Hebrews 10:19-25

“Neither the author nor the audience of this book is specifically named, but the book itself reveals its nature and purpose. The recipients are Jesus-believing Jews who are in danger of failing away from the faith. The goal of the entire book is to show the superiority of the final realities God has revealed in the new covenant to the temporary ones of the first covenant. The believers are encouraged to respond to the threat of persecution by recommitting to the new reality brought by Jesus.

A letter calling Christians to be faithful to Christ in the midst of persecution. The author focuses on the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to sustain the believer.

I. The Provisions (19-21) A. We have free access to God’s Inner Sanctuary (19) [because] 1. Christ has opened a new way to life by offering Himself. B. We have Jesus as High Priest over God’s people (21) (cp. Heb. 4:14-15, “14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need the faith we profess.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Heb 4:14–16). (1984). Zondervan.

II. The Privileges (22-25) A. Exhortation to Enter (22) B. Exhortation to Hold Fast (23) C. Exhortation to Care for One Another (24) D. Exhortation to Stay Together (25)

I. Encouraged by these two powerful resources, a confident spirit and a competent advocate (19-21)

Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic.

Believers have not only a confident spirit, but also a competent advocate.

Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic.

Believers are now exhorted to three specific activities. (1) Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart. This “drawing near” must be the motive for all subsequent action. It includes more than formal prayer, since the present tense infers a continual drawing near. As the wick of a lamp continually draws oil for the light, so let us continually draw from God the strength and grace we need to function. This must be done (a) sincerely, without religious pretense; (b) believingly, in simple faith that God means what he says; (c) without guilt, having cleansed the conscience by reliance on the sprinkled blood of Jesus; and (d) with integrity, in line with our public profession of commitment to Christ expressed in our baptism. (22)

(2) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Here profess is seen as equivalent to “confess,” for if we have drawn near to God, then surely the next logical step is to share the certainty of our hope with others. We can share our great expectation with confidence because he who promised is faithful. If those who hear us will act in faith as we have acted; they will experience the same blessing, for God is no respecter of persons. He will do as much for the man or woman next door as he has done for you; he will do as much for the janitor as he will do for the boss, and vice versa. We need not fear that God will let us down as his witnesses by showing favoritism to certain ones. He is faithful to keep his promise to anyone. (23)

(3) Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. The supportive love of Christians for one another is a powerful factor in maintaining spiritual vigor. It needs to be awakened in both ourselves and others. That does not envision finger-shaking and lecturing, but encouraging words and good example. (24)

Two suggestions are made to bring this about. First, let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. Corporate worship is not an option for a Christian; it is a necessity. It certainly includes regular attendance at church meetings, but means more than that. It means a willingness to help struggling faith whenever Christians meet. The author had already noted the bad effects of neglecting this on the part of some (3:13). Perhaps those who were hardened felt themselves to be sufficient in themselves, needing no one’s help. One commentator suggests that if the real reasons for such separation were recorded, they might be easily recognizable in the modern church (Wiley 1959:342). If church services grow dull or boring they need renewal, not abandon ment. The gathering of Christians should be an uplifting and exciting occasion. History has repeatedly shown that where this is neglected or permitted to dim, dullness and blandness soon follow.

A second suggestion for spurring one another on is also given: Let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. The destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem was just around the corner. The empire seethed with unrest and premonitions of disaster. These frightening omens were not viewed as signs of God’s inability to control his world, as many interpret similar events today. Rather, they were indications that God was working out his predicted purposes just as Jesus, the prophets and the apostles had foretold. No one could know the hour when “the Day” would begin, but its coming was certain and apparently imminent to them. The Lord himself had instructed his disciples: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk 21:28). (25)

Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic. Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic. Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic. Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic. Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic.