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Hebrews 10:23-36

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

23. Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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. 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. 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 recompence of reward. 36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Hebrews 10:23-36 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Hebrews 10:23

Theological / Devotional

Let us hold fast. Again and again Christ and the NT writers stress the importance of endurance and perseverance (see Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Col. 1:23; etc.). There is danger that those who have entered upon the new life in Christ will become “weary in well doing” (Gal. 6:9), that they will relax their hold upon the eternal verities of God’s Word. See on Heb. 3:6.

Profession. See on ch. 3:1.

Our faith. Literally, “our hope,” that is, the hope of salvation through Christ (see on Titus 2:13; cf. Heb. 3:6 ; 6:11, 18, 19).

Without wavering. “Wavering” is the opposite of holding fast (see on Matt. 24:13; cf. Heb. 4:14; 10:35, 36). As a result of “wavering” at Kadesh-bamea the generation of Israelites that left Egypt could not enter into the Land of Promise. Their “wavering” was the result of a lack of faith (see on Heb. 3:12, 18, 19 ; 11:1).

He is faithful. That is, God is faithful in keeping His promises — of deliverance from Egypt and entrance into Canaan, and of deliverance from sin and entrance into the blessings of salvation in Christ Jesus. Since God is faithful and does not waver in fulfilling His promises, we should be faithful and not waver in accepting them. The faithfulness of Christ as our great High Priest is stressed in eh. 3:2, 5, 6.

That promised. The writer doubtless thinks back to the promises made to Abraham and his descendants with respect to the land of Canaan (see on Gen. 15:18; Heb. 4:1), but the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ is uppermost in his mind (cf. John 3:16; see on Matt. 1:21).

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