Hebrews Chapter 10
Holding Fast with a Perfect Sacrifice
A. The once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus
1. (Hebrews 10:1–4) Sacrifices under the Old Covenant could not truly take away sin.
Hebrews 10:1–4 states:
“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:1–4, NKJV)
The Mosaic Law presented only a shadow—skia in Greek—of the good things to come, not the fullness found in Christ. Though the ceremonial law painted an outline of redemption, it lacked the substance. The Levitical sacrifices were continual because they were inherently insufficient. If they had truly purified the worshipers, there would be no further consciousness of sin. Instead, they served only as an annual reminder that sin remained. The repetition of sacrifices revealed their inability to remove guilt from the conscience. This constant cycle pointed forward to something greater.
The blood of bulls and goats—while ordained for ceremonial purification—could not cleanse the inner man or provide eternal redemption. Atonement (kaphar in Hebrew) under the Old Covenant merely covered sin; it did not remove it. Only the blood of the sinless Son of God could accomplish what the blood of animals could not.
2. (Hebrews 10:5–10) Psalm 40 gives prophetic foundation for Christ’s perfect obedience and sacrifice.
Hebrews 10:5–10 says:
“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, “Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.”’ Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:5–10, NKJV)
This quotation from Psalm 40:6–8 (as rendered in the Septuagint) prophetically captures Christ’s purpose in coming into the world. The Levitical system was never God's final plan. God was not pleased with the sacrifices themselves, which were insufficient, but with the heart of obedience that the sacrifices symbolized.
The phrase “a body You have prepared for Me” points to the incarnation—God taking on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ (see John 1:14). This body was prepared for the ultimate purpose: the cross. The Son willingly submitted to the Father’s will, fulfilling perfectly what no Levitical priest ever could. Unlike the reluctant animals bound for sacrifice, Jesus laid down His life freely. His mission was not ceremonial obedience but perfect submission, culminating in His death.
Hebrews 10:9 declares: “He takes away the first that He may establish the second.” This is a theological cornerstone. Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and set it aside so that the New Covenant—based on grace, mediated by the Son, and ratified by His own blood—might be fully established (see Luke 22:20).
Finally, Hebrews 10:10 affirms the efficacy and singularity of Christ’s sacrifice:
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10, NKJV)
The phrase “once for all” annihilates any notion of repeated sacrifice, such as in the Roman Catholic mass or Jewish temple ritual. The Greek phrase ephapax means “once and never again.” The believer is sanctified—set apart—through this single offering. This aligns perfectly with Baptist theology that salvation and sanctification are grounded in the finished work of Christ, not in human ritual or effort.
3. Hebrews 10:11–18 — The Finished Work of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 10:11–18 (NKJV):
“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’
then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’
Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”
a. "Every priest stands ministering daily…"
The Levitical priests stood continually because their work was never done. There was no chair in the tabernacle, no place to rest — because sin was never fully dealt with. Day after day, year after year, the same sacrifices were offered, yet sin remained.
But in contrast, “this Man” — Jesus — after offering one perfect, complete, and final sacrifice, “sat down at the right hand of God.” The difference in posture says everything: priests stood, but Christ sat down. His work was finished.
“By sitting down, Jesus proclaimed ‘It is finished’ not just from the cross but from heaven itself.”
– Compare this with Hebrews 1:3: “When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
This is also a fulfillment of Psalm 110:1 — “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”
b. "From that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool…"
Jesus is currently seated in victory — awaiting the final subjugation of all enemies under His feet. His position is not one of passivity, but of enthroned authority.
The progression is perfect:
Incarnation → Sinless Life → Atoning Death → Resurrection → Ascension → Session (seated) → Future Return in Glory
He doesn’t need to die again. He doesn’t need to make new sacrifices. His one offering was enough, and now the clock ticks down toward the full and final triumph of His kingdom.
c. "By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified…"
This is one of the most powerful doctrinal statements in Hebrews.
“Perfected forever” — speaks to positional righteousness. The believer, in Christ, stands eternally justified and accepted before God.
“Those who are being sanctified” — refers to the ongoing work of transformation. It is progressive sanctification, unfolding over time.
“Christ’s sacrifice doesn’t need to be repeated, and the believer’s status before God doesn’t need to be re-earned.”
– Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Spurgeon wrote:
“He made those for whom He died perfectly free from the guilt of sin. When Christ took their sins upon Himself, sin remained no longer upon them, for it could not be in two places at one and the same time.”
d. "But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us…"
Here we are shown that the Holy Spirit is Yahweh, the covenant-making God of the Old Testament. He is the one who speaks the prophecy in Jeremiah 31:33–34, repeated here.
Hebrews 10:16–17 (NKJV):
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD:
I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
then He adds,
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
This quote summarizes the blessings of the New Covenant:
An internal law — God's moral will is now written on the heart, not stone tablets.
Full forgiveness — God will “remember no more” the sins of His people.
This is not divine amnesia — but covenant mercy. The Judge chooses to remove the offense from the record. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
e. "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin…"
This statement draws a final, decisive conclusion to the doctrinal portion of Hebrews.
If sin has been remitted — that is, forgiven, removed, and remembered no more — then no more sacrifice is needed.
To go back to sacrifices (or man-made rituals) is to deny the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement.
“What more do you want? If Christ’s work is not enough, then nothing will be.”
– Hebrews 9:26: “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
This truth is not only doctrinally final — it’s pastorally comforting. The believer can rest knowing that the atoning work has been completed. No more fear of judgment, no more rituals, no more priestly intercession. Jesus paid it all.
Summary of Hebrews 10:11–18:
The Levitical priests stood daily, unable to finish the job.
Jesus offered one sacrifice, then sat down, because the job was finished.
His work perfects forever those who are being sanctified.
The Holy Spirit confirms the truth of the New Covenant, and its promise of internal transformation and total forgiveness.
Therefore, no more offering for sin is necessary — because Jesus’ offering was once for all.
This concludes the doctrinal foundation of Hebrews. From here forward (Hebrews 10:19 and beyond), the author turns to exhortation, calling the reader to respond to these truths with faith, boldness, perseverance, and obedience.
B. Encouraging the Discouraged in Light of Jesus’ Perfect Sacrifice
1. Hebrews 10:19–21 — A Summary of What Jesus Did for His People
Hebrews 10:19–21 (NKJV):
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,"
This passage marks a transition from doctrine to duty, from explanation to exhortation. After laying down the absolute sufficiency of Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice, the writer now appeals to the spiritual privileges and responsibilities of the believer.
a. “Having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus”
Under the Old Covenant, no one dared enter the Most Holy Place except the high priest, and even he entered once a year with blood and trembling (see Leviticus 16:2). But under the New Covenant, all believers are granted permanent and bold access—not based on their merit, but “by the blood of Jesus.”
The word boldness (Greek: parrēsia) carries the sense of freedom, confidence, and frankness in approaching God.
We do not enter based on religious performance, but based on Christ’s sacrifice.
“We approach not in dread, but in confidence. Not because of our worthiness, but because of His righteousness.”
See Romans 5:1–2: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith…”
b. “By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh”
The old way was cold, ritualistic, and restricted. The new way is living—it is through a Person, Jesus Christ. His body was the veil, and just as the temple veil was torn at His death (Matthew 27:51), so His body was torn on the cross to open the way to God.
The phrase new and living way implies continual access. Jesus doesn’t just make a path to God—He is the path (John 14:6).
The way is new (Greek: prosphatos – "freshly slain") and living because the One who died is also risen and ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
“The veil was not removed, but torn — irreversibly. There is no going back to barriers between man and God.” – See also Ephesians 2:18: “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
c. “Having a High Priest over the house of God”
Jesus is both the sacrifice and the High Priest. As High Priest, He not only offered Himself, He now presides over God's house—the body of true believers.
See Hebrews 3:6: “But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are…”
His priesthood guarantees not only access, but ongoing intercession and spiritual protection.
“The combination of the new way and our High Priest gives us confidence to come, as ourselves, into the presence of God.” (Robinson)
2. Hebrews 10:22 — In Light of What Jesus Did, Let Us Draw Near to God
Hebrews 10:22 (NKJV):
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
In light of Christ’s finished work, the writer calls believers to come near. The veil is torn, the blood is shed, the access is open — now come.
a. “Let us draw near”
This is not an invitation — it’s an exhortation. We are urged to approach God daily, personally, confidently. Drawing near means:
Worship (Hebrews 13:15),
Prayer (Hebrews 4:16),
Fellowship with God Himself.
b. “With a true heart in full assurance of faith”
Our approach must be sincere, undivided, and confident—not presumptuous, but fully assured in what Christ has done.
See James 4:8: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Faith brings assurance, and assurance brings access. The believer who doubts the sufficiency of Christ struggles to draw near.
c. “Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience…”
This is internal cleansing. The conscience, once defiled and guilty, has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. (See Hebrews 9:14)
This alludes to the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat, now applied to the believer’s conscience.
d. “…and our bodies washed with pure water”
This likely references baptism, the outward symbol of inward cleansing. But the emphasis is not on the ritual — it’s on the total cleansing of the believer, inside and out.
“Hearts sprinkled” = cleansing of conscience
“Bodies washed” = symbolic external commitment of faith and purity
This echoes Ezekiel 36:25–26:
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean… I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”
Application for the Discouraged
The Hebrews were being tempted to go back to the temple system, where access to God was limited. But the writer reminds them — and us — that Jesus has forever opened the way.
You don’t need a temple — you have Christ.
You don’t need a Levitical priest — you have a High Priest in heaven.
You don’t need animal sacrifices — you are already cleansed.
Your real problem may not be your trials. It may be that you’ve stopped drawing near. If the believer neglects this access, nothing else works right spiritually.
“Draw near. Not when you’re strong. Draw near when you’re weak, weary, guilty, and tempted. That is the whole point.”
3. Hebrews 10:23–25 — Let Us Hold Fast and Encourage One Another
Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV):
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
a. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering"
This exhortation calls believers to a steady grip on their public declaration of faith — their confession. In times of persecution, ridicule, or discouragement, the temptation is to let go, retreat, or remain silent. But the writer calls us to hold fast.
Confession (Greek: homologia) refers not only to private belief, but public allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord.
Hope here refers not to wishful thinking, but to confident expectation of Christ’s return and the fulfillment of God’s promises (see Titus 2:13; Hebrews 6:19).
“That exhortation, ‘Let us hold fast,’ might well be written on the cover of every Christian’s Bible.” (Spurgeon)
To hold fast “without wavering” means to stay upright in the faith. The Greek term suggests an object that stands true — never slanting, shifting, or leaning. In our day of constant compromise, the church needs men and women who will stand firm in truth without swaying under pressure.
b. "For He who promised is faithful"
The basis for our endurance is not our own strength, but God’s character. He is the One who promised — and He is faithful.
See 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
Also Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that He should lie…”
Our faith may sometimes waver, but God never does. Our confession is secure because the One who made the promise will never break it.
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)
Hebrews 10:24–25 (NKJV):
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
c. "Let us consider one another…"
The Christian faith is not me-centered, it is others-centered. The word consider means to carefully observe and think about others. It’s not passive but intentional.
Why? To stir up love and good works. The Greek word for stir up (paroxysmos) implies strong stimulation — it could even mean provocation. Christian love and action don’t flourish in isolation; they must be encouraged, incited, and provoked.
“Love needs stimulation and society. Faith and hope can be practiced alone, but love is impossible without others.” (Robinson)
This is the only place in Hebrews where the phrase “one another” (Greek: allelous) appears — emphasizing mutual responsibility, not a top-down command.
d. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…"
This refers to the gathering of the local church — for worship, teaching, prayer, fellowship, and encouragement. The early believers were already tempted to abandon meeting together due to fear, apathy, or persecution.
The Greek word for assembling (episynagoge) suggests a formal gathering — like a worship service.
Forsaking this habit leads to spiritual isolation, vulnerability to sin, and increased discouragement.
“To neglect the gathering is to starve your soul. We are made for community, accountability, correction, and shared worship.”
See Acts 2:42–47 — early believers gathered daily, not sparingly.
We gather to:
Receive from God,
Give worship to God,
Encourage one another,
Demonstrate unity,
Serve the body of Christ.
“Any early Christian who attempted to live like a pious particle without the support of the community ran serious risks.” (Moffatt)
e. "But exhorting one another…"
Exhortation is not scolding. It’s cheering, reminding, urging, and strengthening one another in the truth. This verb (parakaleō) is related to the name of the Holy Spirit — “The Comforter” or “Helper.”
See Hebrews 3:13: “Exhort one another daily…”
Discouragement, sin, and spiritual drift flourish when we are alone. Mutual exhortation is like spiritual oxygen — it keeps the fire of faith burning.
f. "And so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
The closer we get to the return of Christ, the more urgent this becomes. The “Day” refers to the Day of the Lord — when Christ returns in glory and judgment (see Romans 13:11–12; 1 Thessalonians 5:2).
The verb see is in the present tense, implying the Day’s signs are visible even now.
Each generation is to live as though the end could come in theirs.
“Each successive Christian generation is called upon to live as the generation of the end-time, if it is to live as a Christian generation.” (Bruce)
The last days will be marked by lawlessness, deception, and apostasy (2 Timothy 3:1–5; Matthew 24:12). In such days, gathering together, encouraging one another, and holding fast the truth becomes not optional — but essential.
Summary: Hebrews 10:23–25
In light of what Jesus has done:
Hold fast to your confession — without bending or compromise.
Stir up one another to love and serve in meaningful, tangible ways.
Do not neglect the gathering of the saints. Isolation leads to vulnerability.
Exhort one another, especially as the return of Christ draws closer.
“The church is not an event to attend, but a body to belong to — a family to grow with, and a battalion to fight beside.”
C. Another Warning to Endure
1. Hebrews 10:26–31 — The Danger of Willfully Rejecting Jesus’ Sacrifice
Hebrews 10:26–27 (NKJV):
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”
This is one of the most solemn and sobering warnings in the entire New Testament. The context reveals it is not merely about moral stumbling, but a total, knowing rejection of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.
a. “If we sin willfully”
This refers not to any sin, but to the deliberate, final rejection of the truth after clearly understanding it — specifically the rejection of Jesus Christ’s finished work and turning back to the temple system or another false source of atonement.
This is not the struggling Christian, but the apostate who tramples Jesus underfoot and counts His blood as common.
Compare this with Hebrews 6:4–6 — the willful sin here is a mirror of apostasy.
“The thought seems to be closely connected with the preceding verse, suggesting that if we forsake our fellow-Christians, it may easily lead to our forsaking Christ.” (Thomas)
b. “There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…”
If you reject Christ, there is no other sacrifice that can cleanse you. The Old Covenant sacrifices are now obsolete (Hebrews 10:1–4), and nothing else remains.
All that remains is “a certain fearful expectation of judgment.”
See Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Hebrews 10:28–29 (NKJV):
“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot,
counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
c. “Of how much worse punishment…”
Three charges are leveled against the apostate:
Trampled the Son of God underfoot — This is to treat Jesus with disdain, to treat His person and work as worthless.
Counted the blood of the covenant a common thing — This is to treat the holy blood of Jesus as ordinary, as if it were no different than animal blood.
Insulted the Spirit of grace — The Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus. To reject Jesus is to blaspheme and insult the very Spirit who brings the gospel (John 16:8–14).
“To fall into the hands of the living God is, therefore, to have resisted His love, refused His salvation, and despised the warnings of His Spirit.” (Newell)
Hebrews 10:30–31 (NKJV):
“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Quoting Deuteronomy 32:35–36, the writer reminds us that judgment belongs to God — and He will execute it without fail.
“The LORD will judge His people” — Yes, even professing believers are subject to judgment, especially those who reject the truth they once affirmed.
“Judgment is not vindictive rage — it is righteous retribution.” (Vincent)
2. Hebrews 10:32–34 — Encouragement from Past Endurance
Hebrews 10:32–34 (NKJV):
“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;
for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”
a. “Recall the former days…”
After they were illuminated — that is, saved and brought to the truth — these believers had already suffered:
Public humiliation and reproach
Identification with other persecuted Christians
Economic loss — the “plundering of your goods”
And they endured it all with joy, because they looked toward “a better and enduring possession in heaven.”
“They made it through persecution then. They can make it through discouragement now.”
This verse is a reminder: Look back to how far God has brought you, and let that strengthen your resolve today.
3. Hebrews 10:35–39 — Strength to Endure for the Future
Hebrews 10:35–36 (NKJV):
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
a. “Do not cast away your confidence…”
The danger was spiritual retreat. These believers were tempted to let go of their bold stance in Christ and slide back into a legalistic, temple-based religion.
“Don’t drop your shield of faith. Keep it, and it will keep you.” (Clarke)
The word cast away evokes the image of a soldier throwing down his shield and fleeing the battlefield. But faith is our shield (Ephesians 6:16).
Hold the line. Keep standing.
Hebrews 10:37–38 (NKJV):
“For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
b. “Now the just shall live by faith…”
This famous quote from Habakkuk 2:4 forms a theological cornerstone:
Paul used it in Romans 1:17 to emphasize justification by faith.
In Galatians 3:11, it highlights that the just are not made right by the Law.
In Hebrews 10:38, the focus is on living by faith — persevering and enduring to the end.
“Every word of Habakkuk 2:4 is inspired and strategically placed across Scripture to establish the truth: salvation is by faith from start to finish.”
Hebrews 10:39 (NKJV):
“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
c. “We are not of those who draw back…”
This final word is one of triumphant confidence. The writer includes himself and his readers: “We are not of those who draw back to perdition” — that is, judgment and destruction.
Instead, we are those who “believe to the saving of the soul.” Faith is not a momentary impulse, but an ongoing reliance on Christ, sustained by the Spirit.
Conclusion of Hebrews 10:26–39
This section divides sharply into two paths:
Those who reject Christ’s sacrifice will face fearful judgment.
Those who remember their former faith, endure in the present, and look forward to His return, will receive the reward of eternal life.
This is both a solemn warning and a hopeful encouragement. Endure. Don’t turn back. Keep your eyes fixed on the better and eternal reward.
“The just shall live by faith — and faith never retreats.”C. Another Warning to Endure
1. Hebrews 10:26–31 — The Danger of Willfully Rejecting Jesus’ Sacrifice
Hebrews 10:26–27 (NKJV):
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”This is one of the most solemn and sobering warnings in the entire New Testament. The context reveals it is not merely about moral stumbling, but a total, knowing rejection of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.
a. “If we sin willfully”
This refers not to any sin, but to the deliberate, final rejection of the truth after clearly understanding it — specifically the rejection of Jesus Christ’s finished work and turning back to the temple system or another false source of atonement.
This is not the struggling Christian, but the apostate who tramples Jesus underfoot and counts His blood as common.
Compare this with Hebrews 6:4–6 — the willful sin here is a mirror of apostasy.
“The thought seems to be closely connected with the preceding verse, suggesting that if we forsake our fellow-Christians, it may easily lead to our forsaking Christ.” (Thomas)
b. “There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…”
If you reject Christ, there is no other sacrifice that can cleanse you. The Old Covenant sacrifices are now obsolete (Hebrews 10:1–4), and nothing else remains.
All that remains is “a certain fearful expectation of judgment.”
See Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Hebrews 10:28–29 (NKJV):
“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot,
counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
c. “Of how much worse punishment…”
Three charges are leveled against the apostate:
Trampled the Son of God underfoot — This is to treat Jesus with disdain, to treat His person and work as worthless.
Counted the blood of the covenant a common thing — This is to treat the holy blood of Jesus as ordinary, as if it were no different than animal blood.
Insulted the Spirit of grace — The Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus. To reject Jesus is to blaspheme and insult the very Spirit who brings the gospel (John 16:8–14).
“To fall into the hands of the living God is, therefore, to have resisted His love, refused His salvation, and despised the warnings of His Spirit.” (Newell)
Hebrews 10:30–31 (NKJV):
“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Quoting Deuteronomy 32:35–36, the writer reminds us that judgment belongs to God — and He will execute it without fail.
“The LORD will judge His people” — Yes, even professing believers are subject to judgment, especially those who reject the truth they once affirmed.
“Judgment is not vindictive rage — it is righteous retribution.” (Vincent)
2. Hebrews 10:32–34 — Encouragement from Past Endurance
Hebrews 10:32–34 (NKJV):
“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;
for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”
a. “Recall the former days…”
After they were illuminated — that is, saved and brought to the truth — these believers had already suffered:
Public humiliation and reproach
Identification with other persecuted Christians
Economic loss — the “plundering of your goods”
And they endured it all with joy, because they looked toward “a better and enduring possession in heaven.”
“They made it through persecution then. They can make it through discouragement now.”
This verse is a reminder: Look back to how far God has brought you, and let that strengthen your resolve today.
3. Hebrews 10:35–39 — Strength to Endure for the Future
Hebrews 10:35–36 (NKJV):
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
a. “Do not cast away your confidence…”
The danger was spiritual retreat. These believers were tempted to let go of their bold stance in Christ and slide back into a legalistic, temple-based religion.
“Don’t drop your shield of faith. Keep it, and it will keep you.” (Clarke)
The word cast away evokes the image of a soldier throwing down his shield and fleeing the battlefield. But faith is our shield (Ephesians 6:16).
Hold the line. Keep standing.
Hebrews 10:37–38 (NKJV):
“For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
b. “Now the just shall live by faith…”
This famous quote from Habakkuk 2:4 forms a theological cornerstone:
Paul used it in Romans 1:17 to emphasize justification by faith.
In Galatians 3:11, it highlights that the just are not made right by the Law.
In Hebrews 10:38, the focus is on living by faith — persevering and enduring to the end.
“Every word of Habakkuk 2:4 is inspired and strategically placed across Scripture to establish the truth: salvation is by faith from start to finish.”
Hebrews 10:39 (NKJV):
“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
c. “We are not of those who draw back…”
This final word is one of triumphant confidence. The writer includes himself and his readers: “We are not of those who draw back to perdition” — that is, judgment and destruction.
Instead, we are those who “believe to the saving of the soul.” Faith is not a momentary impulse, but an ongoing reliance on Christ, sustained by the Spirit.
Conclusion of Hebrews 10:26–39
This section divides sharply into two paths:
Those who reject Christ’s sacrifice will face fearful judgment.
Those who remember their former faith, endure in the present, and look forward to His return, will receive the reward of eternal life.
This is both a solemn warning and a hopeful encouragement. Endure. Don’t turn back. Keep your eyes fixed on the better and eternal reward.
“The just shall live by faith — and faith never retreats.”
