The encouragements began with “drawing near” to God (10:22). The emphasis in this warning passage is not to “draw back.”
ADMONITION
Let’s begin with v39. The warning is against drawing back to “perdition.” This word usually means “hell” to English
readers. However, we have been saying
that the issue is not hell but is rather death and ruin when the Romans destroy
Jerusalem. The Greek term is used 20
times in the NT. Perhaps half of those
are to eternal destruction (e.g. Mt. 7:13).
But it also applies to death or ruin in temporal ways (e.g. Mt. 26:8,
the waste of Mary’s perfume when she anointed Jesus’ feet). If you believe this is talking about eternal
destruction (hell) then I believe your view must be that it refers to losing
your salvation. Again, the author of
Hebrews believes he is talking with “brethren” who were once “illuminated”
(10:32).
The event described in 10:26-31 is the destruction
of Jerusalem Jesus predicted (Luke 19:43-44; 21:20-24; Matt. 24:2). It is a time when “The LORD will judge His
people” (v30). Heb. 10:30 has two quotes
from Deut. 32:35-36, the Song of Moses.
This Song spoke of God’s eventual punishment of the nation for their
continued disobedience. If these Hebrew
brethren return to Jerusalem, they will suffer this same fearful judgment. This would be the “willful sin” referred to
in 10:26. It would be an act that would have the effect of trampling underfoot
the Son of God, acting as if His blood was just like any other blood (common),
and insulting the grace by which the Spirit of God had called them to faith
(10:29).
Again, in 10:32-39 the author treats them as
fellow-Christians. They have already endured
significant persecution (v32-34). They
had even declared their relationship with the author when he was imprisoned for
Christ. That’s what Paul had told
Timothy to do: do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His
prisoner (2 Tim. 1:8). These believers
had done that very thing.
They are encouraged to hold on to the faith or
“confidence” they had in Christ for several reasons. First, it has great reward (v35). After they endure, they will “receive the
promise” (v36). The Lord will come and His
reward will be with those who have been “just” or righteous. Those who draw back will not receive reward,
for Jesus will have no pleasure in them (v37-38). Lastly, if they endure, they will be true to
who they are in Christ (v39). These closing
verses lead directly into the great “faith” chapter (Heb. 11), as we will see.
For now, we need encouragement to endure in
our own lives and faith as believers in Christ.
If we deny our faith publicly, we need to remember that Christ is coming
and His reward is with Him. What will be
the outcome when we are before His judgment seat: His reward or His
displeasure?
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