Hebrews 10:32-34 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
 
AS we’ve been reading Hebrews, we might assume those receiving the letter were wavering in their faith. The writer has spent much time reinforcing the scriptures’ evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the Great High Priest, Son of God, Savior of the world. But these verses tell us the hearers of this letter, the Christian Jews, had begun with a very firm faith to stand for Jesus against persecution. When persecution threatened they stood their ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. History tells us these persecutions could range from verbal insults to stonings and unspeakable brutality against churches and church members. This is the kind of faith we should hold as an example to our own walk with Jesus.
    In many cultures, people praise God because persecution confirms God had found them worthy to face such testing and trials. After all, hasn’t the Son of God suffered terribly and died for us?
    There are many of us who do not understand such a faith. We have been blessed to live where we can essentially live and say what we believe. Our “persecution” has gone no farther than someone rejecting our opinions or attempts to tell them of Jesus. We might feel family members or friends persecute us when they say they want no part of Jesus. We are unwilling to stand firm for Jesus because someone might feel insulted. Or they might reject us and call us narrow-minded.
    So then, who is more important to you? Whose relationship do you desire more – an unbelieving relative? Or Jesus? Would you reject speaking of Jesus because someone might reject you? If we call Jesus, “Lord.” what choice do we have but to stand firmly with him? We have been called into a great contest. This is a war that requires devotion to Jesus’ cause and expectation of victory. What concerns do we have of human opinion when the Lord was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53.3) Let us remember that for a time we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
       Consider how we are all born in opposition to Jesus. The Spirit has used someone to confront you with the truth and call you to faith. The Lord requires we continue to confront a lost world.

Hebrews 10:26-31 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 
IF for some reason you have any doubt of God’s fiery judgment on the unrepentant people of this world, you should cast that doubt aside here and believe God’s word. See the violent images describing those who deliberately keep on sinning with unrepentant hearts: They trample the Son of God under foot, treating Jesus’ blood as any ordinary thing. And they insult the Spirit of grace. Rejecting Jesus and the Holy Spirit is a sure fiery death. There is no escape, only a fearful future that will unveil a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
    How do we know the future? One way we can know what God will do is to look at what God has done. God gives us evidence of this judgment in the law: Deuteronomy 17:6a On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death. Two or three witnesses were required to find a man guilty of a capital offense. There was to be no mercy on the condemned. This seems dramatically restrictive and judgmental on God’s part. But the LORD knew what sin would do to his people. He knew how sin would corrupt their relationship with him. He also knew the great cost of the price to redeem sin. His fearful judgment was designed to save people from sin, so they would live a holy life in his presence.
    But the Jews did not faithfully administer the law. Corruption in the camp grew to cause God’s great judgment on thousands who rejected his law. If this were the penalty for disobeying God’s laws in the past, how awful, then, is the penalty for rejecting Jesus? A faithless life is a vicious rebellion against God.  
    We also know the future judgment because in many scriptures God says it will happen as Hebrews quotes: Deuteronomy 32:35 “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” And Jesus, the Living Word, spoke it in the Sermon on the Mount, considered the greatest sermon to reveal God to the world. Matthew 5:22c “But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.’” 
    Yes, “The Lord will judge his people.” Indeed, it is a dreadful thing for the sinner to fall into the hands of the living God. Pray for the unrepentant sinners you know that they may become holy in God’s sight. 

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
 
THESE words are a wonderful summary of what it means to be Jesus’ church. Each church should have these words printed somewhere to be read often. This would help each person in the church become more focused and remain steadfast in the way to be a united community for Jesus. This is who Jesus wants us to be as we await his return.
    What does it look like to hold unswervingly to the hope we possess? Think about possessing something. You own it, so you can do something with it. The hope you possess is the sure knowledge Jesus has redeemed you to eternal life. You own this faith because God has given it to you. You have received it in faith, confessing, “Yes, Lord, I want to be your disciple.” Now, what will you do with this faith you own?
    It’s often said that one must “own” a given responsibility. You must use it to the advantage for others. For example, “Own up to being a father, a good mother. Own up to being a good employee.” God wants you to own your faith. Be a responsive, responsible Christian. Use your faith for the good of your life and the good of Jesus’ church.
    A church, too, must spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Love and good deeds are mentioned together because love is an emotion that becomes a catalyst to do good deeds. This is Jesus’ example. He has been steadfast to love us and to do the good deeds among us since creation. Love must be a binding force in the church to equip us with the desire and the means to do the good deeds our Lord sets before us.
    But faith, love and good deeds will mean very little if a church gives up meeting together. We consider in this era of the pandemic when many churches did not meet. But this is not a pandemic problem. This is a problem rooted in a lack of faith and love for God. Persecution, pandemics and many other problems can threaten a church. But amid all the issues, the church must find a way to continue meeting together. God designed his church to be a community of people who will encourage one another.
    Encouragement is a vital community “glue” that holds people together. When negative circumstances overwhelm us, we can lose our desire to meet with others. The Lord wants you to know you are his, and he always wants you to be with him. Yes, you can be with Jesus when you are alone, but you can be much more with Jesus when you are in the company of his church. Be willing to be encouraged. Be eager to encourage others.
    Hebrews urges the church to these things because of the Day approaching. We don’t know when Jesus is returning. We don’t know when our life on earth will end. Each moment of life is precious. We have been called to minister the gospel in Jesus’ church. Let us be urgent to do so. 

Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
 
THIS is a beautiful passage, isn’t it? Hebrews summarizes the wonder of belonging to God in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
    The way into heaven is more than a pathway or direction to follow. The way into God’s holy sanctuary is a living way through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His body pierced and battered at the cross has torn the curtain of separation to reconcile you in the robe of Jesus’ righteousness as promised in Isaiah 61:10 For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.
    With the words “let us draw near to God” the author welcomes you into a glorious community of faith. Together the church can draw near to Jesus, unified in his truth, love, compassion, purity and gentleness. We are confidently empowered to obey Jesus’ command to “Follow me.” because he has followed the Father’s will to the cross. You know he guides you onto the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.(Psalm 23:3)
    Drawing near to Christ is your soul flowing on a sure course toward the Living Water. “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14) You are complete in Jesus because he has completely given himself to you. Near to Christ you are near to fulfillment and purpose. You know who you are and why you are on earth. You know where you are going.
    As you draw near to God, you will sincerely accept his forgiveness in full assurance of faith. Your heart sprinkled with Jesus’ blood is innocent of past sins that are truly past any condemnation from God. When you draw near to God, you will understand how good he is. You will be at his side to hear his voice teaching, correcting, encouraging, forgiving and empowering you. You understand God’s incomparable goodness because he has planned, promised and completed his atonement for your sin through his one and only Son.
    When you draw near to God, you will know you are Jesus’ friend. He has come near you to touch you with his love. Go near to him, so you can be near the one who has given eternal life to you.  
 

Hebrews 10:15-18 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
 
WHEN Hebrews says the Holy Spirit testifies to us about this, he affirms the Spirt inspired the writing of the Old Testament. When we’re reading and teaching the Bible, we must know we are reading words that come from heaven through the  hands of anointed writers and into our hearts.
    In the midst of Judah’s darkest time when God’s people became exiles in Babylon, the Holy Spirit spoke a marvelous promise to the prophet Jeremiah: Jeremiah 31:33-34 is the source of Hebrews’ words here. God promised there would be a new covenant – a new agreement – between himself and Israel. The law would become more than words written on a tablet or scroll. God’s Word would be written on their minds and on their hearts. In other words, God would form a new relationship with his people. They would know him as a personal Lord and Savior.
    This relationship would occur through God’s gift of faith to people, so they would know the Lord’s redemptive power. This happened at Pentecost when the Spirit empowered the apostles to preach and 3,000 Jews in the crowd to believe. Throughout the ages, then, the Spirit has anointed believers in each generation. He dwells within the believer to continue revealing God’s truth to us in a personal, life-transforming way. All who are saved know God.
    And there is one more magnificent promise in the new covenant. God says, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” How can the Almighty God have no memory of our forgiven sins?
    Think of reconciliation. Paul uses this term in defining God’s purpose and outcome of our salvation: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  
    God’s purpose to bring you into a personal relationship is to not count, but to forget your sins. When you have a personal relationship with Jesus, God forgives and forgets those sins that kept you from him. When you regularly confess your sins as his chosen son or daughter, he casts them aside also. God is holy. He is not putting up a list of sins to hold them against you. In the power of Jesus’ sacrifice of reconciliation, your sins are done when you confess them to God.
    Our response must be twofold: Forget your sins. Forget others’ sins. We can continually judge our past sins and believe we are unworthy. But holding past sins in self-condemnation is sin in itself. Let it go. God has forgotten, and so must you.
    Also, you or others may say, “I can forgive. But I can’t forget.” If you are still remembering someone’s sin, you are not forgiving. You are holding the list before you to remind you of the way that person hurt you. You must forget as the Lord forgets. Be reconciled in spirit and in love to those who have hurt you. That’s how  you want to be treated, isn’t it? That’s how the holy God treats you.
 

Hebrews 10:11-14 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
 
THE Lord Jesus is the son of God. He is Savior. He is Ruler. Hebrews implores his Jewish readers and listeners (The epistles were read aloud as they circulated among churches because most people could not read.) that Jesus has fulfilled the messianic prophecy of Psalms 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” David, the psalmist, used two different meanings for “Lord”. In many versions the first “Lord” is written with all capital letters: LORD. In the Hebrew language the title is Yahweh or YHWH, and the name is Jehovah. This identifies the supreme, self-existent one. We use “God” for that meaning. The second “Lord” is Adonai. This referred to one of authority with absolute control. Hebrews teaches that David prophesied that Yahweh had welcomed Adonai to sit at his right hand as Lord with absolute authority in heaven.
    We have mentioned that Jesus’ seat is not one of inactive waiting for God’s instructions. To sit at the throne of a ruler is to be equal to the ruler. Jesus has all the power of God because he is God. No human prophet or priest would have that authority in heaven.
    How does Hebrews know that Jesus of Nazareth is the one prophesied in Psalm 110? He knows in the same way we must know: the evidence of Jesus’ life. Jesus fulfilled about 325 references to his birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection written in the Old Testament. Jesus pointed to the evidence of his deity in John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. The apostles testify to God speaking to Jesus at his baptism and at the Transfiguration: Matthew 17:5 “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
    Many people do not listen to him. They discount Jesus’ miracles and the apostles’ testimonies. If these works of God did not occur, the stories of Jesus become useless myths. No one would then need to believe in and trust Adonai’s words of authority. But the miracles of his birth, his life and resurrection are recorded on the testimony of many witnesses who died for their firm stand on Jesus’ transforming work among us.
    One day those who oppose Jesus will be under Adonai’s total authority. As Jesus ministers in heaven, the holy tabernacle, he awaits for his enemies to be made his footstool. Jesus will be completely victorious. Yahweh places Adonai’s enemies under his feet because Adonai has perfectly fulfilled Yahweh’s will on earth. By one sacrifice he has made holy forever those he welcomes into his glory.
    You can know and have faith the Lord Jesus is the son of God. He is Savior. He is Ruler. Submit to him.

Hebrews 10:5-10 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.’” 8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
 
YOU may think Hebrews is writing in circles. But you will better understand the wonder of this passage when you read it in two parts. First read verses 5-7. Picture Jesus speaking to the Father as recorded in Psalm 40:6-8. Then read verses 8-10 for Hebrews’ explanation of Jesus’ words. What do you learn?
    When Jesus said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire.” Jesus points to Israel’s obedience as the Father’s greatest desire. God, of course, knew the fall’s corruption on the human heart. He knew Israel needed a particular way to receive ongoing forgiveness for their sin. Repeated burnt offerings and sin offerings were not God’s primary desire for his people, but they needed these for a time.
    Then Jesus spoke the perfect solution to Israel’s and mankind’s ongoing sin – a body you prepared for me. The preincarnate Christ revealed God’s plan to become flesh. The physical body prepared for the Son would be the perfect sacrifice for Israel’s sins, fully acceptable to God, once and for all.
    And then came Jesus’ obedient response to the plan: “Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.” He spoke the three powerful words of submission and obedience, “Here I am.” They reveal Jesus’ total and complete obedience to, “come to do your will, O God.” In Jesus’ obedience, he sets aside the former sacrifice, so we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
    These six verses contain the message of the old covenant pointing to the new. How profound and wonderful to know of Jesus’ unwavering commitment to your salvation. He knew that the body the Father prepared for him would become a tortuous burden to bear. Jesus understood, “Here I am.” would cause him to be briefly separated from the Father, to die and to be buried. The Word that was with God, and the Word that was God (from John 1:1) would be mocked and scorned, pierced for your transgressions and swayed like a bruised reed. The Holy Son of God said, “Here I am.” at the cross. And now he says, “Here I am.” to you. And he invites you to “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)
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Hebrews 10:1-2 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
 
HEBREWS refers to the law as a shadow of the good things to come. It is interesting to note that the word “shadow” has both a negative and positive meaning in Scripture. For example, shadow can mean a fearful place as in
Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Trouble, insecurities and affliction can cast a deep shadow over our lives. In contrast, several times shadow refers to God’s protection as in Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. How good to know God’s protection replaces the shadow of fear.
    A third way we see shadow in the Bible is a reference to a brief, incomplete picture: Job 8:9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
and our days on earth are but a shadow. Shadows come and go quickly as the light brightens, moves or fades. A shadow can show the shape of an object, but it does not give the details.
    Understanding shadow as danger, protection and brevity may describe the law. The sacrificial laws of sin’s atonement were first a protection for Israel. They were God’s rules to approach the holy God. The law was the way of protection from the world’s idolatry and deadly sins. Israel needed to obey God’s worship laws to demonstrate faithful hearts of obedience to protect them from the deadly shadow of disobedience.
    Now that Jesus has come, the sacrificial laws cast a dangerous shadow. To cling to the law and to reject Jesus as Savior is the pathway to death. If the sacrificial laws were sufficient for eternal redemption, there would have been no need to repeat them weekly, monthly and annually. It’s as if you were to continually repent of your sins and pray for Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the one way to heaven. He is the only one who can remove the shadow of death from our souls. You need only to repent and confess Jesus once to be eternally saved.
    The law, then, is brief. God formed it for a time to prepare the world for the Son. Now the law’s shadow is gone. The Son has risen over the world to cast his light of salvation. Jesus is your Eternal Protection. 

Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
 
ONCE more the Hebrews author reinforces the one-time sacrifice of our Great High Priest, Jesus. He has entered heaven, the Most Holy Place to represent us before the Father. The Life Application Bible Commentary puts it this way: “Christ is on our side at God’s side. He is there now, always available. He is our Lord and Savior. He is not there to convince or remind God that our sins are forgiven, but to present both our needs and our service for him as an offering.” Jesus is your personal Lord and Savior, casting aside your sins, elevating your Christian service and connecting you to the Father.
    The apostle Paul says it this way in Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Be secure to know no one can condemn you because your One Savior has saved you for eternity.
    What is the reason for Jesus’ sacrificial, saving work? He wants you prepared for your future. You are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. No person will escape this. You may escape physical death if Jesus returns before our life on earth ends. But even so, you will come to an end of life on earth as you know it. And you will face Jesus’ judgment into heaven or hell. Jesus’ saving work is absolute for your absolute future. Receive the Savior and be prepared for Jesus’ great fulfillment of your faith.
    What joy to consider Jesus will “bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Through all the years of God’s sacrificial laws, the prophets’ promises and the Savior’s incarnation, death and ascension, the LORD God has revealed the way to heaven. Jesus’ is a serving Savior who has served to you the feast of forgiveness and redemption. When Jesus has called all of his own unto himself, he will serve the Communion Feast of salvation to all who believe. Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
           The reason for Jesus’ salvation is you and each person he has called unto himself.
             

Hebrews 9:21-23 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
 
WHY did God require the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies be sprinkled with blood? A quick answer can be, “This was God’s law.” But it is good to consider God’s reason for the law. We worship a rational God. His redemptive plan is orderly. Our Lord has purpose in each thing he has done and will do. Thankfully, his purpose is to save you.
    We can see the blood sacrifice began in Genesis 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering. This is the first recorded worship to the LORD God. Abel had to kill a sheep to offer its fat portions. A lamb’s blood was shed. God preferred it because Abel’s sacrifice cost him more than Cain’s grain cost him. Cain could replace the grain. Abel could not replace the lamb. Blood is life. An animal had to die so Abel could approach the Lord with a righteous devoted heart. Because blood is life, God commanded his people to never eat blood. It was as if they were eating the life of an animal.
     The specific restriction on eating blood began after the flood: Genesis 9:4 But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. And this is repeated several times in the law as a dietary restriction: Leviticus 17:14 because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.” This restriction also separated Israel from other nations that consumed blood as food.  
    The life of every creature is its blood. That’s why blood became essential in God’s sacrificial laws. Blood on the altar meant an animal had died. Sin costs. Forgiveness requires a high price. Life is the highest price to pay.
    Jesus could only have died through a process that caused him to bleed. It is essential to remember his blood shed for us because it assures us God’s forgiveness is complete. Remember God established his redemptive plan in Genesis 3. From that day, he has commanded and demonstrated the ways of the salvation. One of those ways is to emphasize blood is life.
    God’s rules and methods are not random. They are purposeful to complete the demonstration of his grace and love to give you life through the Son’s death.