See the Bible Through Jewish Eyes BIBLE STUDY WITH DR. RICH FREEMAN
Hebrews 10:26-39: From Positive
Exhortations to Warnings of Judgment
In this new section, the writer of Hebrews transitions
from the positive exhortations of the previous
chapters to very negative warnings of judgment,
beginning with the words, “For if we go on sinning
willfully….” In the context of the book of Hebrews,
the sin spoken of is to willfully return to the Judaism
of their day, in spite of the fact that they had received
“the knowledge of the truth.” In light of this apostasy,
the writer of Hebrews says that
“there no longer remains a sacrifice
for sins.” If a believer willfully returns
to this first-century Judaism,
thereby rejecting Jesus’ sacrifice on
the cross, there is nothing else that
can protect him or her from God’s
judgment. The judgment that is in
view here is the judgment of believers,
the judgment seat of Christ, not
the great white throne judgment
reserved for unbelievers. The result
will be a loss of reward, rather than
a loss of salvation. The idea of fire
is reminiscent of Paul’s description
of the judgment seat of Christ in
1 Corinthians 3:15: “If any man’s
work is burned up, he will suffer loss;
but he himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire.”
The point of verses 28-29 is if
an Israelite who spurned the Old
Covenant suffered a severe penalty,
believers will most certainly suffer
an even more severe penalty if we
reject the superior New Covenant.
The sin of apostasy under the
New Covenant has the effect
of “trampling underfoot the Son of God,” or, in
essence, treating Him with contempt. Also, it
involves “regarding as unclean the blood of the
covenant,” despising the superior blood of Jesus
Christ, “by which he was sanctified.” This clearly
describes the apostate as a Christian. In addition,
the apostate insults “the Spirit of Grace,” or the
Holy Spirit who graciously brought the believer to
faith in the Messiah. In verses 30-31, the writer
summarizes his message by quoting twice from the
song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32), where Moses
warns the Israelites against apostatizing. The writer
of Hebrews, just like Moses, wants these believers,
who were contemplating renouncing their faith in
the Messiah, to understand just how terrifying a
prospect that would be.
MAY 2018 / THE CHOSEN PEOPLE - 6
The tenor of the message changes beginning in
Hebrews 10:32, as the writer encourages these believers
to remember past experiences of
trials and sufferings. These believers
had proven themselves faithful to
Messiah as they endured severe trials
of their faith “partly by being made a
public spectacle through reproaches and
tribulations, and partly by becoming
sharers with those who were so treated”
(Hebrews 10:33). Despite these
public spectacles of persecution and
even enduring the seizure of their
property, they stood firm in their
faith. The implication is that they
are now contemplating giving in to
the persecution and returning to
a life that dishonors Messiah. The
writer exhorts them to stay strong
with the words, “For you have need
of endurance” (Hebrews 10:36). He
then reminds them of their faith that
the Lord is coming soon. He quotes
Isaiah 26:21 from the Septuagint,
“For yet in a very little while, he
who is coming will come, and will
not delay.” Lastly, also from the
Septuagint, he quotes Habakkuk 2:3-
4, “But my righteous one shall live
by faith; and if he shrinks back, my
soul has no pleasure in him.” “My Righteous One” is
referring to a believer and “shrinks back” is speaking
about falling away from the faith.
The writer of Hebrews concludes chapter ten
with a statement of great hope for himself and for his
fellow Jewish believers: “But we are not of those who
shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith
to the preserving of the soul” (Hebrew 10:39). From
this statement of hope, the writer will transition next
to the great hall of faith in Hebrews chapter eleven.
Dr. Rich Freeman, D. Min.
serves as the Vice President
for Church Ministries and
Conferences with
Chosen People Ministries
and lives in South Florida
with his wife, Julia.
Hebrews 10:26-31
26 For if we go on sinning
willfully after receiving the
knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains
a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a
terrifying expectation of
judgment and the fury of
a fire which will consume
the adversaries....a much
severer punishment do you
think he will deserve who
has trampled under foot the
Son of God, and has regarded
as unclean the blood of
the covenant by which he
was sanctified, and has insulted
the Spirit of grace? 30
For we know Him who said,
“Vengeance is Mine,
I will repay.” And again,
“The Lord will judge His
people.” 31 It is a terrifying
thing to fall into the hands
of the living God.