The Obedience of the Faithful

The third offense, insulting the Spirit of grace, refers to disparaging the Holy Spirit, which is the equivalent of blaspheming the Spirit (Matt 12:31-32). Because the Father gives the Holy Spirit through Jesus to comfort and help believers (John 16:7), those who reject Jesus also reject the Spirit. Those who apostatize essentially make themselves an enemy of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit is insulted by those who transgress against Christ.

The author quotes from Deuteronomy 32:35-36 in verse 30. Moses spoke these words just before the Israelites entered the promised land. The author uses these citations to anchor his argument that those who sin deliberately deserve worse punishment. The quotations leave little doubt that God will indeed judge those who reject him. His divine vengeance and justice await those who trample the Son, regard his blood as profane, and insult the Spirit. Earthly justice is often inadequate, but the Lord’s justice will be perfectly administered. We must not fall into his hands the way Israel did.

This should strike real fear into the hearts of those who disregard Christ. God’s final judgment is a matter of eternal horror. We must not trifle with God. Apostasy is no game to be played. It truly is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God, the very God who is a “consuming fire” (12:29). Those who reject the Son have every reason to fear the Father.

Hebrews 10:32-39

This passage continues to encourage readers to persevere. The author has encouraged them, warned them, and now exhorts them to endure whatever comes their way. Here the author essentially echoes the words of Jesus in John 16:33. Troubles will come for Christians in this world, but we must take heart; Jesus has overcome the world.

In verses 32-34, the author calls these believers to remember the earlier days, which most likely means the years just after their conversion. They should remember their strong zeal for the Lord and how they handled the difficulties they experienced on account of following Christ in a world opposed to him. They endured sufferings for their faith then, so they can endure suffering in their present situation.

The specifics of their sufferings in the earlier days are identified in verses 33 and 34. They were publicly exposed to reproach and affliction. This means that they were not ashamed to make their faith in Jesus public and were insulted and mistreated when they did. They chose to identify with Christ in a fallen world, so society shamed them. Not only did they receive this kind of abuse themselves, but they also chose to identify with others bearing this reproach.

As Christians, we must be willing to endure the same persecution. Identifying with Jesus in a world that does not want him as King will mean becoming victims of verbal abuse, mockery, and shame in the public square. Nevertheless, those who stand with Christ cannot be those who assimilate with the winds of culture.

Verse 34 further develops the experience of these Christians in their earlier days. They had sympathy on those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property. “Those in prison” refers to Christians who had been incarcerated for their faith. In the early days of their faith, these Christians showed tender compassion to their brothers and sisters in chains. Though they were not in prison themselves, they chose to identify with those who were persecuted in that way.

Additionally, they endured the plundering of their property with joy. What is remarkable is not that they lost their possessions because they identified with Jesus, but that they responded “with joy” to such persecution. Why were they able to respond in such a remarkable way? Because they knew they had “a better and enduring possession.” They knew a heavenly kingdom with heavenly possessions awaited those who rejoiced when persecuted (Matt 5:12). These believers understood that “better” possessions were in store for those who persevered in the midst of persecution, so they continued to align with Christ—even when it cost them in earthly matters. Moreover, they knew the possession that awaited them was “enduring.” They knew their possession in heaven was an everlasting possession that would not be taken away from them and would never expire. This knowledge helped them endure early in their faith, so the author exhorts his readers to recall those days to help them endure in their present circumstances.

We may lose everything for the sake of Christ, but, in an eternal sense, we lose nothing. We may lose possessions, friends, family, and the comforts of this life, but we have a better and abiding possession waiting for us in our heavenly city. As with the believers in the book of Hebrews, what we gain when we endure persecution can never be taken away from us.

Verses 35-39 remind these believers of the confidence they now possess in Christ and of the eschatological reward that belongs to them, so long as they continue to endure. The boldness that believers now have on account of their union with Christ is a central theme in the letter. The author again highlights this reality in verse 35. To abandon the faith is to throw away the confidence that belongs to Christians to approach the throne of God. If the readers apostatize, they will lose that confidence and the great reward of eternal life that comes with it.

Verse 36 tells us of our need for endurance and of the promised inheritance that awaits those who persevere. We demonstrate our endurance in the faith if we do the will of God. As long as we obey the Lord and faithfully do his will, we will receive the eternal inheritance he has promised to believers (9:15). This promise may not be fulfilled in our lifetimes, but it will be fulfilled soon, as the next verses indicate. Our inheritance is not an earthly inheritance; it is a heavenly inheritance, a promise fulfilled eschatologically.

The author quotes from Habakkuk 2:3-4 to support this reality. Habakkuk speaks of God’s coming judgment on Judah for refusing to do the will of God. The author of Hebrews picks this up typologically to point to the final judgment that is coming at Christ’s return. In other words, Habakkuk speaks of God’s coming, which the author of Hebrews sees fulfilled in the future coming of Christ. His coming is soon, so we must continue to do the will of God and not draw back in our faith. As verse 38 indicates, the Lord will find no pleasure in us when he returns if we do not go on living by faith.

In verse 39 the author expresses his utmost confidence in his readers by reminding them of their identity and strength as God’s people. He proclaims that they will not draw back in their faith and thus will prove their allegiance to Christ until the very end. Destruction awaits those who do draw back, but not those who press on and preserve their souls. They will obtain the life promised to those who endure. In every sense of the word, they will be saved. This is what it means to be a follower of Christ.

These warning passages keep the believer from spiritual complacency. Before learning from and appreciating the faithful examples the author identifies in Hebrews 11, these believers must be reminded to persevere in the faith. Before they can associate themselves with those listed in the following chapter, they must make every effort not to draw away from Christ. It is with this final warning that the author reminds all believers to hold true to the faith and thus to associate with the saints throughout the centuries.