Hebrews 10:28

28 1Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy 2on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Hebrews 10:28 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 10:28

He that despised Moses' law
By breaking it wilfully, and presumptuously, for which there was no sacrifice; meaning the law which Moses was the minister of not the author; and it respects the whole body of laws given by him, from God; and is instanced in for the sake of the comparison between him and Christ, and between the law and the Gospel, and for the illustration of the case in hand. Now one that transgressed that law, either in whole, or in part, by denying it entirely, or by breaking any particular precept of it presumptuously,

died without mercy;
a corporeal death; there was no atonement nor sacrifice for him, nor pity to be shown him, ( Deuteronomy 13:8 ) ( 19:13 ) .

Under two or three witnesses;
who "stood by", or were present, as the Arabic version renders it, when the transgression was committed; or that "accused him", as the Ethiopic version; that were witnesses against him, and plainly and fully proved the fact, ( Deuteronomy 17:6 ) ( 19:15 ) .

Hebrews 10:28 In-Context

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."

Cross References 2

  • 1. Deuteronomy 17:2-6
  • 2. See Numbers 35:30
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.