Heb. 10:19-25, Application: Encouragement!

The Holy Spirit, through the human author, has concluded the argument.  A return to temple worship makes no sense for believers.  We know there is nothing there.  What used to be significant is no longer significant, thanks to the work of our great High Priest, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  The rest of Hebrews can be called a call to “application” of this truth. 

“Application” in Scripture comes in two forms: “warning … and teaching” (Col. 1:28).  There is a need for admonition (don’t do this) and encouragement (but do this).  In the remainder of Heb. 10 we have encouragement (v19-25) and then there is the fifth and final warning passage (v26-39). 

ENCOURAGEMENT

This is often called the “honeymoon salad” passage of the Bible as it consists of “let us alone.”  Okay, perhaps it’s not that often, other than among preachers with a poor sense of humor.  The passage begins (v19-21) with a summary of Hebrews. Given the High Priest we have in Christ, all these things make sense.

The first encouragement is to draw near to God.  We have, in Christ, a “better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Heb. 7:19).  Our basic need is to be able to “approach” God without fear of judgment (10:1).  In light of Christ’s sacrifice and ministry, let us hesitate no longer.  Let us come boldly, or freely, into His presence (Heb. 4:16).

The second encouragement is to hold fast our confession without wavering.  The writer is speaking to people who are facing strong resistance from their community.  To go back to the temple would tell the community there is some value in the temple that they have not found in Christ.  But that has been shown to be a lie.  Previously the Spirit used an “if” when talking about this confession (Heb. 3:6,14).  The application here is to take the “if” out of it and stand without wavering.

The third encouragement is to consider one another.  They needed to be attentive to each other.  The difficult situation required that the “family of God” be just that.  Remember back in Heb. 3, that the writer had reminded his readers that they were the “house” of Christ (3:6).  The churches in Judea were clearly divided.  Thus, he had told them to “exhort one another daily” lest some of them become hardened in unfaithfulness to Christ (3:12-13).  We are “partakers of Christ” (3:14).  Thus, in 10:24-25, he is calling them to live according to their position in Christ.

These encouragements are vital for Christians today, even though we face different trials.  We must draw near, hold fast and consider one another.  When we don’t see a brother or sister for a period of time in our fellowship, that is not the time to write them off or to wait for someone else to look after them.  It is the time for us to seek them out and do what we can in Christ to encourage them.