In Hebrews 10:19-39 the writer makes a deliberate shift from staunch theological argument to a compelling exhortation to keep the faith. The next few chapters in Hebrews are all about believing who they first said they believed in—God Almighty through Jesus Christ. The kind and tender words of “brothers/sisters, us, we, near, assurance and hope” guide his audience in a most impassioned way. The high and lofty language of theology turns to the urgent and practical exhortation which is profoundly parental.
Remembering that the folks the writer addressed were predominantly of Jewish descent, we need to visualize the desert Tabernacle and the Temple as a distinct and relatively small structure that, in the Old Testament books of the Law, God had commanded to be built and used. The Tabernacle was around 150 feet by 30 feet with one entrance of around 20 feet. Halfway inside of this area there was a bronze altar and basin where sacrifices were prepared and offered. Just beyond that was the Holy Place that was around 30 feet by 15 feet. And inside of that was the Most Holy Place, around 15 square feet. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place and that but once a year to offer sacrifices for all of his sins and the sins of the people. While God was represented as having a presence in the Tabernacle and Temple, only a select few could ever enter into those spaces. It was a separate and sacred space never available to most Hebrews and Jews. The New Testament writer also described the new reality that the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided. There were already many references to this in previous chapters, but for the present study let’s focus on the first part of Chapter 10.
Read Hebrews 10:1-18.
Here the writer lays out the final and profoundly effective role of the High Priest in Jesus Christ. After establishing Christ above all of the others previously mentioned in this letter, Jesus serves finally and completely and forever as the High Priest. The Tabernacle, Temple and sacrifices are no longer necessary because he has fulfilled all of those purposes! The Wycliffe Bible Commentary cites: “Neither the veil or human flesh blocks our access to God.”[1] This then is the reason that those who believe can confess hope.
Read Hebrews 10:19-25.
Keep in mind the internal (Judaizing) and external (Roman persecutions) pressures these dear folks were under and the reasons that they had to abandon hope. The pressures must have been very great. They had begun believing in Jesus Christ some time ago and now there were questions that seem to be pressing them all the harder. Is it worth this trouble we’re in? Have we been fooled? Isn’t life supposed to get better for us when we follow Jesus? How long do we have to endure this? Will we see hope fulfilled? Why do we have to keep risking ourselves and our families to meet together? And at the very core of all of these questions: Is Jesus Christ trustworthy?
Many of these folks had come out of the Jewish tradition with a deep and abiding faith in God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. There is no apparent lack of faith in God. But this Jesus? The writer declares without apology that this Jesus, and what he has already accomplished, is precisely why they can have hope. He is the primary key. He is their motivation for continuing in this new and living way. The writer exhorts them to “take every advantage of the privilege”[2] in being able to approach and stay near God.
Because Jesus Christ made the way for them to have their sins forgiven, they could and did stand in the presence of the Holy God. Their consciences, as well as their whole persons (bodies), have been cleansed by his work. These folks did believe that God had helped their ancestors through incredible times. God is trustworthy! He keeps his promises! He is faithful, always faithful! And this Jesus, as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah, is proof of God’s unbroken promise of bringing people near to him, enabling them to live with him and not just near him. H. Orton Wiley wrote: “The
Holiest of All’ in Christian experience is that place which is out beyond the sin question.”[3] Therefore, the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ and hope for the future is also trustworthy. We can almost see the writer grabbing hold of their shoulders and looking them straight in the eye—“It’s true! Take hold of the hope! Don’t let go!”
Then a second key to perseverance is offered to them. This key is the truth of Christian community. This demonstrates that by the final and effective sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that “with assurance comes concern for others.”[4] When hope is born in us, we can move out of selfishness and fear into the care and concern for others. When the faithful gather together something wonderful takes place. Mutual encouragement happens. Testimonies of God’s faithfulness and the cleansing work of Jesus Christ are shared. In the middle of praise, worship, the reading and interpretation of Scripture, and sharing testimonies, the faithful gain strength to be more faithful. They could look each other in the eye and say, “Yes, it is still true! Yes, I still believe!”
The writer’s enthusiasm is punctuated by a brief and powerful reference to “the Day” and its approach. The Day of the Lord in the Old Testament was an indicator of judgment, often the final Day of Judgment for God’s enemies, but also a present Day of Judgment. This encouragement is now cloaked in eschatology—the subject of God’s final and complete victory by the second coming of Jesus Christ. While the writer does not dwell on this matter, he uses it as an exclamation point. Certainly, some of the Jews had brought questions to these Christians. “If this Jesus is the Messiah, why hasn’t he brought peace? Aren’t you being persecuted? Why is he not delivering you now?” The Roman persecutors could have asked these very same questions. The writer’s answer to both is that that final Day is not yet here, but it is indeed coming. Jesus is trustworthy as God is trustworthy. It will happen. Hang on. Take hold of the hope. Don’t let go!
There was still room for warning as well. Once again, the writer takes the readers back to the God of the Law that they knew and trusted. Several instances of the Law are cited as well as the stark consequences of breaking it.
Read Numbers 15:27-31, Habakkuk 2:3-4 and Hebrews 10:26-31.
Most likely, these Jewish Christians had a reverent fear of the wrath of God—what many modern Christians lack. They understood the power of God’s judgment. It had been retold throughout their history. So, why would the writer level a most pointed warning? They were in great danger of the consequences for abandoning the faith. Here the concept of sin represents continual, deliberate sinning. It is more than just the occasional fall and quick repentance. It is trampling the truth like dust under foot and being contemptuous for the love and guidance of the Holy Spirit. God will defend his honor and his sacrifice with a righteous vengeance. We can wonder if they understood that they needed to be more afraid of God’s wrath than they were of the Roman persecutions.
As a fiery brand of a speaker can suddenly change volume and pitch to make a point that strikes closer to the heart, so the writer to the Hebrews does the same. It is as if the writer leans forward with great earnestness and helps them remember how it used to be.
Read Hebrews 10:32-39.
While we cannot know precisely what kind of suffering and persecution they had already experienced, we can get a sense of how deep the suffering must have been. The writer recalls this for them, drawing them back to the time when their faith was new and alive. They endured much because they had understood then as new Christians that their wealth and comfort were not found here! They had better and lasting possessions in Jesus Christ and a future with God. Like a rider spurring on a horse to its best potential, we are to prompt, encourage, proclaim the reality that hope is still alive!
God is calling out to us today and through this wonderful New Testament book to make a confession of hope as we follow Christ. We can be courageous and gather more courage from others who follow him as well. We believe and we are saved.
Amen
© M.R.Hyde 2022
Challenge: Read Hebrews 11-12:3 every day this week. Think about the people in your life who have been great examples of faithfulness. Then thank God for them and their testimony of hope. Write out three goals for how you wish to be an example of faithfulness in your circle of influence.
[1] Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Moody Press, 1990, p. 1420.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Epistle to the Hebrews, H. Orton Wiley, Beacon Hill Press, 1959, p. 333.
[4] Ibid.
