Also there is the preaching of the Word of God both in the Sunday School hour and the Worship service hour that can cause growth in an individual. The singing of hymns and choruses can encourage others to praise the LORD with others who love the LORD.
In some churches there is a time of fellowship even during the service where people greet one another. These can be encouraging times as well. God wants each of us to comfort, challenge, encourage and love one another. This is to happen so that everyone can face the next six days in the workplace that might not have one believer in it to give a Christian courage to tell others through their smile or body language that they love the LORD. They can even use words at times.
CHALLENGE: If you know of someone who is skipping church, you should go to them and encourage them to come to church with you.
:36 For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. (5281 “patience” [hupomone] means 1 steadfastness, constancy, endurance. 1a in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. 1b patiently, and steadfastly. 2 a patient, steadfast waiting for. 3 a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: Ever read a good novel, and wonder what the turning point of it will be? This is the point that leads up to the climax, where the hero of the novel will do something special, make a great discovery, or change their thinking about something. The same thing is true in movies, as we await the transformation in some way of the characters on the screen.
The author of Hebrews reaches his turning point in this chapter. He has made the case that Jesus is superior to angels and to the old covenant, and now he completes this argument by noting that the sacrificial system of the old covenant was a passing ritual, since people needed to continue making sacrifices for sins, while Jesus’ one death was sufficient for all the sins of all mankind. Based on this, Jesus the only priest that will ever be needed from this point forward.
He proceeds to remind his readers that they had suffered great persecutions already in their past, and that they should not be surprised that these would continue, precisely because people continue to spurn the grace of God and His gift of Jesus’ blood on the cross for people’s sins. Because of this, the final score will be settled by God in the future, and His people need to endure for a season until this occurs. There is a promise awaiting them at the completion of this life, and this is based on the same faith that Habakkuk, an Old Testament prophet, had mentioned in his book. The promise of Christ’s second coming will set the backdrop for the author describing great men of faith in Hebrews 11. So, he encourages them toward endurance and perseverance in the faith.
CHALLENGE: Do you feel challenged by your circumstances today? God is telling you that you need a bit more perseverance in order to see Him work through them. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Volume of the bookverse 7
Law of God written on hearts and mindverse 16
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sacrificesverses 1, 3, 6, 8
Worshippersverse 2
Blood of bulls and goatsverse 4
Burnt offeringsverses 6, 8
Entering in the holiestverse 19
Veil = Christ’s fleshverse 20
Not forsaking the assemblingverse 25
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Lawverses 1, 8, 16
Law: Shadow of good things to comeverse 1
Volume of the bookverse 7
Covenantverse 16
Mosesverse 28
Moses’ lawverse 28
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
No pleasure in burnt offeringsverse 6
Godverses 7, 9, 12, 21, 29, 31, 36
Will of Godverses 7, 9
Right hand of Godverse 12
Lordverses 16, 30
Remember sins and iniquities no moreverse 17
House of Godverse 21
Faithfulverse 23
Vengeance belongs to MEverse 30
Judgeverse 30
Fearful thing to be in HIS handsverse 31
Living Godverse 31
Will of Godverse 36
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Body prepared (for Christ)verse 5
Came to do Father’s willverse 9
Jesus verse 10
Christverse 10
Jesus Christ verse 10
Body of Jesus Christverse 10
Manverse 12
One sacrifice for sins foreververses 12, 14
Sat down on the right hand of Godverse 12
Blood of Jesusverses 19, 29
Veil = Christ’s fleshverse 20
High Priestverse 21
Son of Godverse 29
Blood of the covenantverse 29
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Holy Ghostverse 15
Witness to usverse 15
Spirit of Graceverse 29
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemiesverse 13
Adversariesverse 27
Soulverse 39
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sinsverses 2-4, 11, 12, 17, 26
Sinverses 6, 8, 18, 26
Iniquitiesverse 17
Evil conscienceverse 22
Sin willfullyverse 26
No more sacrifice for sinsverse 26
Trodden under foot the Son of Godverse 29
Unholyverse 29
Despite to the Spirit of graceverse 29
Draw backverses 38, 39
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Perfectverse 1
Do God’s willverses 7, 36
Sanctifiedverses 10, 14, 29
Christ’s laws in our hearts and mindsverse 16
Remissionverse 18
No more offerings for sinverse 18
Boldnessverse 19
New and living wayverse 20
Consecratedverse 20
Draw nearverse 22
Full assurance of faithverse 22
Washed with pure waterverse 22
Hold fastverse 23
Faith without waveringverse 23
Consider one anotherverse 24
Provoke to love and good worksverse 24
Not forsaking the assemblingverse 25
Exhorting one anotherverse 25
Knowledge of the truthverse 26
Mercyverse 28
Call to remembranceverse 32
Former days
Illuminated
Endured great afflictions
Gazingstockverse 33
Reproaches
Afflictions
Compassionverse 34
Confidenceverse 35
Recompense of rewardverse 35
Patienceverse 36
Promiseverse 36
Just shall live by faithverse 38
Faithverse 38
Believeverse 39
Saving of the soulverse 39
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Not possible: take away sinsverse 4
Take away the first establish the secondverse 9
Priestverse 11
Daily ministering
Offering same sacrifices
Never take away sins
Never take away sinsverse 11
Mosesverse 28
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brethrenverse 19
Not forsaking the assemblingverse 25
Exhortingverse 25
Compassion on author of Hebrewsverse 34
Last Things (Future Events)
Perfected for eververse 14
Day approachingverse 25
Judgment and fiery indignationverse 27
Died without mercyverse 28
Punishmentverse 29
Judge his peopleverse 30
Fall into the hands of the living Godverse 31
Heaven: better and enduring substanceverse 34
Little whileverse 37
Coming of Jesusverse 37
Perditionverse 39
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QUOTES regarding passage
26 It is clear that the writer has apostasy in mind. He is referring to people who “have received the knowledge of the truth,” where “truth” (alētheia) stands for “the content of Christianity as the absolute truth” (BAG, s.v.), as it frequently does in the NT. The people in question, then, know what God has done in Christ; their acquaintance with Christian teaching is more than superficial. If, knowing this, they revert to an attitude of rejection, of continual sin (cf. the present participle hamartanontōn rendered “keep on sinning”), then there remains no sacrifice for sins. Such people have rejected the sacrifice of Christ, and the preceding argument has shown that there is no other. If they revert to the Jewish sacrificial system, they go back to sacrifices that their knowledge of Christianity teaches them cannot put away sin (v. 4). The writer adopts no pose of superiority, but his “we” puts him in the same class as his readers. While he emphasizes the danger of others, he does not forget that he too is weak and liable to sin. (Morris, L. (1981). Hebrews. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 106). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
If we sin wilfully (ἑκουσιως ἁμαρτανοντων ἡμων [hekousiōs hamartanontōn hēmōn]). Genitive absolute with the present active participle of ἁμαρτανω [hamartanō], circumstantial participle here in a conditional sense. After that we have received (μετα το λαβειν [meta to labein]). “After the receiving” (accusative case of the articular infinitive second aorist active of λαμβανω [lambanō] after μετα [meta]). Knowledge (ἐπιγνωσιν [epignōsin]). “Full knowledge,” as in 6:4f. There remaineth no more (οὐκετι ἀπολειπεται [ouketi apoleipetai]). “No longer is there left behind” (present passive indicative as in 4:9), for one has renounced the one and only sacrifice for sin that does or can remove sin (10:1–18). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Heb 10:26). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
10:26–27. The KJV translation here, “if we sin willfully,” is superior to NIV‘s if we deliberately keep on sinning, as the words “keep on” overplay the Greek tense. As the context shows (cf. v. 23), the author was concerned here, as throughout the epistle, with the danger of defection from the faith. Most sin is “deliberate,” but the writer was here influenced by the Old Testament’s teaching about sins of presumption (cf. Num. 15:29–31) which lay outside the sacrificial provisions of the Law. Apostasy from the faith would be such a “willful” act and for those who commit it no sacrifice for sins is left (cf. Heb. 10:18). If the efficacious sacrifice of Christ should be renounced, there remained no other available sacrifice which could shield an apostate from God’s judgment by raging fire. A Christian who abandons “the confidence [he] had at first” (3:14) puts himself on the side of God’s enemies and, as the writer had already said, is in effect “crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace” (6:6). Such reprehensible conduct can scarcely be worthy of anything but God’s flaming indignation and retribution. This, however, as stated earlier (cf. comments on 6:8), is not a reference to hell (cf. comments on 10:29). (Hodges, Z. C. (1985). Hebrews. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 805). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
A solemn exhortation (vv. 26–31). This is the fourth of the five exhortations found in Hebrews. It is written to believers and follows in sequence with the other exhortations. The believer who begins to drift from the Word (Heb. 2:1–4) will soon start to doubt the Word (Heb. 3:7–4:13). Soon, he will become dull toward the Word (Heb. 5:11–6:20) and become “lazy” in his spiritual life. This will result in despising the Word, which is the theme of this exhortation.
The evidence of this “despising” is willful sin. The tense of the verb indicates that Hebrews 10:26 should read, “For if we willfully go on sinning.” This exhortation is not dealing with one particular act of sin, but with an attitude that leads to repeated disobedience. Under the Old Covenant, there were no sacrifices for deliberate and willful sins (Ex. 21:12–14; Num. 15:27–31). Presumptuous sinners who despised Moses’ Law and broke it were executed (Deut. 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 could offer was the sacrifice of a broken heart (Ps. 51:16–17).
How does an arrogant attitude affect a believer’s relationship with God? It is as though he trods Jesus Christ underfoot, cheapens the precious blood that saved him (“an unholy thing” [Heb. 10:29] = “a common thing”), and insults the Holy Spirit. This is just the opposite of the exhortation given in Hebrews 10:19–25! Instead of having a bold profession of faith, hope, and love, a backslidden believer so lives that his actions and attitudes bring disgrace to the name of Christ and the church.
What can this kind of a Christian expect from God? He can expect severe discipline. (Chastening is the theme of Heb. 12.) There is no need to “water down” words such as “judgment and fiery indignation” (Heb. 10:27), or “sorer punishment” (Heb. 10:29). We have already seen from the history of Israel that hardly anybody who was saved out of Egypt by the blood of the lamb entered into the promised inheritance. Nearly all of them died in the wilderness. “There is a sin unto death” (1 John 5:16). Some of the Corinthian believers were disciplined and their lives taken because of their presumptuous sins (1 Cor. 11:30, where “sleep” means “died”).
God does not always take the life of a rebellious believer, but He always deals with him. “Vengeance belongeth unto Me” was spoken to Israel, God’s people. “The Lord shall judge His people!” (Heb. 10:30, quoted from Deut. 32:35) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
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 Cor. 10:1–12). Note that the examples given in this passage involve 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.
In stating that this exhortation applies to believers today, but that it does not involve loss of salvation, I am not suggesting that chastening is unimportant. On the contrary, it is important that every Christian obey God and please the Father in all things. Dr. William Culbertson, late president of the Moody Bible Institute, used to warn us about “the sad consequences of forgiven sins.” God forgave David’s sins, but David suffered the sad consequences for years afterward (2 Sam. 12:7–15). David had “despised the commandment of the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:9) and God dealt with him.
What should a believer do who has drifted away into spiritual doubt and dullness and is deliberately despising God’s Word? He should turn to God for mercy and forgiveness. There is no other sacrifice for sin, but the sacrifice Christ made 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). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 315–316). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
10:26 we. The author is speaking rhetorically. In v. 39, he excludes himself and genuine believers from this category. sinning willfully. The Gr. term carries the idea of deliberate intention that is habitual. The sin is rejecting Christ deliberately. These are not isolated acts. According to the Mosaic legislation, such acts of deliberate, premeditated sin required exclusion from the congregation of Israel (cf. Nu 15:30, 31) and from its worship (cf. Ex 21:14). Such sins also excluded the individual from sanctuary in the cities of refuge (cf. Dt 19:11–13). knowledge. The Gr. term denotes specific knowledge, not general spiritual knowledge (cf. 6:4; cf. 1Ti 2:4). Though the knowledge was not defective or incomplete, the application of the knowledge was certainly flawed. Judas Iscariot is a good example of a disciple who had no lack of knowledge, but lacked faith and became the arch-apostate. no longer. See note on 6:6. The apostate is beyond salvation because he has rejected the only sacrifice that can cleanse him from sin and bring him into God’s presence. To turn away from that sacrifice leaves him with no saving alternative. This is parallel to Mt 12:31 (see note there). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 10:26). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 26. For if we sin wilfully, &c.] Which is not to be understood of a single act of sin, but rather of a course of sinning; nor of sins of infirmity through temptation, or even of grosser acts of sin, but of voluntary ones; and not of all voluntary ones, or in which the will is engaged and concerned, but of such which are done on set purpose, resolutely and obstinately; and not of immoral practices, but of corrupt principles, and acting according to them; it intends a total apostacy from the truth, against light and evidence, joined with obstinacy. After that we have received the knowledge of the truth; either of Jesus Christ, or of the Scriptures, or of the Gospel, or of some particular doctrine, especially the principal one, salvation by Christ; of which there may be a notional knowledge, when there is no experimental knowledge; and which is received not into the heart, but into the head: and whereas the apostle speaks in the first person plural, we, this is used not so much with regard to himself, but others; that so what he delivered might come with greater weight upon them, and be more readily received by them; when they observed he entertained no hard thoughts or jealousies of them, which would greatly distress the minds of those that were truly gracious. Moreover, the apostles use this way of speaking, when they don’t design themselves at all, but others, under the same visible profession of religion, and who belonged to the same community of believers; see 1 Pet. 4:3; Tit. 3:3; Eph. 2:3 compared with Acts 22:3 and 26:5; Phil. 3:6. Besides, these words are only hypothetical, and don’t prove that true believers could, or should, or do sin in this manner: to which may be added, that true believers are manifestly distinguished from these persons, ver. 38, 39 there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins; meaning, not typical sacrifice; for though the daily sacrifice ought to have ceased at the death of Christ, yet it did not in fact until the destruction of Jerusalem; but the sacrifice of Christ, which will never be repeated; Christ will die no more; his blood will not be shed again, nor his sacrifice reiterated; nor will any other sacrifice be offered; there will be no other Saviour; there is no salvation in any other, nor any other name whereby we must be saved. These words have been wrongly made use of to prove that persons sinning after baptism are not to be restored to communion again upon repentance; and being understood of immoral actions wilfully committed, have given great distress to consciences burdened with the guilt of sin, committed after a profession of religion; but the true sense of the whole is this, that after men have embraced and professed the truths of the Gospel, and particularly this great truth of it, that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of men by his blood and sacrifice; and yet after this, against all evidence, all the light and convictions of their own consciences, they wilfully deny this truth, and obstinately persist in the denial of it; seeing there is no more, no other sacrifice for sin, no other Saviour, nor any salvation in any other way, the case of these men must be desperate; there is no help for them, nor hope of them; for by this their sin they shut up against themselves, in principle and practice, the way of salvation, as follows. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 449–450). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
mimnḗskomai.
1. This word, meaning “to remember,” is an important one in the LXX, for when God remembers people in grace and mercy (Gen. 8:1; 19:29, etc.), this is a creative event. God remembers the covenant (Gen. 9: 15ff.; Ex. 2:24) and the patriarchs (Ex. 32:13). The converse is that Israel remembers God’s past acts and commandments (Num. 15:39–40). She is summoned to remember the visitation in Egypt (Dt. 15:15 etc.), not remembering the fleshpots (Num. 11:5), but remembering her own guilt (Dt. 9:7) and God’s mercy. In prayer she may call on God to remember (Judg. 16:28; Job 7:7; Ps. 74:2, etc.). If he remembers his people, he also remembers her foes and punishes them (Ps. 137:7). The prayers of Nehemiah combine various facets of remembering (1:8ff.; 5:19, etc.). God can summon Israel to remember and therefore to repent (Mic. 6:5), and one person can ask another to remember and return a favor (Gen. 40:14).
2. In the NT “to remember” is not just a mental act. A word or action serves to kindle the memory. Recollection may strike (Mt. 5:23) or be continually present (1 Cor. 11:2). The Lucan infancy stories link God’s remembering and his saving acts, as in the OT (1:54 etc.). In Heb. 8:12 God no longer remembers sin. In Acts 10:4 he remembers the prayers and alms of Cornelius. On the other hand, his remembering means judgment for Babylon in Rev. 16:19. Abraham tells Dives to remember the good things he had enjoyed in this life (Lk. 16:25), and the dying thief asks Jesus to remember him in his kingdom (23:42). The word of Jesus is alive in the disciples through recollection (Mk. 14:72 etc.). At Easter remembrance means understanding (Lk. 24:6, 8). Indeed, as new and true knowledge, remembrance belongs to the work of the Spirit (cf. Jn. 2:22; 12:16; especially 14:26). The gospel also demands recollection (1 Cor. 4:17). The church is to remember the apostle and his teaching (11:2). This remembering is not just intellectualistic (cf. 2 Pet. 3:1ff.). To remind others is to bear witness to the word of God; to remind oneself is to place oneself totally under this word. Recollection of the sayings of Jesus is central (Acts 11:16), not out of purely historical concern, but in self-judgment, self-dedication, and concern for the brethren (Heb. 13:3). (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 596–597). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.)
Jesus teaches on truth.
INSIGHT
By nature, we want absolute freedom. But such freedom is not possible. In fact, no such thing as absolute freedom exists. To be free to sail the seven seas, we must make ourselves a slave to the compass. This subservience irritates us.
All of life is a contrast between freedoms and corresponding bondages. We can be slaves to Jesus and free from the bondage of sin, or we can be free from Jesus and slaves to the bondage of sin. We can make ourselves slaves to truth, and the truth can set us free. (Quiet Walk)
THE CROSS AND THE SOUL OF MAN
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:37
The cross expounds the truth that the soul of man is something that is very precious. You remember our Lord’s own teaching about this. He said: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). The cross talks about the soul of man; our Lord is on the cross because of the preciousness of a man’s immortal soul. So at once you see that the cross tells me something about myself and the nature of this manhood that God has given me. It tells me also about the whole purpose of life in this world. This is my soul; this is the thing that matters.
Now my body is important, and I must not despise it. Many other things are important, too, in this world. It is no part of the preaching of the gospel to depreciate legitimate things or to ridicule them. But I would say that it is the business of the Gospel to say that it is the soul of man that matters, that part of us that goes on even when we die—something imperishable, something that goes on into eternity. The cross puts tremendous emphasis upon that. He came there not in order that our bodies might be healed, not in order that we might be better fed or clothed or have more information and knowledge; no, He came to save the soul. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), and what was lost is man’s soul.
Here is this tremendous statement, therefore, coming from the cross to us. Have you heard it—have you realized that the most important thing about you is this soul of yours?
A Thought to Ponder: Have you realized that the most important thing about you is this soul of yours? (From The Cross, pp. 156-157, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
A Time to Sleep
“And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.” (Acts 12:6)
Here is an amazing thing. The apostle Peter is in prison, bound with chains, heavily guarded, probably awaiting execution (his close friend James already had been put to death by Herod), and “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5).
Yet, here he is, fast asleep! He had been imprisoned at least once before for preaching the gospel, and the Lord had miraculously delivered him then (Acts 5:17-19), so why should he be fearful now? The Lord was still in control, and there was nothing Peter himself could do about the situation, so he simply went to sleep. There are, of course, many situations where a Christian needs to stay alert and watchful. But there are also times when he has done all he can do, and there is nothing to be accomplished by further worrying, so he must leave it in the Lord’s hands.
In Peter’s case, he was sleeping so soundly that when an angel from God came to deliver him from his “impossible” circumstance, the angel had to smite him on the side (v. 7) to awaken him! In fact, he was still so sleepy that he did not really “come to himself” (v. 11) until the angel left him out on the street alone.
Then, of course, Peter rushed back to the house of Mark’s mother, where the church was praying for him (v. 12), to tell them of the amazing answer to their prayers. As with Peter, there are times when we must simply “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13), “so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
However, Paul reminds us that prayer and our dependency on God should characterize our attitude in all things. When Paul states that we should “pray continually”
(1 Thess 5: 17), he is stating that every moment we should be living in complete recognition of our absolute dependency upon God.
(p. 83, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
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