Don’t Throw It All Away

19-21 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.

22-25 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

26-31 If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.” Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me.

32-39 Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.

It won’t be long now, he’s on the way;
    he’ll show up most any minute.
But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust;
    if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.

But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

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A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(A) to enter the Most Holy Place(B) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(C) opened for us through the curtain,(D) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(E) over the house of God,(F) 22 let us draw near to God(G) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(H) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(I) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(J) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(K) we profess,(L) for he who promised is faithful.(M) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(N) 25 not giving up meeting together,(O) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(P)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(Q)

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(R) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(S) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(T) 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.(U) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(V) underfoot,(W) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(X) that sanctified them,(Y) and who has insulted the Spirit(Z) of grace?(AA) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a](AB) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[b](AC) 31 It is a dreadful thing(AD) to fall into the hands(AE) of the living God.(AF)

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(AG) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(AH) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(AI) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(AJ) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(AK) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(AL) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(AM) it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere(AN) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(AO) 37 For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming(AP) will come
    and will not delay.”[c](AQ)

38 And,

“But my righteous[d] one will live by faith.(AR)
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”[e](AS)

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
  2. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
  3. Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
  4. Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
  5. Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

22 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.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

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